Signal 148 new deliberative structures in OECD countries, 2001 to 2023

Summary

The report states that 148 new deliberative bodies were set up in OECD countries between 2001 and 2023, most of them at regional or local level. Such processes are frequently used to tackle complex, long-term issues where value judgements play a large part in shaping opinions. The report presents this as part of a trend in which more countries, cities and regions are experimenting with citizens' assemblies or citizens' parliaments. In a number of places these assemblies have moved beyond experiments and become a structural part of governance. The report explains that in Central and Eastern Europe citizens' assemblies are increasingly used as a democratic check against authoritarian tendencies.