Articles

Conflict of Interest in Government: Avoiding Ethical and Conceptual Mistakes” in Governance (03 June 2024) with Dennis Thompson.

Democratic Responsibility in the Digital Public Sphere” in Constellations (30 March 2023) with Joshua Cohen.

Can transparency and accountability programs improve health? Experimental evidence from Indonesia and Tanzania” in World Development, Vol. 142 (June 2021) with Jean Arkedis, Jessica Creighton, Akshay Dixit, Stephen Kosack, Dan Levy, and Courtney Tolmie.

When Deliberation Produces Persuasion Rather Than Polarization: Measuring and Modeling Small Group Dynamics in a Field ExperimentBritish Journal of Political Science (December 2, 2019) with Kevin Esterling and Taeku Lee.

Four Levels of Power: A Conception to Enable Liberation” in Journal of Political Philosophy (July 2, 2019)

If you liked the article, you’ll love the movie. See it here: Power and Social Change (August 2017)

A Taxonomy to Engage Patients: Objectives, Design Characteristics and Patient Activatione (Catalyst). (August 21, 2019) With Elena Fagotto and Victoria Alsina Burgees.

The Crisis of Democracy and the Science of Deliberation” in Science (Policy Forum) Vol. 363, Issue 6432, (15 March 2019), pp. 1144-1146. With John S. Dryzek, André Bächtiger, Simone Chambers, Joshua Cohen, James N. Druckman, Andrea Felicetti, James S. Fishkin, David M. Farrell, Archon Fung, Amy Gutmann, Hélène Landemore, Jane Mansbridge, Sofie Marien, Michael A. Neblo, Simon Niemeyer, Maija Setälä, Rune Slothuus, Jane Suiter, Dennis Thompson, Mark E. Warren.

How Much Disagreement is Good for Democratic Deliberation” Political Communication (May 2015) with Kevin Esterling and Taeku Lee.

Putting the Public Back Into Governance: The Challenges of Citizen Participation and Its Future” in Public Administration Review 25 February (2015) 

Does Transparency Improve Governance” in Annual Review of Political Science Vol. 17 (February 2014): 65-87 with Stephen Kosack.

"Targeting TransparencyScience Magazine Vol. 340, No. 6139 (2013): 1410-11 with David Weil and Mary Graham.

Infotopia: Unleashing the Power of Democratic Transparency” in Politics and Society Vol. 41 (2013): 183-212.

Six Models of Internet+Politics” in International Studies Review Vol. 15 (2013): 30-47. With Jennifer Shkabatur and Hollie Russon Gilman.

Continuous Institutional Innovation and the Pragmatic Conception of Democracy” in Polity Vol. 44, No. 4 (October 2012): 609-624.

The Participedia Project: An Introduction in International Journal of Public Management Vol. 14, No. 3 (December 2011): 341-62.

“The Place of Self Interest and the Role of Deliberative Democracy” in Journal of Political Philosophy Vol 18, No. 1 (2010): 64-100. With Jane Mansbridge, James Bohman, Simone Chambers, David Estlund, Andreas Føllesdal, Cristina Lafont, Bernard Manin, José Luis Martí

"Democratic Theory and Political Science: A Pragmatic Method of Constructive Engagement" in American Political Science ReviewVol. 101, No. 3 (August 2007): 443-58.

"Varieties of Participation in Complex Governance" in Public Administration Review, Vol. 66 (December 2006): 66-75.

"Empowered Participation in Minneapolis: The Neighborhood Revitalization Program" in International Journal of Urban and Regional Research, Vol. 30, No. 3 (September 2006): 638-55. With Elena Fagotto.

“The Effectiveness of Regulatory Disclosure” in Journal of Policy Analysis and Management, Vol. 26, No. 1 (2006): 155-181. With Elena Fagotto, Mary Graham, and David Weil.

“Deliberation Before the Revolution: Toward an Ethics of Deliberative Democracy in an Unjust World” in Political Theory, Vol. 33, No. 3 (Spring 2005).

“Radical Democracy” in Swiss Journal of Political Science, Vol. 10, No. 4 (Winter 2004). With Joshua Cohen.

“Recipes for Public Spheres: Eight Institutional Design Choices and Their Consequences” in Journal of Political Philosophy, Vol. 11, No. 3. (September 2003): 338-67.

