Deliberative Democracy: Principles, Process, and Challenges
Deliberative Democracy in a Democratic Society
In a democratic society, democracy is a deliberative process. The desire to create a democratic constitution has foundations:
1. Effective group decision-making involves deliberation and participation.
2. Requirements must be justified to allow people to think about them.
3. Individuals, groups, or priorities change during deliberation, but arguments should be used without manipulation.
Deliberative democracy and authoritarian imposition are not the same. Deliberative democracy differs from authoritarian imposition, which is the opposite of democracy. Convergence is not a legitimate abandonment of democracy, which is made up of individuals. Today’s pluralistic society always creates disagreements. However, deliberators’ priorities are public, not private. Therefore, economic and social priorities should change through rational deliberation.
4 Stages of the Deliberation Process:
1. Partners express disagreement with proposals.
2. Participants use arguments to ensure understanding and acceptance.
3. An informal agreement is made, with a commitment to follow through.
4. The informal agreement becomes an official decision.
6 Principles to Guide Deliberations:
The first three principles govern the political process and policy content, the remaining three are:
1. Correspondence: Deliberation should be regulated by public reason, with proposals justified for mutual understanding.
2. Advertising: All members should participate transparently, directly or through delegation.
3. Accountability: Participants should give accounts to those they represent.
4. Basic Freedom: People’s physical and mental security.
5. Basic Options: A good life for all citizens requires a minimum of social expression.
6. By Choice: No discrimination should be distributed without legitimate options.
The Limits of Democracy and Majority Rule
All individuals have the right to govern and choose their way of life. Majority rule is a necessary element but not the sole logic of democracy. The term ‘democracy’ cannot be used uniformly across all areas: hospitals, schools, or communities cannot be democratized the same way as political systems. Majority rule has limits:
1. Individual Rights: Some rights cannot be subject to vote.
2. Minority Rights: Minorities have the right to become the majority and defend their position.
3. Types of Social Action: Training, participation, and responsibility must always consider the level of democracy.
Democracy and Social Media for Social Change
A decent society organizes and directs coexistence. The two main challenges are integrating citizen participation and controlling political power, and ensuring both citizen engagement and economic/administrative efficiency. People constantly debate what democracy should be and how to control their governors, who tend to use power when efforts are made or when the governed fall into passivity. Citizens must assume responsibilities and participate in social affairs, remembering that governors exist for public welfare and justice. Society is changing, and there’s an ethical obligation to address the difficulties in carrying out media democracy. Social change indicates:
1. The media has enormous power and has built what people are interested in.
2. The media are not always aware and deliberately distort reality, particularly TV.
3. Media affect election results, but experts disagree on the extent. A leader’s image or a topic of public interest can sway public opinion. Instead of slogans, organized discussion is needed, as the political culture is impoverished by sensationalism.