I have just spent a very interesting two days at a conference sponsored

by the Institute for Philosophy

& Public Policy and the Fundacion Nueva Generacion Argentina on

the subject of "Deliberative Democracy: Principles and Cases."

Essentially, the conference brought together four groups of experts

into fruitful dialogue:

1. The Fundacion sent Argentines who are deeply embroiled in their country’s

   convulsive political crisis.

2. Innovative grantmakers and aid experts talked about new approaches

   to development assistance that help democracy (or good governance) and

   civil society.

3. Practitioners who organize human-scale deliberative experiments (e.g.,

   Carolyn Lukensmeyer of America

   Speaks) talked about their work. Also, Gianpaolo Baiocchi contributed

   ethnographic research on participatory budgeting in Porto Allegre (which

   is turning into the Mecca for progessive and populist reformers); and

   Andrew Selee described participatory and deliberative experiments in

   Mexico.

4. Several American theorists and social scientists gave papers on deliberative

   democracy. Jane Mansbridge argued for the significance of practice for

   deliberative theory, drawing some theoretical conclusions about the

   importance of self-interest and passion. Henry Richardson talked about

   the corrupting effects of being powerless, and the discipline that comes

   from having to make practical decisions together. Noelle McAfee distinguished

   three types of deliberative democracy. And Joel Siegel provided evidence

   that democracy contributes to economic growth in developing countries.