Enhancing Political Participation through Deliberative Minipublics: Evidence from Swiss Climate Protection Cases

The declining voting turnout is a growing concern in democratic systems, where political participation through voting plays a crucial role. Low turnout has been linked to economic and social inequality, which reduces the power of disadvantaged citizens to advocate for their interests. Furthermore, a lack of civic knowledge has been found to be correlated with decreased political participation. This study investigates the potential of deliberative minipublics as an alternative form of political engagement that can attract disadvantaged citizens and enhance their deliberative reasoning abilities. Evidence from three Swiss minipublics focused on climate protection supports the effectiveness of deliberative minipublics as a valid alternative form of political participation and demonstrates their ability to enhance the level of reasoning among individuals who are not typically active voters