The Danish Consensus Conference: A Critical Evaluation

Tanja Perko ()
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Tanja Perko: Science and Technology Studies, Belgian Nuclear Research Center

A chapter in Fairness and Competence in Citizen Participation, 2025, pp 189-212 from Springer

Abstract: Abstract This chapter critically evaluates the format of the Danish consensus conference as a participatory model in which a panel of citizens assesses a socially controversial issue related to science and technology. The outcome of this process is a consensus document intended to inform both decision-makers and the public. The chapter focuses on the Danish model of the consensus conference, where 12–16 individuals engage in two preparatory study weekends before participating in a final public conference involving stakeholders and policymakers as witnesses. Rather than being the result of a majority vote or negotiation, consensus in this model emerges through deliberation, where participants work toward a shared understanding and agreement. The chapter assesses the model’s strengths and limitations based on key criteria, including input, procedural, and outcome legitimacy; clarity and transparency; equal opportunity; effectiveness and impact; process design; constructive deliberation; participant capacity-building; clarity of purpose; closure determination; timing challenges; institutional commitment; knowledge claims; and resource requirements. The chapter provides insights into the practical and theoretical implications of consensus conferences for democratic deliberation.

Date: 2025
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:spr:rischp:978-3-032-02302-5_11

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DOI: 10.1007/978-3-032-02302-5_11

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