Assessing the merits of deliberative processes in engaging and informing citizens: a case study of a deliberative event on Irish women’s voices on Europe

Clodagh Harris; Emmanuelle Schön-Quinlivan

doi:10.33178/ijpp.3.1.5

Authors

Clodagh Harris University College Cork, Ireland.
Emmanuelle Schön-Quinlivan Department of Government, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.33178/ijpp.3.1.5

Abstract

Deliberative democratic innovations can provide answers to some of the perennial problems of democratic theory, such as informing and educating the public, creating opportunities for citizens to shape policy and the restoration of citizen trust and engagement. The challenges of informing and educating the public and restoring citizen trust and engagement have been evident in Ireland’s difficulties in successfully ratifying the Nice and Lisbon treaties. Academic research has shown that, after the farming community, Irish women have benefitted most from EU membership. Yet it also shows that Irish women are more likely than their male counterparts to reject EU treaties. With this in mind a one-day public consultative conference on Irish women’s voices in Europe was held in University College Cork, one month before the second referendum on the Lisbon Treaty. Bringing academic and community perspectives together it assessed how Irish women have benefitted from EU membership and their concerns on the possible impact of the EU on issues of Irish neutrality and family/ethical matters. Tools such as consultative polls and expert-informed workshops were used to inform, educate and gather opinions and recommendations. This paper critically evaluates the deliberative processes and outcomes of this conference, examining survey data gathered from participants and analysing the content of the workshop deliberations.

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