Dispute Resolution / Deliberative Democracy Seminar

June 24-25, 2005
Cambridge, MA

Thirty deliberative democracy scholars and dispute resolution practice scholars convened at MIT in Cambridge this summer. The objective of the symposium was to bring the scholars from the two fields together to explore shared interests and consider future collaborations between the two fields. Both groups are concerned with ways of deepening democratic discourse and involving all relevant stakeholders in important public policy choices, without undermining the basic tenets of representative democracy. Both groups understand the opportunities and constraints posed by the idea of greater public participation in government decision-making. The symposium was organized around four scenarios concerning public policy dispute resolution that potentially raise issues related to democracy. The event was organized by Larry Susskind, David Booher, Judith Innes, John Forester, and Carrie Menkel-Meadow. Financial support was provided by the Program on Negotiation at Harvard and The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation.

For a summary of the symposium prepared by Catherine Ashcraft and Noah Susskind, click here. 

For more information about the symposium including participants, selected reading materials, and reflections from the participants visit: http://stellar.mit.edu/S/project/deliberativedemocracy/