Peru Deliberates: A transformative experience in citizen dialogue
On 5 October 2024, 177 participants from throughout Peru gathered for a once-in-a-lifetime deliberation experience. Chosica, Peru. Credit: International IDEA/Adrián Alcocer
Held in a context of distrust in democracy and low political engagement, it aimed to renew optimism by bringing together 177 participants from all over Peru. Participants debated issues such voluntary voting, deliberation among local residents, regional movements and reserved congressional seats for Indigenous and Afro-Peruvian peoples.
Notably, 90 per cent of the participants said that they felt more informed, and the portion of participants who believed that their political opinions were unimportant dropped from 15 per cent to just 5 per cent, based on survey responses before and after the deliberation process. Peru Deliberates proved that inclusive dialogue can rebuild trust in democracy and bridge divides in a polarized society.
‘My experience is very positive because I have learned new terms and also about experiences that I didn’t know about—for example, I didn’t know what congressional seats or other political terms were. ... It is something that I can also teach my friends because not everyone knows about these issues.’
| Funding | US Agency for International Development (USAID) |
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