“Associations and Democracy: Between Theories, Hopes, and Realities” in Annual Review of Sociology, Vol. 29, (2003): 515-39.

“Deliberative Democracy and International Labor Standards” in Governance, Vol. 16, No. 1 (January 2003).

"Deepening Democracy: Innovations in Empowered Participatory Governance" in Politics and Society, Vol. 29, No. 1 (March 2001). With Erik Olin Wright.

"Accountable Autonomy: Toward Empowered Deliberation in Chicago Schools and Policing" in Politics and Society, Vol. 29, No. 1 (March 2001).

“After Backyard Environmentalism: Toward a Regime of Performance Based Environmental Regulation” in American Behavioral Scientist, Vol. 44, No. 4 (December 2000): 692-711. With Bradley Karkkainen and Charles Sabel.

"Reinventing Environmental Regulation From The Grassroots Up: Explaining And Expanding The Success Of The Toxics Release Inventory" in Environmental Management, Vol. 25, No. 2 (February 2000): 115-27. With Dara O'Rourke.

"Making Rights Real: Roe's Impact on Abortion Access" in Politics and Society, Vol. 21, No. 4 (Dec. 1993).


Chapters in Books

Is Democracy Too Much Trouble in a Pandemic” in Democracy in a Pandemic: Participation in Response to Crisis, ed. Graham Smith, Tim Hughes, Lizzie Adams, Charlotte Obijiaku (University of Westminster Press, 2021)

“Democracy and the Digital Public Sphere” in Digital Technology & Democratic Theory, ed. Lucy Bernholz, Helene Landemore, and Rob Reich (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2021): 23-62. (with Joshua Cohen)

Saving Democracy From Ourselves: Democracy as a Tragedy of the Commons” in Ideas that Matter: Democracy, Justice, Rights, ed. Debra Satz and Annabelle Lever (Oxford University Press, 2019): 9-35.

“Viral Engagement: Fast, Cheap, and Broad, but Good for Democracy?” in Danielle Allen and Jennifer Light eds., From Voice to Influence: Understanding Citizenship in a Digital Age (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2015): 155-177.

“Technology for Democracy in Development: Lessons from Seven Case Studies” in Patrick Heller and Vijayendra Rao eds. Deliberation and Development: Rethinking the Role of Voice and Collective Action in Unequal Societies (Washington, D.C.: World Bank Press: 2015): 229-236. (with Hollie Russon Gilman and Jennifer Shkabatur).

The Principle of Affected Interests and Inclusion in Democratic Governance” in ed. Jack Nagel and Rogers Smith. Representation: Elections and Beyond (Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press, 2013)

“A Systemic Approach to Deliberative Democracy” in Deliberative Systems: Deliberative Democracy At The Large Scale (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2012): 1-26. With Jane Mansbridge, James Bohman, Simone Chambers, Thomas Christiano, John Parkinson, Dennis F Thompson, Mark E Warren.

“Calling Publics into Existence: The Political Arts of Public Management” in Mark H. Moore and John D. Donahue eds, Ports in a Storm: Public Management in a Turbulent World (Washington, D.C.: Brookings Institution Press, 2012) (with Mark H. Moore).

“Minipublics: Designing Institutions for Effective Deliberation and Accountability” in Sina Odugbemi and Taeku Lee eds. Accountability Through Public Opinion: From Inertia to Public Action (Washington, D.C.: The World Bank, 2011): 183-202.

Popular Election Monitoring” in Heather Gerken, Guy-Uriel E. Charles, and Michael S. Kang eds. Race, Reform, and Regulatory Institutions: Recurring Puzzles in American Democracy (New York, Cambridge University Press, 2011).

“Open Government, Open Society” Chapter 8 of Collaboration, Transparency, and Participation in Practice (New York: O’Reilly Media, 2010) (with David Weil): 105-114.

"Empowered Participatory Governance in the United Kingdom?" in Daniel Leighton, Stuart White eds, Building a Citizen Society(London: Lawrence and Wshart, Ltd, 2008): 83-92 (with Erik Olin Wright).

“Citizen Participation in Government Innovations” in Innovations in Government: Research, Recognition, and Replication, ed. Sandford Borins (Washington, D.C.: Brookings Institution Press, 2008): 52-70.

