Deliberative Mini-Publics and the European Green Deal in Turbulent Times: The Irish and French Climate Assemblies

Diarmuid Torney

doi:10.17645/pag.v9i3.4382

Abstract

Innovative forms of deliberative democracy are gaining traction in governing responses to climate change in Europe and beyond. Proponents of deliberative democracy have drawn attention to its particular suitability for shaping responses to environmental challenges. Citizen engagement and participation is also a prominent feature of the European Green Deal. This article considers the relationship between turbulence and deliberative democracy in the context of climate transitions, exploring when and how such democratic innovations are likely to generate turbulence in the governance of climate transitions. A framework is developed that focuses on three important sets of characteristics of deliberative mini-publics (DMPs): (a) the nature of their formal mandates and the ways in which climate change is framed as a policy problem; (b) the nature of participation and the degree to which the participants are empowered to shape the deliberative processes in which they participate; and (c) the degree to which DMPs are coupled with relevant policymaking processes. This framework is used to explore two recent and high-profile cases of a particular type of DMP: citizens’ assemblies in Ireland and France. The article contributes to the literatures on turbulent governance and deliberative democracy by reflecting on key dimensions of DMPs from the analytical perspective of turbulent governance.

Highlights

Citizen engagement, participation, and deliberation are prominent features of the European Green Deal (EGD)
The contrasting fates of the two cases point to a ten‐ sion at the heart of the use of deliberative mini‐publics (DMPs) in climate change governance that ought to be investigated through fur‐ ther research
To what extent is the disruptive and path‐ breaking potential of deliberative democratic innova‐ tions constrained by an inherent wariness on the part of governments to delegating agency to bodies over which they have limited control? Is there a trade‐off between the degree of separation from government and the likeli‐ hood of follow‐up on recommendations? A more distant relationship from the government may increase auton‐ omy and independence over agenda and operation, but it may result in government being less amenable to implementing recommendations from a DMPs

Summary

Introduction

Participation, and deliberation are prominent features of the European Green Deal (EGD). The importance of citizen participation in the EGD and, more broadly, in the transition to a climate neu‐ tral and resilient future, is driven at least in part by the need to ensure that justice and fairness are placed at the centre of the transition. The European Commission’s EGD communication notes prominently that the envis‐ aged transition must be: Just and inclusive. It must put people first, and pay attention to the regions, industries and workers who will face the greatest challenges. Since it will bring substantial change, active public participation and confidence in the transition is paramount if policies

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