How Exclusive is Assembly Democracy? Citizens' Assembly and Ballot Participation Compared. Issue 1 (20th November 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Stadelmann‐Steffen, Isabelle; Dermont, Clau
• Is Part Of: Schweizerische Zeitschrift für Politikwissenschaft. Volume 22:Issue 1(2016)
• Page Start: 95
• Page End: 122
• Publication Date: 2015-11-20
• Subjects: Participatory equality -- citizens' assembly -- direct democracy -- models of democracy -- Bayesian estimation; Political science -- Periodicals; 320.05
• DOI: 10.1111/spsr.12184
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1424-7755

Abstract

Abstract: This paper analyses the difference between two specific forms of citizens' involvements, namely whether a vote is cast by ballot or in a citizens' assembly in which people gather in town halls to decide legislative questions in a deliberative manner. We show both theoretically and empirically how citizens' assemblies and decisions at the ballot box substantially differ not only in terms of their underlying model of democracy, but also in their structural conditions and, thus, with respect to the social inequality of participation. We test our hypotheses in a Bayesian multilevel framework using real participation data collected from 15 political decisions made in a Swiss commune. Our results show that citizens' assemblies are not only characterised by lower participation rates, but also by a particular composition of the electorate. While citizens' assemblies are more equal regarding income groups, ballots favour a more equitable participation in terms of gender and age.