Deliberative methods are increasingly a source of inspiration for those who seek to redress the global trend of deepening dissatisfaction in democracy. Such methods offer parliaments the opportunity to engage citizens in rigorous in-depth consideration of complex policy problems and through this potentially enhance their own deliberations and democratic wellbeing overall.

Deliberative methods are not yet widespread among parliaments, but there are several contexts where experiments are settling into institutionalized models. In this guide, we explore the different ways in which deliberative democracy can be applied in and by parliaments as another tool in the citizen engagement toolbox.

This publication was developed by the International Parliament Engagement Network (IPEN), in partnership with Inter Pares. It was produced with the financial support of the European Union as part of the Inter Pares I Parliaments in Partnership project, implemented by International IDEA. Its contents are the sole responsibility of International IDEA and IPEN and do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union.

Explore the full suite of Citizen Engagement Guides for actionable tips and inspiration to strengthen your parliament's engagement with the public on the Inter Pares page. Click for more information.