"Minipublics: Deliberative Designs and Their Consequences" in Shawn Rosenberg ed., Deliberation, Participation, and Democracy: Can the People Govern? (New York: Palgrave MacMillan, 2007): 159-183.

Democracy and the Policy Process” in Oxford Handbook of Public Policy, ed. Martin Rein, Michael Moran, and Robert E. Goodin (New York: Oxford University Press, 2006): 669-685.

“Le Contre-Pouvoir dans la Démocratie Participative et Délibérative” in Marie-Héléne Bacqué, Herni Rey, and Yves Sintomer eds., Gestion de Proximité et Démocratie Participative: Une Perspective Comparative (Paris: La Découverte, 2005): 49-80.

“What Should Be Built at Ground Zero?” in Ethics and Politics: Cases and Comments [4th edition], eds. Amy Gutmann and Dennis F. Thompson (Belmont, CA: Thomson-Wadsworth, 2006): 303-312. With Susan Rosegrant.

“Future Directions for Public Deliberation” in John Gastil and Peter Levine eds., The Deliberative Democracy Handbook (San Francisco: Josey-Bass, 2005): 271-288. With John Gastil and Peter Levine.

“Recitas para Esferas Públicas: Oito Desenhos Institucionais e Suas Conseqüências” in Vera Schattan P. Coelho e Marcos Nobre eds. Participaçåo e Deliberaçåo: Teoria Democrática e Experiências Institucionais no Brasil Contemporâneo (Sao Paulo: Editora, 2004).

“Ecologies of Workforce Development in Milwaukee” in Robert P. Giloth ed. Workforce Development Politics: Civic Capacity and Performance (Philadelphia: Temple University Press, 2004): 75-101. With Scott Zdrazil.

“Making Social Markets: Dispersed Governance and Corporate Accountability” in Market Based Governance: Supply Side, Demand Side, Upside and Downside, ed. John D. Donahue and Joseph S. Nye (Washington, D.C.: Brookings Institution Press, 2002): 145-72.

“Experimentos en Democracia Deliberativa: Una Introduccion” in Republicanismo Contemporaneo: Igualdad, Democracia Deliberativa, y Ciudadania, ed. Andres Hernandez (Bogata, Colombia: Universidad de los Andes, 2002). With Erik Olin Wright.


Reviews & Review Essays

It’s the Gap, Stupid” in Boston Review — a review of books by Richard Reeves, Thomas Shapiro, and Joan C. Williams (September 2017).

Review of Can Democracy Be Saved by Donna Della Porta” in Contemporary Sociology Vol. 44. No. 1 (January 2015): 50-2.

Reinventing Democracy in Latin America” in Perspectives on Politics Vol. 9, No. 4 (Dec. 2011): 857-71.

Review of Xavier Briggs’ Democracy as Problem Solving: Civic Capacity in Communities Across the Globe” in City and Community(February 2010): 132-34.

“Deliberation Day by Bruce Ackerman and James Fishkin (book review)” in Journal of Policy Analysis and Management, Vol. 24, No. 2 (March 2005): 472-476.

Can Social Movements Save American Democracy? (Review Essay)” in Boston Review, Vol. 28, No. 1 (February/March 2003): 34-38.

“A Review of The Environment: Between Theory and Practice (Book Review)” Environment, Vol. 44, No. 5 (June 2002): 37.

Why Do Expressive Campaigns Succeed and Fail?” (Review of Ronald Libby’s Eco-Wars: Political Campaigns and Social Movements, Cornell University Press, 1998) in Journal of Political Ecology: Case Studies in History and the Social Sciences (January 2001).

“A Deeply Democratic Developmental State: The Socio-Political Basis of the Kerala Model” (Review of Patrick Heller’s The Labor Of Development: Workers and the Transformation of Capitalism in Kerala, India, Cornell University Press, 2000) in Contemporary Sociology, Vol. 30, No.1 (January 2001): 75-7.

“The Fashionability of Hate: Review of Patricia Williams’ The Rooster’s Egg: Imagining How it Might Be Different in the Time of Democracy’s Doldrums” in Boston Book Review. Vol. 3, No. 2 (January/February 1996): 9-10.

“Speak Truth to Power: Review of Kent Greenawalt’s Fighting Words: Individuals, Communities, and Liberties of Speech” in Boston Book Review. Vol. 2, No. 7 (August 1995): 5.


