The People's Voice: Dr. Marjan Ehsassi on Citizen Assemblies & Change

Nov 1 2024 • 52 mins

In this episode of Unsolicited Perspectives, host Bruce Anthony sits down with Dr. Marjan Ehsassi, a leading expert in democratic innovations and author of Activated Citizenship: The Transformative Power of Citizen Assemblies. Together, they dive into Dr. Ehsassi’s work in international affairs and her commitment to strengthening democracy by engaging everyday citizens in the policymaking process. The conversation unfolds around the structure and potential of citizen assemblies, highlighting their role in fostering genuine civic duty, tackling political polarization, and enabling communities to address shared issues through meaningful deliberation.

Dr. Ehsassi explains how citizen assemblies offer a fresh approach to policy creation by involving a diverse cross-section of society and shares the compelling benefits these gatherings bring, such as increased political engagement and a stronger sense of community. Bruce and Dr. Ehsassi also explore the broader challenges of modern democratic governance, discussing the impact of social media and technology on public discourse, and consider ways we might ensure a truly representative democracy in the future.

This episode of Unsolicited Perspectives concludes on a hopeful note, encouraging listeners to embrace active citizen participation as a critical component of a thriving democracy. #CitizenAssemblies #DemocraticEngagement #ActivatedCitizenship #democracy #unsolicitedperspectives

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Chapters:

00:00 Welcome to Unsolicited Perspectives

00:33 Introducing Dr. Marjan Horst Ehsassi

02:14 Dr. Ehsassi's Background and Inspiration

04:51 Understanding Citizens Assemblies

08:52 Challenges and Solutions in Citizens Assemblies

12:13 Citizens Assemblies in Different Countries

16:11 Impact and Future of Citizens Assemblies

25:34 Increasing Citizen Involvement in Democracy

30:57 Strategies to Strengthen Democracy

34:08 The Role of News and Local Issues

38:27 Future of Democratic Governance