Thorsten Sterk

In Lüneburg, a citizens' jury discussed the topic of ‘Consumption-free places for children in the city centre’. The nine recommendations of the mini-public were presented to the city council on 12 February 2026.

www.buergerrat.de/en/news/cons...

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In the German state of Baden-Württemberg, 21 parties are running in the state elections on 8 March 2026. Ten of them promise more citizens' assemblies.

www.buergerrat.de/en/news/ten-...

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A groundbreaking proposal to give citizens real power is shaking up French politics. The proposal includes citizen assemblies to deliberate on initiatives before they go to a vote, ensuring informed public debate.

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Zum Nutzen von Bürgerräten gibt es Dutzende Studien. Gerade ist eine Meta-Analyse dazu erschienen: www.buergerrat.de/aktuelles/wi...

Nicht ausgeschlossen, das Risiko wird aber stark minimiert

Die teuerste Bürgerbeteiligung ist die, die nicht stattfindet, weil sie zu teuren Fehlentscheidungen führt und teuren Widerstand durch Proteste, Klagen und Bürgerbegehren zur Folge hat.

Die Übernahme von Kinderbetreuung und Pflege gehört in Bürgerräten zum kostenlosen Standardprogramm

Es werden alle Kosten erstattet, es gibt eine Aufwandsentschädigung, um Freistellung von Schule oder Arbeit wird sich gekümmert, etc. pp.

Es wird alles getan, auch solchen Menschen die Teilnahme zu ermöglichen.

An Bürgerräten nehmen Menschen aus allen Altersgruppen teil. Es gibt sogar Bürgerräte nur für Kinder und Jugendliche. Alles über Bürgerräte unter www.buergerrat.de

On 4 February 2026, the Baden-Württemberg state parliament passed an amendment to the law on the protection of non-smokers. The amendment takes into account recommendations made by a Citizens' Forum.

www.buergerrat.de/en/news/non-...

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Citizens‘' assemblies continue to boom: in 2025, 58 mini-publics were launched or completed in Germany, and planning began for 32 more. To date, there have been a total of over 400 citizens' assemblies in Germany..

www.buergerrat.de/en/news/2025...

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Impacts of Citizens’ Assemblies: A Summary of the Latest Research — People Powered A new summary of global evidence to help you understand the power of citizens’ assemblies to change people, communities, and governments.

Citizens' assemblies have become significantly more important in recent years. But what do we know about their impact? As a global hub for participatory democracy, @peoplepowered.org has summarised research findings from numerous studies.

www.peoplepowered.org/news-content...

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A permanent citizens' assembly has been in place in @stadtaachen.bsky.social since 2022. Following three mini-publics on various topics, a change to the rules of procedure has now been decided.

www.buergerrat.de/en/news/new-...

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Goodbye Elections. Hello Democracy!

See Adam Cronkright, director of the upcoming film, "Goodbye Elections. Hello Democracy," on January 28, 2026, for the 4th session of the series, “The Lunch Break with Josh and Ted Wachtel.”

Register now! us02web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...

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Hier ein paar Beispiele: www.buergerrat.de/wissen/gute-...

In May 2026, the ‘Rheinisches Revier’ Citizens' Assembly will be launched, in which residents can actively participate in shaping their region and provide suggestions for structural change.

www.buergerrat.de/en/news/shap...

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What should the media landscape of the future look like? A citizens' forum in Baden-Württemberg discussed this question. On 17 January 2026, the final report was presented to State Parliament President Muhterem Aras and media professionals.

www.buergerrat.de/en/news/maki...

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In the German municipality of Werbach, a randomly selected citizens' forum advises the local council on the drafting of the municipal budget. Mayor Georg Wyrwoll hopes this will foster greater mutual understanding.

www.buergerrat.de/en/news/budg...

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How to engage youth in a climate assembly?

📌 At this KNOCA Learning Call participants will be learning about the Canadian Youth Climate Assembly

📅 January 22nd, 2026 | 15:00 – 16:30 (CET)

🔗 Register now: www.knoca.eu/events/learn...

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The German city of Moers should establish guidelines for citizen participation and create an office for citizen participation. These are two of the most important recommendations of the Citizens' Jury ‘Shaping Participation Together’.

www.buergerrat.de/en/news/that...

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How UK museums are embracing citizens’ assemblies to help frame their futures The National Gallery and Imperial War Museum seek the public’s views on purpose and priorities

UK museums are asking members of the public to help them define future policy and direction - even encompassing funding decisions - as part of a growing trend towards embracing citizens’ assemblies.

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bsky.app/profile/thor...

bsky.app/profile/thor...

Sortition Can Help Cure What Ails Our Democracy Americans are frustrated with our increasingly oligarchic political system. Empowering citizen juries, selected through random lotteries, to make laws could fix it.

Americans are frustrated with their increasingly oligarchic political system. Empowering citizens' assemblies, selected through random lotteries, to make laws could fix it, @tbouricius.bsky.social argues.

democracycreative.substack.com/p/sortition-...

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🎈 Why elected elites might reach for democratic innovations Elected politicians face rising mistrust, gridlock, and citizen disengagement. In their research, Şule Yaylaci, Edana Beauvais and Mark E. Warren show how democratic innovations can help elites tackle...

Elected politicians face rising mistrust, gridlock, and citizen disengagement. In their research, Şule Yaylacı, Edana Beauvais and Mark E. Warren show how democratic innovations can help elites tackle inclusion gaps, agenda-setting dilemmas, and decision-making deadlocks.

In Meinersen, all recommendations made by a Citizens' Jury on citizen services in the municipality were implemented. The process convinced politicians and administration of the added value of mini-publics.

www.buergerrat.de/en/news/we-a...

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Scaling Catalysts: DemocracyNext Paper Launch Event · Zoom · Luma Citizens’ assemblies and other democratic innovations are spreading around the world - but they don’t spread by themselves. Behind many successful examples sit…

What does it take to scale democratic innovation well?

Join DemocracyNext for the Scaling Catalysts paper launch event - an online launch of their latest research on how organisations can meaningfully scale democratic innovations.

📅 Thursday 15 January 2026
🕓 6 - 7:30 p.m. CET

Register now!

On 17 January 2026, a Global Civic Assembly on the future of the global food system will begin its work. 105 people from around the world will discuss the future of food against the backdrop of climate change.

www.buergerrat.de/en/news/clim...

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In Thuringia, a state-wide citizens' assembly will address the topic of ‘peace and democracy’ starting in March 2026. The mini-public is intended to give a voice to the ‘silent majority’

www.buergerrat.de/en/news/givi...

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