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“Co-construction” in deliberative democracy: lessons from the French Citizens’ Convention for Climate

Author

Listed:
  • Louis-Gaëtan Giraudet

    (Ecole des Ponts ParisTech
    Centre International de Recherche Sur l’environnement et le Développement (CIRED))

  • Bénédicte Apouey

    (Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)
    Paris School of Economics)

  • Hazem Arab

    (Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne)

  • Simon Baeckelandt

    (Université de Lille
    Centre d’études et de Recherches Administratives, Politiques et Sociales (CERAPS))

  • Philippe Bégout

    (GIS Démocratie et Participation)

  • Nicolas Berghmans

    (Sciences Po
    Institut Pour le Développement Durable et Les Relations Internationales (IDDRI))

  • Nathalie Blanc

    (Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)
    Laboratoire Dynamiques Sociales et Recomposition des Espaces (LADYSS))

  • Jean-Yves Boulin

    (Université Paris-Dauphine
    Institut de Recherche Interdisciplinaire en Sciences Sociales (IRISSO))

  • Eric Buge

    (Université Panthéon-Assas Paris II
    Institut Michel Villey)

  • Dimitri Courant

    (Université de Lausanne, Institut d’Études Politiques
    Université Paris 8, Centre de Recherches Sociologiques et Politiques de Paris (CRESPPA)
    Harvard University, Ash Center)

  • Amy Dahan

    (Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)
    Centre Alexandre Koyré)

  • Adrien Fabre

    (ETH Zürich)

  • Jean-Michel Fourniau

    (GIS Démocratie et Participation
    Université Gustave Eiffel)

  • Maxime Gaborit

    (Sciences Po
    Centre d’études Européennes et de Politique Comparée (CEE))

  • Laurence Granchamp

    (Université de Strasbourg
    Laboratoire Interdisciplinaire en études Culturelles (LinCS))

  • Hélène Guillemot

    (Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)
    Centre Alexandre Koyré)

  • Laurent Jeanpierre

    (Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne
    Centre Européen de Sociologie et de Science Politique (CESSP))

  • Hélène Landemore

    (Yale University)

  • Jean-François Laslier

    (Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)
    Paris School of Economics)

  • Antonin Macé

    (Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)
    Paris School of Economics)

  • Claire Mellier

    (Cardiff University
    Centre for Climate Change and Social Transformation (CAST))

  • Sylvain Mounier

    (GIS Démocratie et Participation)

  • Théophile Pénigaud

    (Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon
    Triangle. Action, Discours, Pensée Politique et économique)

  • Ana Póvoas

    (Rhizome Chôros
    Université Libre de Bruxelles
    Laboratoire Sasha)

  • Christiane Rafidinarivo

    (Université de la Réunion
    Laboratoire de Recherche sur les Espaces Créoles et Francophones (LCF)
    Centre de Recherches Politiques de Sciences Po (CEVIPOF))

  • Bernard Reber

    (Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)
    Centre de Recherches Politiques de Sciences Po (CEVIPOF))

  • Romane Rozencwajg

    (Université Paris 8, Centre de Recherches Sociologiques et Politiques de Paris (CRESPPA))

  • Philippe Stamenkovic

    (Ben-Gurion University of the Negev
    Jacques Loeb Center for the History and Philosophy of Science)

  • Selma Tilikete

    (Université Paris 8, Centre de Recherches Sociologiques et Politiques de Paris (CRESPPA)
    Centre Alexandre Koyré
    Ecole des Hautes études en Sciences Sociales (EHESS))

  • Solène Tournus

    (Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)
    GIS Démocratie et Participation)

Abstract

Launched in 2019, the French Citizens’ Convention for Climate (CCC) tasked 150 randomly chosen citizens with proposing fair and effective measures to fight climate change. This was to be fulfilled through an “innovative co-construction procedure”, involving some unspecified external input alongside that from the citizens. Did inputs from the steering bodies undermine the citizens’ accountability for the output? Did co-construction help the output resonate with the general public, as is expected from a citizens’ assembly? To answer these questions, we build on our unique experience in observing the CCC proceedings and documenting them with qualitative and quantitative data. We find that the steering bodies’ input, albeit significant, did not impair the citizens’ agency, creativity, and freedom of choice. While succeeding in creating consensus among the citizens who were involved, this co-constructive approach, however, failed to generate significant support among the broader public. These results call for a strengthening of the commitment structure that determines how follow-up on the proposals from a citizens’ assembly should be conducted.

Suggested Citation

  • Louis-Gaëtan Giraudet & Bénédicte Apouey & Hazem Arab & Simon Baeckelandt & Philippe Bégout & Nicolas Berghmans & Nathalie Blanc & Jean-Yves Boulin & Eric Buge & Dimitri Courant & Amy Dahan & Adrien F, 2022. "“Co-construction” in deliberative democracy: lessons from the French Citizens’ Convention for Climate," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 9(1), pages 1-16, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:pal:palcom:v:9:y:2022:i:1:d:10.1057_s41599-022-01212-6
    DOI: 10.1057/s41599-022-01212-6
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Carolyn M. Hendriks, 2006. "When the Forum Meets Interest Politics: Strategic Uses of Public Deliberation," Politics & Society, , vol. 34(4), pages 571-602, December.
    2. Dryzek, John S. & Stevenson, Hayley, 2011. "Global democracy and earth system governance," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 70(11), pages 1865-1874, September.
    3. Adrien Fabre & Bénédicte Apouey & Thomas Douenne & Jean-Michel Fourniau & Louis-Gaëtan Giraudet & Jean-François Laslier & Solène Tournus, 2021. "Who Are the Citizens of the French Convention for Climate?," CIRED Working Papers halshs-03265053, HAL.
    4. Neblo, Michael A. & Esterling, Kevin M. & Kennedy, Ryan P. & Lazer, David M.J. & Sokhey, Anand E., 2010. "Who Wants To Deliberate—And Why?," American Political Science Review, Cambridge University Press, vol. 104(3), pages 566-583, August.
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