Findings from Northumbria University Provides New Data on Coronavirus (Disrupting Deliberation? the Impact of the Pandemic On the Social Practice of Deliberative Engagement).

A report from Northumbria University in Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom, discusses the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the practice of deliberative engagement. The pandemic disrupted the traditional methods of democracy, particularly for citizens' assemblies that are used to address complex policy issues. The social restrictions imposed during the pandemic made in-person participation in these assemblies impossible, leading practitioners to adapt to digital delivery. The research highlights that while some aspects of deliberative practice were rethought, the established identity and competencies of practitioners influenced their choices and use of technology. This research has been peer-reviewed and is available for further reading. [Extracted from the article]