Hostname: page-component-7b7567c8c-7pwfn Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2026-11-15T21:08:43.186Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

MASS LBP and Long-Form Deliberation in Canada

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 January 2026

Spencer McKay and
Peter MacLeod
Spencer McKay*
Affiliation:
Department of Political Science, University of British Columbia
*
E-mail: smckay1@mail.ubc.ca
Get accessRights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Deliberative forums, such as citizens’ assemblies or reference panels, are one institutionalization of deliberative democracy that has become increasingly commonplace in recent years. MASS LBP is a pioneer in designing and facilitating such long-form deliberative processes in Canada. This article provides an overview of the company’s civic lottery and reference panel process, notes several distinctive features of MASS LBP that are relevant to addressing challenges to democratic deliberation, and outlines possible areas for future research in deliberative democracy applied in both private and public settings.

Keywords

citizenshipcivic lotterydeliberationdeliberative democracymini-publicpolitical participationsortition

Information

Type
Practitioner's Note
Information
Democratic Theory , Volume 5 , Issue 2 , December 2018, pp. 108 - 113
Copyright
Copyright © Berghahn Books 2018

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

Article purchase

Temporarily unavailable

References

Chwalisz, Claudia. 2017. The People's Verdict. Oxford: Oxford University Press.Google Scholar
Curato, Nicole and Marit, Böker. 2016. “Linking Mini-Publics to the Deliberative System: A Research Agenda.” Policy Sciences 49(2): 173–190. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11077-015-9238-5.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Dryzek, John S. 2016. “The Forum, the System, and the Polity: Three Varieties of Democratic Theory.” Political Theory 22 July 2016. https://doi.org/10.1177%2F0090591716659114.Google Scholar
Felicetti, Andrea, Simon Niemeyer and Nicole, Curato. 2015. “Improving Deliberative Participation: Connecting Mini-Publics to Deliberative Systems.” European Political Science Review 8(3): 1–22. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1755773915000119.Google Scholar
Fuji, Johnson, Genevieve. 2015. Democratic Illusion. Oxford: Oxford University Press.10.3138/9781442693500CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Fung, Archon and Erik, Olin Wright. 2003. “Countervailing Power in Empowered Participatory Governance.” In Deepening Democracy: Institutional Innovations in Empowered Participatory Governance, eds. Archon Fung and Erik Olin Wright, 259–290. London: Verso.Google Scholar
Hamlett, Patrick W., and Michael, D. Cobb. 2006. “Potential Solutions to Public Deliberation Problems: Structured Deliberations and Polarization Cascades.” Policy Studies Journal 34(4): 629–648. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1541-0072.2006.00195.x.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hendriks, Carolyn. 2011. The Politics of Public Deliberation. Oxford: Oxford University Press.10.1057/9780230347564CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Jacquet, Vincent. 2017. “Explaining Non-Participation in Deliberative Mini-Publics.” European Journal of Political Research 56(3): 640–659. https://doi.org/10.1111/1475-6765.12195.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Johnson, Carolina and John, Gastil. 2015. “Variations of Institutional Design for Empowered Deliberation.” Journal of Public Deliberation 11(1): Article 2. https://www.publicdeliberation.net/jpd/vol11/iss1/art2.10.16997/jdd.219CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kiran, Tara, Sam Davie and Peter, MacLeod. 2018. “Citizen Engagement in Primary Care”. Annals of Family Medicine, 16 (2): 175. https://doi.org/10.1370/afm.2185.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lafont, Cristina. 2014. “Deliberation, Participation, and Democratic Legitimacy: Should Deliberative Mini-Publics Shape Public Policy?” Journal of Political Philosophy 23(1): 40–63. https://doi.org/10.1111/jopp.12031.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Landwehr, Claudia. 2014. “Facilitating Deliberation: The Role of Impartial Intermediaries in Deliberative Mini-Publics.” In Deliberative Mini-Publics: Involving Citizens in the Democratic Process, eds. Andre Bächtiger, Kimmo Gronlund, and Maija Setala, 2nd ed. edition., 77–93. Colchester: ECPR Press.Google Scholar
Lang, Amy and Mark, E. Warren. 2012. “Supplementary Democracy? Democratic Deficits and Citizens’ Assemblies.” In Imperfect Democracies: The Democratic Deficit in Canada and the United States, eds. Patti Tamara Lenard and Richard Simeon, 291–314. Vancouver: UBC Press.Google Scholar
Lee, Caroline W. 2014. Do-It-Yourself Democracy: The Rise of the Public Engagement Industry. Oxford: Oxford University Press.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mansbridge, Jane, James Bohman, Simone Chambers, Thomas Christiano, Archon Fung, John Parkinson, Dennis F. Thompson and Mark, E. Warren. 2012. “A Systemic Approach to Deliberative Democracy.” In Deliberative Systems: Deliberative Democracy at the Large Scale, eds. John Parkinson and Jane Mansbridge, 1–26. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.Google Scholar
Neblo, Michael A., Kevin, M. Esterling, Ryan, P. Kennedy, David, M.J. Lazer, and Anand, E. Sokhey. 2010. “Who Wants To Deliberate—And Why?” American Political Science Review 104(3): 566–583. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0003055410000298.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Niemeyer, Simon. 2017. “Transforming ACT Democracy One Citizens’ Jury at a Time.” The Sydney Morning Herald, 31 May 31. http://www.smh.com.au/comment/transforming-act-democracy-one-citizens-jury-at-a-time-20170530-gwg74n.html.Google Scholar
MASS LBP. 2017. “Profile.” https://www.masslbp.com/profile/ (accessed 10 July 2017). Rose, Jonathan. 2007. “The Ontario Citizens’ Assembly on Electoral Reform.” Canadian Parliamentary Review 30(3): 9–16. http://revparl.ca/30/3/30n3_07e_Rose.pdf.Google Scholar
Smith, Graham. 2009. Democratic Innovations: Designing Institutions for Citizen Participation. Oxford: Oxford University Press.10.1017/CBO9780511609848CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Walker, Edward T., Michael, McQuarrie, and Caroline, Lee. 2015. “Rising Participation and Declining Democracy.” In Democratizing Inequalities: Dilemmas of the New Public Participation, eds. Caroline Lee, Michael McQuarrie, and Edward T. Walker, 3–23. New York: New York University Press.Google Scholar
Warren, Mark E., and Hilary Pearse, eds. 2008. Designing Deliberative Democracy. Oxford: Oxford University Press.10.1017/CBO9780511491177CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Young, Iris Marion. 2001. Inclusion and Democracy. New edition. Oxford: Oxford University Press.Google Scholar