The People's Verdict

Adding Informed Citizen Voices to Public Decision-Making

Nonfiction, Social & Cultural Studies, Political Science, Government, Civics, Democracy
Cover of the book The People's Verdict by Claudia Chwalisz, Rowman & Littlefield International
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Claudia Chwalisz ISBN: 9781786604378
Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield International Publication: May 24, 2017
Imprint: Policy Network Language: English
Author: Claudia Chwalisz
ISBN: 9781786604378
Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield International
Publication: May 24, 2017
Imprint: Policy Network
Language: English

We live in a time when trust in government and politicians is in short supply. People claim to be tired of ‘experts’ and the divide between facts and opinion has been blurred. The art of offering simple solutions to complex problems is tipping the scale away from nuanced, multifaceted answers founded on compromise.

Within this context, governments nonetheless need to make difficult decisions, whether it is developing budgets, aligning priorities, or designing long-term projects. It is often impossible to make everybody happy, and the messy business of weighing trade-offs takes place.

While sometimes these tricky policy dilemmas are relegated to independent commissions or inquiries, or lately to referendums, a better method exists for solving them. This study of almost 50 long-form deliberative processes in Canada and Australia makes the case that adding informed citizen voices to public decision-making leads to more effective policies. By putting the problem to the people, giving them information, time to discuss the options, to find common ground and to decide what they want, public bodies gain the legitimacy to act on hard choices.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

We live in a time when trust in government and politicians is in short supply. People claim to be tired of ‘experts’ and the divide between facts and opinion has been blurred. The art of offering simple solutions to complex problems is tipping the scale away from nuanced, multifaceted answers founded on compromise.

Within this context, governments nonetheless need to make difficult decisions, whether it is developing budgets, aligning priorities, or designing long-term projects. It is often impossible to make everybody happy, and the messy business of weighing trade-offs takes place.

While sometimes these tricky policy dilemmas are relegated to independent commissions or inquiries, or lately to referendums, a better method exists for solving them. This study of almost 50 long-form deliberative processes in Canada and Australia makes the case that adding informed citizen voices to public decision-making leads to more effective policies. By putting the problem to the people, giving them information, time to discuss the options, to find common ground and to decide what they want, public bodies gain the legitimacy to act on hard choices.

More books from Rowman & Littlefield International

Cover of the book The Composition of Movements to Come by Claudia Chwalisz
Cover of the book Participatory Democracy in Southern Europe by Claudia Chwalisz
Cover of the book Entrepreneurship and Institutions by Claudia Chwalisz
Cover of the book The Pink Tide by Claudia Chwalisz
Cover of the book Deepening EU-Georgian Relations by Claudia Chwalisz
Cover of the book The Domestication of Critical Theory by Claudia Chwalisz
Cover of the book The Existence of the Mixed Race Damnés by Claudia Chwalisz
Cover of the book Politics of Anxiety by Claudia Chwalisz
Cover of the book The Martial Arts Studies Reader by Claudia Chwalisz
Cover of the book In the Ruins of the Cold War Bunker by Claudia Chwalisz
Cover of the book Taming an Uncertain Future by Claudia Chwalisz
Cover of the book Mission-Oriented Finance for Innovation by Claudia Chwalisz
Cover of the book Regulating Women by Claudia Chwalisz
Cover of the book Media and the Experience of Social Change by Claudia Chwalisz
Cover of the book Exploring Nightlife by Claudia Chwalisz
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy