CAfSA News no. 9 Nov 2026
International
A highlight for the year, especially from Australia’s point of view, was the launch in New York in September of ‘Democracy Beyond Elections – a Handbook on Citizens’ Assemblies’, prepared by the Sydney-based newDemocracy Foundation, and published by UNDP (UN Development Program) and UNDEF (UN Democracy Fund). A comprehensive working manual of how to create and manage assemblies, the free pdf is available at https://www.newdemocracy.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/UNDEF_Handbook-2nd-Edition-Sept-2026.pdf. Pages 14-22 give a nice introduction to the history of sortition and the diverse cultures that have used it.
Democracy Next’s website (https://www.demnext.org/) highlights its latest publications, including a new one on keeping our ‘deliberative muscles’ in shape. Another looks at the significance and possible role of AI in ‘delib dem’ processes, concluding that, with due care, AI has a great deal to offer.
The Danish organisation ‘We Do Democracy’ (https://www.wedodemocracy.com/) is leading the way in Nordic countries, having conducted over 20 citizen assemblies and councils. One concluded in September, for example, on animal welfare in Denmark. Note its ten-point manifesto, applicable anywhere. Importantly, given commonly expressed reservations on how CAs can be easily ignored by government, within 6 months the Danish ministry concerned must provide the public with an update on how the recommendations have been assessed, evaluated, discussed or implemented. Within 24 months, another update must follow on how the recommendations have been implemented politically. Ramping up the authority of CAs to have their recommendations implemented remains a key challenge everywhere they are used – it’s early days yet in this regard!
When the highly regarded British author and philosopher Jeremy Lent lends his weight to an issue, people pay attention. In a recent paper anticipating his new book ‘Ecocivilization – making a world that works for all’, he arrives squarely in the deliberative democracy camp (see https://jeremylent.substack.com/p/democracy-was-never-designed-to-work). It’s great to have Jeremy so firmly on board!
Australia
A positive development in Australia at present is the emergence of the Alliance for Citizen Participation, which brings together a wide array of organisations keen to see and lead better use of various forms of community-based participation in public policy making. Led by Joanne Taylor, the group has circulated a paper and a presentation on ‘Changing the story of Australian democracy’, and has held several national zoom meetings. It is now registered as a private company, but is yet to launch a web site.
At the newDemocracy Foundation, Iain Walker has stepped aside as Exec. Director, and is replaced by Kyle Redman.
South Australia
Adelaide-based democracyCo is pressing ahead with its successful People’s House program bringing politicians and their electorates together in sortition-based deliberative sessions that give the MPs insight into the real concerns of voters. To pursue this and other new work the team has recently grown from 2 to 5.
Emma Fletcher is Co-CEO of Australia’s leading deliberative democracy company – democracyCo. In this role she designs, and project manages large and complex engagement projects.
An award-winning writer, columnist, critic, academic, broadcaster, public intellectual and former political candidate. Dr Elizabeth Farrelly is trained in architecture and philosophy.
Nicholas Gruen, CEO of Lateral Economics is a widely published policy economist, entrepreneur and commentator. He has advised Cabinet Ministers, sat on Australia’s Productivity Commission and founded Lateral Economics and Peach Financial.
