deliberation

What is Deliberative Democracy?
Too much of the current discourse on complex issues sounds like loud, heated debate, a competition in which there must be losers and winners. The problems of the world are too important to just shout at each other about; their solutions can only come from our best thinking and reasoning--together. This is where deliberative democracy comes into the discussion.

One of the best resources on the subject comes from [|The Choices for the 21st Century Education Program], a national initiative based at Brown University's Watson Institute for International Studies. They answer the important questions:
 * What is deliberation?
 * How is deliberation different from debate?
 * Why is it important to know how to deliberate?

As we craft the guidelines for our discussions, the Choices Program will give us a framework. You will also find their guidelines on their [|webpage].

Another organization in the forefront of deliberative democracy is the [|National Coalition for Dialogue and Deliberation.] The following quotes from their website provide insight into the differences between deliberation and debate.

//and experiences with one another about difficult issues we tend to just debate about or avoid entirely.//
 * //Dialogue is a process that allows people, usually in small groups, to share their perspectives//


 * //Dialogue is not about winning an argument or coming to an agreement, but about understanding and learning.//

//logic and reasoning to make better decisions. Decisions about important public issues like health care and immigration are too often made through the use of power or coercion rather than a sound decision-making process that involves all parties and explores all options.//
 * //Deliberation is a closely related process with a different emphasis. Deliberation emphasizes the use of//


 * //Dialogue lays the groundwork for the vital work of deliberation.//

//understanding about complex issues; to foster innovative solutions to problems and launch action; and to reach agreement on or recommendations about policy decisions.//
 * //Dialogue and deliberation are used for a variety of reasons: to resolve conflicts and bridge divides; to build//