Deliberation across Deeply Divided Societies
Transformative Moments

This analysis of deliberative transformative moments gives deliberative research a dynamic aspect, opening practical applications in deeply divided societies.

Jürg Steiner (Author), Maria Clara Jaramillo (Author), Rousiley C. M. Maia (Author), Simona Mameli (Author)

9781107187726, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 16 March 2017

238 pages
23.5 x 16 x 1.9 cm, 0.55 kg

'Steiner, Jaramillo, Maia, and Mameli (2017), in a series of moderated deliberations between individuals from divided societies, find that rational argumentation and story-telling can sustain high levels of deliberative quality leading to agreement within the groups on key policy topics. Steiner's study - with a focus on how different modes and types of deliberation generate outcomes - is indicative of the type of work needed to show not just that deliberation has desirable effects, but the mechanisms and contexts that are pivotal in these pursuits.' Jonathan W. Kuyper, Journal of Public Deliberation

From the local level to international politics, deliberation helps to increase mutual understanding and trust, in order to arrive at political decisions of high epistemic value and legitimacy. This book gives deliberation a dynamic dimension, analysing how levels of deliberation rise and fall in group discussions, and introducing the concept of 'deliberative transformative moments' and how they can be applied to deeply divided societies, where deliberation is most needed but also most difficult to work. Discussions between ex-guerrillas and ex-paramilitaries in Colombia, Serbs and Bosnjaks in Bosnia-Herzegovina, and police officers and locals in Brazilian favelas are used as case studies, with participants addressing how peace can be attained in their countries. Allowing access to the records and transcripts of the discussions opens an opportunity for practitioners of conflict resolution to apply this research to their work in trouble spots of the world, creating a link between the theory and practice of deliberation.

Introduction
1. The collection of the empirical data
2. Personal stories and deliberative transformative moments
3. Rationality and deliberative transformative moments
4. Humor, sarcasm and deliberative transformative moments
5. Muteness and deliberative transformative moments
6. Deliberative leaders
7. Deliberative spoilers
8. Outcomes and deliberative transformative moments
Conclusion.

Subject Areas: Social & cultural anthropology, ethnography [JHMC], Sociology [JHB], Ethical issues & debates [JFM], Social & political philosophy [HPS], Ethics & moral philosophy [HPQ]