Can a more active political participation be a solution to regain trust in political institutions? Join us on June 28, 6 p.m., at the L.A. Central Library's Taper Auditorium in Los Angeles! 2022 Thomas Mann Fellow Christine Landfried, political scientist James S. Fishkin and journalist Joe Mathews will discuss the democratic potential of citizens’ assemblies. Moderated by Dawn Nakagawa (Berggruen Institute).

Tuesday, June 28, 6:00 P.M – 7:30 P.M. (PT)
L.A. Central Library Taper Auditorium
630 West 5th Street
Los Angeles, CA 90071

Parking:
524 South Flower Street Garage
Validated Parking Rates Apply

Seats for the event are limited. Free entry.

For over a decade, we have observed how representative democracy in Europe as well as in the United States is endangered. A growing segment of the population is not only losing trust in political elites, but also in democratic institutions. Losing trust in democratic governance also means that people are more and more frightened of the future. Can a more active political participation be a solution to regain trust in political institutions? Political scientist and 2022 Thomas Mann Fellow Christine Landfried, political scientist James S. Fishkin (Stanford University) and journalist Joe Mathews will discuss the democratic potential of citizens’ assemblies and how they can help renew the democratic project on both sides of the Atlantic. The conversation will be facilitated by Dawn Nakagawa, Executive Vice President of the Berggruen Institute.  

New forms of citizens’ participation, such as citizens’ assemblies, are a way to strengthen democracy. Groups of randomly selected citizens develop proposals for the solution of political problems and conflicts on the basis of an informed deliberation. In California, for example, the first municipal citizens’ assembly was just established in the city of Petaluma. Citizens will make recommendations for the future use of the city’s fairground – a contentious issue for many years. In the European Union, 800 citizens recently reflected on the future of Europe and exchanged their ideas with politicians. This “Conference on the Future of Europe” proposed far-reaching reforms that will make necessary treaty changes. Thus, changes that had been avoided by politicians for a long time are now on the agenda. The question is: can such assemblies succeed in counteracting the erosion of representative democracy?  

This event will take place at the Los Angeles Central Libary's Taper Auditorium on June 28, 6 p.m. Free admission. A video of the event will be published on YouTube afterwards.