When Democratic Innovations Integrate Multiple and Diverse Channels of Social Dialogue

Abstract

This chapter explores the opportunities, limitations, and risks of integrating multiple channels of citizen engagement within a democratic innovation. Using examples and case studies of recent face-to-face and online multichannel democratic innovations, the authors challenge the emerging consensus that redundancy and diversification of venues of participation are always positively correlated with the success of democratic innovations. Applying their concrete experience in areas of the world in which a systemic organization of different channels of citizen participation exists, the authors provide guidelines for achieving better integration of multiple channels of social dialogue.