Reports

“Sustaining Public Engagement: Embedded Deliberation in Local Communities” A Report for the Kettering Foundation (October 20, 2009) (with Elena Fagotto).

The Difference Deliberation Makes. A Report on the CaliforniaSpeaks Statewide Conversations on Health Care Reform” (18 October 2008, with Taeku Lee)

Ratcheting Labor Standards: Regulation for Continuous Improvement in the Global Workplace (World Bank Group Social Protection Unit Discussion Paper SP 0011)” (Washington, D.C.: World Bank Group, May 2000). With Dara O’Rourke and Charles Sabel.


Commentary & Other Work

How Artificial Intelligence Could Take Over Elections — and Undermine Democracy” in The Conversation, with Larry Lessig (June 2023)

In Spanish: “¿Podría la Inteligencia Artificial (IA) tomar el control de las elecciones y socavar la democracia?” in Este Pais (July 3, 2023).

Progress for People of Color Doesn’t Come at White Folks’ Expense” podcast with Heather McGhee, author of The Sum of Us in Boston Review (April 28, 2021).

Biden Must Put Democracy First” in Boston Review (November 18, 2020).

On the COVID-19 Global Pandemic:

How to determine if a business is COVID-19 safe? Create a restaurant-style grading system” in Los Angeles Times (June 9, 2020). PDF available here.

COVID-19 Requires More Democracy, Not Less” in Boston Review (April 23, 2020)

A New Civic Federalism” [in Politico Package: Coronavirus Will Change the World Permanently. Here’s How] Politico (March 19, 2020)

The Five Things We Need to Know to Fight Coronavirus” in Politico (The Agenda) (March 13, 2020)

“One thing to change: Everyone should vote (Focal Point Series)” in Harvard Gazette (July 12, 2019).

“Let's vote, party and celebrate American democracy on a new holiday called Citizen Day” in USA Today (October 26, 2018). With Jane Mansbridge.

Our desperate need to save US democracy from ourselves” in The Hill (December 7, 2016)

“A Tea Party for Obama” in The American Prospect (April 15, 2010).

“Engaging Your Constituents: Beyond the Usual Suspects” Capitol Ideas (March/April 2010): 46.

“Defining Transparency” and “Risks of Open Government” (two part interview with Archon Fung conducted by Allan Holmes) in NextGov: Technology and the Business of Government (September 2009).

“Polishing the keys to open government: How to make government transparent without encouraging partisan attacks” in Federal Computer Week (June 15, 2009) (with Joseph Goldman).

“Do All Bridges Collapse: Possibilities for Democracy in the European Union” in Politische Vierteljahresschrift (PVS). Vol. 48, No. 4 (December 2007): 730-739.

"A Citizen Congress" in Boston Globe (October 16, 2007).

"Fixing the Misinformation Age" in Boston Globe (April 10, 2007). With David Weil.

"What Can We Learn from Social Science About Democracy in Europe: A Response to Andrew Moravcsik" a debate on Notre Europe (October 2006) with Pepper Culpepper.

"Let Citizen Assemblies Draw Districts" in "Six Ways to Reform Democracy" in Boston Review Vol. 31, No. 5 (September/October 2006).

"Coming to the Rescue: Government Can't Save the Day When Disaster Strikes, but It Can Help People Save Themselves" in Boston Globe Magazine (October 2, 2005).

Future Directions for Public Deliberation” in Journal of Public Deliberation, Vol. 1, No. 1 (2005). With John Gastil and Peter Levine.

Deliberation’s Darker Side: A Discussion with Iris Marion Young and Jane Mansbridge” in National Civic Review, Vol. 93, No. 4 (Winter 2004): 47-54.

Public Deliberation: Where Are We and Where Can We Go?” in National Civic Review, Vol. 93, No. 4 (Winter 2004): 3-15. With Abby Williamson.

"The Political Economy of Transparency: What Makes Disclosure Policies Effective" (December 2004, Occassional PaperOP-03-04, Ash Institute for Democracy and Innovation, JFK School of Government, Harvard University) With Mary Graham and David Weil.

“Een Pleidooi Voor Actief Burgerbestuur (Empowered Participatory Governance: An Introduction)” in Socialisme & Democratie. No. 2 (2004): 36-43. With Erik Olin Wright.

Deliberation Where You Least Expect It: Citizen Participation in Government” in Connections (Fall 2003): 30-33.

