Articles & Interviews

“In 2019, the first of several ‘America in One Room’ projects—national experiments conducted with Helena, a global problem-solving organization, and with samples recruited by NORC, a nonpartisan research organization at the University of Chicago.” — “Deliberation Can Save Democracy” by James Fishkin for American Purpose. Photo by Jason Liu.

American Purpose: Deliberation Can Save Democracy

“Why conversation is the cure for what ails America.” An essay by James Fishkin for American Purpose, a magazine part of the Persuasion family. read more

American Enterprise Institute: Why Deliberation Never Dies—and Never Quite Matters

Samuel J. Abrams reviews James Fishkin’s decades-long work on deliberative polling and structured civic dialogue, arguing that when citizens are given time, information, and a serious forum, they reason better, moderate their views, and listen more carefully. read more

Noema Mag: A New Governing Ecosystem Is Evolving

“In Jim Fishkin’s new book, Can Deliberation Cure The Ills of Democracy?, the pioneering practitioner of deliberative polling surveys the whole array of such practices from citizens’ assemblies to policy juries and independent citizen reviews of ballot measures that are taking place from Brazil to Europe to the U.S. state of Oregon.

…Fishkin’s experience over 30 years consistently demonstrates how the polarization sparked by the partisan rancor of electoral competition dissipates and how common ground is found through structured deliberation…” read more

New York Times: Dialogue Is an Antidote for Populism

At a forum in Athens, leaders discussed challenges to democracy that they said stemmed from both internal and external forces.

Jacobin: Trust in the Demos Isn’t Naive — It’s Empirical

Democratic deliberation asks us to meet as moral equals, exchange reasons for our beliefs, consider evidence, and remain open to changing our minds. Evidence from real-world examples shows that it can reduce polarization and deepen public judgment…read more

Politico: Some good news about political polarization: It can change

Nearly 200 residents representing the voting breakdown of a swing state found common ground on hot-button issues…read more

Unaligned: Saving Democracy Through Dialogue and Debate

James Fishkin Makes the Case for a More Deliberative Future…read more

SALON.COM: Deliberative democracy: Sounds boring — but it just might save us

Stanford professor James Fishkin says he can end political deadlock, and build true democracy for the internet age..read more

Cambridge University Press: Is Deliberation an Antidote to Extreme Partisan Polarization? Reflections on “America in One Room”

Cambridge University Press: Scaling Dialogue for Democracy: Can Automated Deliberation Create More Deliberative Voters?

Cambridge University Press: Deliberative Distortions? Homogenization, Polarization, and Domination in Small Group Discussions

Cambridge University Press: Can Deliberation Have Lasting Effects?

Democracy, A Journal of Ideas: Can We Deliberate, Please?