“Co-construction” in deliberative democracy: lessons from the French Citizens’ Convention for Climate

Louis-Gaëtan Giraudet (), Bénédicte Apouey, Hazem Arab, Simon Baeckelandt, Philippe Bégout, Nicolas Berghmans, Nathalie Blanc, Jean-Yves Boulin, Eric Buge, Dimitri Courant, Amy Dahan, Adrien Fabre, Jean-Michel Fourniau, Maxime Gaborit, Laurence Granchamp, Hélène Guillemot, Laurent Jeanpierre, Hélène Landemore, Jean-François Laslier, Antonin Macé, Claire Mellier, Sylvain Mounier, Théophile Pénigaud, Ana Póvoas, Christiane Rafidinarivo, Bernard Reber, Romane Rozencwajg, Philippe Stamenkovic, Selma Tilikete and Solène Tournus
Additional contact information
Louis-Gaëtan Giraudet: Ecole des Ponts ParisTech
Hazem Arab: Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne
Simon Baeckelandt: Université de Lille
Philippe Bégout: GIS Démocratie et Participation
Nicolas Berghmans: Sciences Po
Nathalie Blanc: Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)
Jean-Yves Boulin: Université Paris-Dauphine
Eric Buge: Université Panthéon-Assas Paris II
Dimitri Courant: Université de Lausanne, Institut d’Études Politiques
Amy Dahan: Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)
Jean-Michel Fourniau: GIS Démocratie et Participation
Maxime Gaborit: Sciences Po
Laurence Granchamp: Université de Strasbourg
Hélène Guillemot: Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)
Laurent Jeanpierre: Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne
Hélène Landemore: Yale University
Claire Mellier: Cardiff University
Sylvain Mounier: GIS Démocratie et Participation
Théophile Pénigaud: Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon
Ana Póvoas: Rhizome Chôros
Christiane Rafidinarivo: Université de la Réunion
Bernard Reber: Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)
Romane Rozencwajg: Université Paris 8, Centre de Recherches Sociologiques et Politiques de Paris (CRESPPA)
Philippe Stamenkovic: Ben-Gurion University of the Negev
Selma Tilikete: Université Paris 8, Centre de Recherches Sociologiques et Politiques de Paris (CRESPPA)
Solène Tournus: Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)

Palgrave Communications, 2022, vol. 9, issue 1, 1-16

Abstract: Abstract Launched in 2019, the French Citizens’ Convention for Climate (CCC) tasked 150 randomly chosen citizens with proposing fair and effective measures to fight climate change. This was to be fulfilled through an “innovative co-construction procedure”, involving some unspecified external input alongside that from the citizens. Did inputs from the steering bodies undermine the citizens’ accountability for the output? Did co-construction help the output resonate with the general public, as is expected from a citizens’ assembly? To answer these questions, we build on our unique experience in observing the CCC proceedings and documenting them with qualitative and quantitative data. We find that the steering bodies’ input, albeit significant, did not impair the citizens’ agency, creativity, and freedom of choice. While succeeding in creating consensus among the citizens who were involved, this co-constructive approach, however, failed to generate significant support among the broader public. These results call for a strengthening of the commitment structure that determines how follow-up on the proposals from a citizens’ assembly should be conducted.

Date: 2022
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Working Paper: "Co-construction" in Deliberative Democracy: Lessons from the French Citizens’ Convention for Climate (2022)
Working Paper: "Co-construction" in Deliberative Democracy: Lessons from the French Citizens’ Convention for Climate (2022)
Working Paper: "Co-construction" in Deliberative Democracy: Lessons from the French Citizens’ Convention for Climate (2022)
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DOI: 10.1057/s41599-022-01212-6

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