Deliberative Democracy
Judges democratic decisions partly by the quality of public reasoning behind them. Citizens and representatives should exchange reasons, hear objections, and revise proposals under fair conditions.
Foundational doctrines
- Public justification
- Inclusive deliberation
- Political equality
- Revisable decisions
Disagreement and variation
Critics question whether deliberation can overcome unequal power and whether an emphasis on reasoned agreement sidelines protest, emotion, or persistent conflict. Consensus-oriented and contestatory theories differ; well-designed deliberation supplements rather than automatically replaces voting.
Numerical positions in the interactive model are editorial reference estimates, not scientifically validated measurements.