We’re just weeks away from a national election, and in our polarized society, we all know it can be difficult to find and create spaces for thoughtful policy discussions. A couple of years ago, James Fishkin, a professor of communication at Stanford, joined the podcast. He talked about a system called deliberative polling that can serve as a model for structuring small group discussions to help bring people together and bridge differences in conversations about some of the most politically fraught issues. It’s an opportune time to bring this conversation back for another listen and we hope our discussion helps as you go about your conversations through this political season and beyond.  

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Episode Reference Links:

• Stanford Profile: James Fishkin
• James’ Lab: Deliberative Democracy Lab

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Chapters:

(00:00:00) Introduction

Russ Altman introduces guest James Fishkin, a professor of communication at Stanford.

(00:01:31) What is Deliberative Democracy?

The concept of deliberative democracy and how it addresses political divides.

(00:03:47) Managing Balance in Deliberation

The importance of balanced group discussions and strategies for avoiding conflict.

(00:04:55) Scaling Deliberation for Large Groups

The logistics and technology behind scaling to larger groups, both online and in person.

(00:06:54) Deciding Which Questions to Address

How tough issues are selected for deliberation in different locations.

(00:10:54) The Human Element in Deliberation

The surprising effectiveness of online platforms for fostering connection.

(00:13:13) Automated Moderators in Deliberation

The development and success of automated moderators in online deliberations.

(00:19:20) Applying Deliberative Democracy to the U.S.

Whether deliberative polling could help address political deadlock in the U.S.

(00:25:30) The Future of Deliberative Polling

The future possibilities of scaling deliberative polling to larger populations.

(00:27:23) Conclusion

Connect With Us:

Episode Transcripts >>> The Future of Everything Website

Connect with Russ >>> Threads / Bluesky / Mastodon

Connect with School of Engineering >>>Twitter/X / Instagram / LinkedIn / Facebook