This proposal aims to move beyond technocratic governance and institute processes that allow us to collectively negotiate trade-offs inherent to moving beyond growth-dependence. Citizens’ assemblies are structured forums composed of randomly selected but demographically representative members of the public, convened to deliberate on complex policy questions requiring broad social legitimacy, and issue collective recommendations. These may include defining resource-use ceilings, determining priorities for redistribution, or guiding the phase-down of high-impact industries. Successful examples include assemblies convened in Ireland to influence referenda on marriage equality and abortion, in France where the Citizens’ Climate Convention proposed key ideas for climate and social justice, in Brussels where permanent hybrid committees composed of Members of Parliament and randomly selected citizens are a standing feature, or in Paris to discuss solutions to lack of housing. While consultations lacking meaningful follow-through or inadequate financial and childcare support for marginalised members can drift into symbolic and toothless procedures, citizens’ assemblies embedded in formal decision-making with government obligations or links to referenda can act as important innovations to empower citizens and engender direct democracy.
