“The hallmark of an oppressive society is the absence of a rich and varied public sphere where citizens can convene to debate vital questions of the day”
One of the most important elements of any democratic society is for its constituents to have the freedom to exchange ideas in an open and free setting. Since the beginning of this democratic ideal, there have been numerous mediums of exchange. One such medium is deliberation. In the past few weeks, my peers and I have moderated and attended several deliberations. Reductively, deliberations are structured discussions in which participants discuss the pros and cons of different solutions to an agreed problem.
And while discussions that occur during deliberations are important, it can be just as important to reflect and introspect on what was learned during the deliberation. Thus, this blog will reflect on our deliberations through the lens of Dr. John Gastil’s criteria of deliberative discussion.
Creating A Solid Information Base
One of the most important elements of any discussion is to ensure that everyone is working off of the same set of facts or ideas.
These facts and ideas can be both empirically verifiable and emotional experiences that inform one’s perspective. I think that all groups did a great job integrating empirical data and statistics into their deliberations and deliberation guides. Even a cursory reading of a deliberation guide would give the reader a good idea of what to expect during the deliberation.
Our group’s deliberation discussed drug abuse and the solution to drug abuse and misuse on college campuses. Our group ended up encouraging participants to share any personal experiences they might have with the issue during the deliberation. However, given the emotional nature of our topic, I wish our group had dedicated a couple of minutes for participants to share any stories or personal experiences they had with the topic.
Our group also included an extensive deliberation guide to help participants get an idea of the research concerning drug abuse and misuse.
Identifying A Broad Range of Solutions
Another important element of deliberation is to a brainstorm variety of solutions to a given problem. If you fail to create a list of solutions to a problem, then you may miss out on a potentially superior solution to a problem.
Every group did an excellent job of creating a list of solutions that were meaningfully different. For example, one of the approaches our group proposed was increasing punishments for misusing drugs, while another approach was decriminalizing drug misuse. Clearly, these solutions are radically different in their approach.
This diversity of solutions was also present in other groups’ deliberations. For example, one of the deliberations I participated in addressed the ethical implications of genetic engineering. One of their approaches was to allow anyone to use genetic engineering, while another approach was to disallow everyone from using genetic editing.
Overall, the diversity of solutions encouraged people to weigh the pros and cons of each approach and ultimately advocate for the solution they believed is the best.
Weighing The Pros And Cons Of Solutions
A necessary component of any deliberation is the consideration of the advantages and disadvantages of each approach. This process is important in determining the best solution to pursue.
I saw this process utilized effectively in the approach that I moderated. During the discussion of the drug decriminalization approach, most of my peers supported this approach. However, it was apparent that people recognized that this approach may have its limitations. For example, people noted that even if people weren’t punished for drug use, they may avoid drug rehab because of the social stigma that exists surrounding it.
Equally Distributed Speaking Opportunities
In addition to the “logical” or “analytical” components of a deliberation, there are social elements that contribute to the success or failure of a deliberation. One such social element is an equally distributed ability to speak. We’ve all been in debates or discussions in which the content of the debate is overshone by the assertiveness of a participant.
However, I thought that all participants were cognizant of this dynamic. In our deliberation, I did not detect any other participants speaking too frequently or too aggressively. The moderators also made sure to ask different people to speak throughout the deliberation.
I also had this same feeling as a participant in other groups’ deliberations. This feeling was most evident during the deliberation regarding mental health in high schools. It was evidently a topic that impacts many people, and a topic that many students felt very strongly about, but no one’s voice was too strong or too aggressive. This contributed to an atmosphere in which everyone’s voice could be heard.
Considering Other Ideas And Experiences
The ultimate goal of a deliberation is to assess your own beliefs and change them if given a better argument than your own. As such, it is crucially important that you listen to the ideas of others.
In our own deliberation, my peers frequently built upon the arguments made by others which is evidence that people were carefully considering the others’ arguments and integrating them into their own thought processes.
Similarly, during the deliberation on genetic editing, I listened to people who argued that there are certain abnormal conditions that shouldn’t be treated with genetic editing because those conditions don’t actually make peoples’ lives worse. By listening to the argument and considering its validity, I was able to change my mind.
Respecting Other Participants
The basis of any good conversation is the presumption of good faith. Assuming otherwise would prevent oneself from changing their mind on the topic.
It was evident to me that others were acting in good faith during our deliberation. No one deliberately misinterpreted or misrepresented arguments, and people were always respectful of the opinions of others.
As a participant, the inclusion of the ground rules and personal stake section reminded me of the uniqueness of everyone’s experiences and encouraged me to engage in the discussion with good faith.
General Reflection
Deliberations and discussions are important elements of any democratic society. By collaborating together on an issue, some semblance of a consensus can usually be reached. This mode of discussion may become increasingly important in a nation that is enduring increasing levels of polarization and extremism. Overall, the deliberations were effective in exchanging ideas and allowed for democratic conversation to thrive.
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