Abstract
This chapter discusses the growing analytical interest of citizens’ assemblies (CAs) research in the neighbouring field of political communication in recent years. This involves (i) rethinking internal advances in CA theoretical and empirical research after the systemic turn, including the effort to use the media to expand mini-public initiatives to a wider body of citizens, and (ii) common concerns about the digitization of communication, circulation of dysfunctional information, and threats posed by illiberal and authoritarian uprisings in electoral democracies. This chapter argues that including media and digital landscape studies in the AC research agenda is useful in enabling scholars to address connections between institutions and wider publics, as well as the interplay of deliberative and non-deliberative practices. To advance an integrative research agenda, the author points out some lines of investigation and practical actions to shape the future directions of participatory deliberative processes and improve CAs’ programmatic response to disruptions in the public sphere today.
