Deliberative Democracy Now

LGBT Equality and the Emergence of Large-Scale Deliberative Systems

Millions feel voiceless in our politically turbulent times. Yet there is also evidence that democracy itself is evolving. In a long-predicted development, democracy is potentially morphing into a conversation-based process called deliberative democracy. In this practice, technology-assisted public discussion, conscious reflection, and collective choice are beginning to reshape democratic governance, creating the power to override political dysfunction. Illustrating this emerging possibility through a case study of twenty-eight years of US public discussion on LGBT equality, this book offers a practical model for the growth of deliberative democracy in which everyone may take part through simple activities. It reveals the needed catalysts, social network formations, and pathways for overcoming unconscious bias, fear, and polarization via which the US public chose to embrace LGBT equality over time. This book shows how each person gains power, voice, and influence within a deliberative democracy. It will interest anyone who cares about the future of democratic life.