The Political Economy of Transparency: What Makes Disclosure Policies Sustainable?” (Occasional Paper OPS-02-03, Institute for Government Innovation, JFK School of Government, Harvard University). With Mary Graham and David Weil.

Improving Workplace Hazard Communication” in Issues in Science and Technology (Winter 2002-2003): 63-68. With Elena Fagotto.

Beyond and Below the New Urbanism: Citizen Participation and Responsive Spatial Reconstruction (A Symposium for Jane Jacobs)” in Boston College Environmental Affairs Law Review. Vol. 28, No. 4 (2001).

Stepping Up Labor Standards” in Boston Review. Vol. 26, No. 1 (February/March 2001). (with Dara O’Rourke and Charles Sabel) 

“Act Locally, Deliberate Globally” in The Good Society: A PEGS Journal. Vol. 10. No. 2. (2001): 4-7.

“Quale Volano per Gli Standard Internazionali di Protezione Sociale? Proposta per un Progressivo Miglioramento Delle Condizioni di Lavoro Nell’economia Globalizzata” in Il diritto del Mercato Del Lavoro, n.1, 2001, pp: 85-121. With Charles Sabel and Dara O’Rourke.

Creating Deliberative Publics: Governance After Devolution and Democratic Centralism in Metapolitica, Vol. 4, No. 14 (April-May 2000).

“Ratcheting Labour Standards: How Open Competition Can Save Ethical Sourcing” in ed. Raj Thamotheram, Visions of Ethical Sourcing (London: Financial Times-Prentice Hall, 2000). With Dara O’Rourke and Charles Sabel.

“Esfreras de Deliberación: Gobernar Después Del Centralismo Democrático (Spheres of Deliberation: Governance After Democratic Centralism)” in Metapolítica Vol. 4, No. 14 (April-June 2000).

After Backyard Environmentalism (With Charles Sabel and Bradley Karkkainen, Presented at the Meetings of the Association for Politics and the Life Sciences, August 1999). This original paper has been revised and published in a "New Democracy Forum" segment of the Boston Review. To read this article, together with responses from Dan Fiorino, Ted Lowi, Larry Susskind, Cass Sunstein, and others, visit the excellent Boston Review web site.

“Experimentos em Democracia Deliberativa” in Sociologias. Vol.1 No. 2 (July-December 1999). With Erik Olin Wright.

‘High Road’ Job Creation: The New Party’s Urban Agenda” in Dollars and Sense. No. 214 (November/December 1997): 30-33. With Joel Rogers.

“Build Them Up or Tear Them Down? Solving Problem Buildings” in Neighborhoods. Vol. 3, No. 2 (Summer 1997): 1, 8-9.

“Englewood Residents, Police Clean Up Nuisance Building” in Neighborhoods. Vol. 3, No. 2 (Summer 1997): 5.

“Residents Can Use Police General Order to Solve Specific Neighborhood Problems” in Neighborhoods. Vol. 3, No. 1 (Spring 1997): 1, 5, 9-10.

“District Advisory Councils Searching for Community Policing Roles” in Neighborhoods. Vol. 3, No. 1 (Spring 1997): 6-8.

“Contract Expired: Is Chicago Poised to Take the Community Out of Community Policing?” in Neighborhood Works. Vol. 20, No. 2 (March/April 1997): 8-9.

Out of the Darkness: A Response to Richard Flacks’ ‘Reflections on Strategy in a Dark Time’” in Boston Review. Vol. 21, No. 1 (February/March 1996): 10. With Penn Loh and Dara O’Rourke.

"Extended Condorcet and Experimentalist Models of Epistemic Democracy" (Draft, Nov 1995)


Multimedia

Progress for People of Color Doesn’t Come at White Folks’ Expense” podcast with Heather McGhee, author of The Sum of Us in Boston Review (April 28, 2021).

The Power of Public Data (How to Save the World, Katie Patrick Podcast, 6/2018)

Power and Social Change (Havard Kennedy School SLATE program, August 2017)

Despair Is Not an Option — Interview with Senator Bernie Sanders (Boston Review event @MIT, April 4, 2017)

Deliberative Democracy discussion (KQED's Forum, San Francisco radio, 8/07)

Discussion of Roberto Unger's Democracy Realized, (WETS-FM: Issues and Ideas, MP3, 6/03)