Searching for a new formula of a state: international discourse on deliberative democracy

Abstract

The idea of civil society has became one of the most important premises of deliberative democracy. The question concerning the best model of democracy is still present in the international political and scientific discourse. The contemporary research approach to deliberative democracy referred to as the ‘systemic turn’ exposes three factors: the search for opportunities to develop and promote deliberation on a mass scale; the emphasis on the division of tasks and activities among participants within the system; the introduction of a certain continuum to the criterion of deliberation linking the multiplicity of institutions and the processes that occur among them. It is significant that many researchers confirm that thanks to  deliberative methods and tools, the legitimacy of local government activities is strengthened. Identified shortcomings of deliberative democracy at the local level (potential institutional neutralization of activists’ activities, participatory frustration or widespread incompetence of citizens participating in deliberation) have become contribution to the discussion on the further directions of development of this form as well as possibilities for its improvement.