Inclusiveness in the Political Realm: The Role of (Non-)Deliberative Communication and Practices

Abstract

Inclusivity and making sure all voices are heard in the political realm is generally seen as a core value and virtue of (deliberative) democracy; an ideal to strive toward. What (un)deliberative communication forms and practices help to reach or tend to breach this ideal? Do deliberative conversational norms and practices always advance inclusion and accessibility, or is there something to say for classically considered non- or less-deliberative practices? To what extent do different (un)deliberative standards and actions ensure the inclusion of different and marginalized voices, and how does this work for different public spheres and audiences? This panel brings together a mix of theoretical and empirical papers that address these questions and connect the ideal of inclusive political societies to (non-)deliberative practices, with the aim of discussing and engaging with a potential tension between the two. More specifically, the panel features theoretical accounts as well as empirical accounts on inclusion and deliberation dilemmas. This includes work that theorizes about the role of adversarial contestation in deliberation, and about how micro-macro linkages in (non-)deliberative settings can facilitate inclusion and interaction with the wider public to address undesirable outcomes. Furthermore, the panel features empirical accounts that explore how macro-level technological and socio-cultural forces shape what voices get heard in public debate, and how undeliberative practices online exclude (certain) people from participating. Finally, research is included that scrutinizes at a more meta-level how discursive political science methods influence and ensure accessibility and empowerment in our research endeavors.

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