Dimitri Courant
Dimitri Courant is a Post-doctoral Fellow at the Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation at Harvard Kennedy School.
Previously, he was a Postdoctoral Research Associate and Fung Global Fellow at the Princeton Institute for International and Regional Studies (PIIRS), at Princeton University. He received his dual Ph.D. in political science jointly from the University of Lausanne and the University Paris 8. He holds a master’s degree in political science from Sciences Po Rennes and a master’s in social sciences from the School for Advanced Studies in the Social Sciences (EHESS, Paris). He also studied at Queen Mary University of London through the Erasmus program. He currently is the vice-president of the related group on Democratic Innovations at the American Political Science Association (APSA).
Dr. Courant’s research focuses on deliberation, representation, democracy, and sortition. His qualitative fieldwork inquiry compares several case-studies, especially the Irish Citizens’ Assemblies (Ireland); the Citizens’ Convention for Climate, and the National Great Debate (France). He was also part of the team leading the first Citizen Initiative Review in Switzerland. His postdoctoral work investigates citizens’ assemblies on climate change in an international comparative perspective.
Address: 79 John F. Kennedy Street, Mailbox 74, Cambridge, MA 02138
Previously, he was a Postdoctoral Research Associate and Fung Global Fellow at the Princeton Institute for International and Regional Studies (PIIRS), at Princeton University. He received his dual Ph.D. in political science jointly from the University of Lausanne and the University Paris 8. He holds a master’s degree in political science from Sciences Po Rennes and a master’s in social sciences from the School for Advanced Studies in the Social Sciences (EHESS, Paris). He also studied at Queen Mary University of London through the Erasmus program. He currently is the vice-president of the related group on Democratic Innovations at the American Political Science Association (APSA).
Dr. Courant’s research focuses on deliberation, representation, democracy, and sortition. His qualitative fieldwork inquiry compares several case-studies, especially the Irish Citizens’ Assemblies (Ireland); the Citizens’ Convention for Climate, and the National Great Debate (France). He was also part of the team leading the first Citizen Initiative Review in Switzerland. His postdoctoral work investigates citizens’ assemblies on climate change in an international comparative perspective.
Address: 79 John F. Kennedy Street, Mailbox 74, Cambridge, MA 02138
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Papers by Dimitri Courant
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Among democratic innovations, deliberative mini-publics, that is panels of randomly selected citizens tasked to make recommendations about public policies, have been increasingly used. In this regard, Ireland stands out as a truly unique case because, on the one hand, it held four consecutive randomly selected citizens' assemblies, and on the other hand, some of those processes produced major political outcomes through three successful referendums; no other country shows such as record. This led many actors to claim that the “Irish model” was replicable in other countries and that it should lead to political “success.” But is this true? Relying on a qualitative empirical case-study, this article analyses different aspects to answer this question: First, the international context in which the Irish deliberative process took place; second, the differences between the various Irish citizens' assemblies; third, their limitations and issues linked to a contrasted institutionalization; and finally, what “institutional model” emerges from Ireland and whether it can be transferred elsewhere.
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https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpos.2020.591983/full
MOTS-CLÉS. — Assemblée citoyenne – climat – délibération – démocratie – innovation démocratique – Irlande.
CITATIONS. — Courant D. (2020), « Des mini-publics délibératifs pour sauver le climat ? Analyses empiriques de l’Assemblée citoyenne irlandaise et de la Convention citoyenne française », Archives de Philosophie du Droit, vol. 62, p. 487-507.
Abstract
Cases of deliberative democracy are ever-growing, however they remain largely ad hoc and ephemeral. Is institutionalisation a necessary condition for democratic innovations to meet great expectations? As the latest chapter in deliberative innovation, Ireland saw three successive assemblies produce major political outcomes through three successful referendums. Will Ireland lead the way in terms of new democratic institutions? First, I start by presenting the context within which the Irish case arose. It is crucial to perceive the Irish citizens’ assemblies as the latest chapter of a long trend involving deliberative mini-publics and as a product of transfers. Second, I analyse the institutionalisation process of deliberative democracy in Ireland by studying the successive assemblies, their ruptures and continuities, and their articulation. This case study will allow us to identify the relevant dimensions for institutionalisation. Finally, in light of the Irish insights, I establish some comparative typologies of the various institutionalisations displayed by deliberative democratic innovations worldwide and the challenges they raise.
Keywords : democratic innovation, institutionalisation, deliberative democracy, mini-public, participatory democracy
Résumé
Les expérimentations pratiques de démocratie délibérative se multiplient dans le monde, mais elles demeurent largement ad hoc et éphémères. L’institutionalisation est-elle une condition nécessaire pour que les innovations démocratiques répondent aux attentes à leur égard ? En tant que pointe avancée de l’innovation délibérative,
L’Irlande a vu trois assemblées successives produire des changements politiques majeurs, notamment à travers trois référendums victorieux. L’Irlande sera-t-elle un modèle en termes de nouvelles institutions démocratiques ? Premièrement, je commence par présenter le contexte au sein duquel le cas irlandais émerge. Il est crucial de considérer les assemblées citoyennes irlandaises comme le dernier chapitre d’une longue tendance impliquant des mini-publics délibératifs et comme le produit de transferts. Deuxièmement, j’analyse le processus d’institutionalisation de la démocratie délibérative en Irlande en étudiant les trois assemblées successives, leurs ruptures et continuités ainsi que leur articulation. Ce étude de cas nous permettra d’identifier les dimensions pertinentes concernant l’institutionnalisation. Enfin, à la lumière de ces découvertes, j’établis des typologies comparatives des différentes institutionnalisations révélées par les innovations délibératives contemporaines au niveau mondial, ainsi que les enjeux qu’elles soulèvent.
Mots-clefs : innovation démocratique, institutionalisation, démocratie délibérative, mini-public, participation
Part 2: “We have humility.” Perceived legitimacy and representative claims in the Irish Citizens’ Assembly
Abstract
In the study of deliberative democracy, both theorists and empiricists often consider legitimacy as procedural. However, why and how do randomly selected mini-public’s participants think they have the right -or not- to deliberate and to represent? What are their subjective cognitive representations and justifications regarding their own legitimacy? What are the visions of democracy and politics underlining those cognitive representations? To answer these questions, I develop a comprehensive sociology of the perceived legitimacy of the members of the Irish Citizens’ Assembly. I study their discourse, produced during qualitative interviews, through the concept of humility-legitimacy. After looking at this empirical evidence, I propose a theory of a “new spirit of sortition” and its consequences for democracy.
Keywords : citizen assembly, deliberative democracy, legitimacy, mini-public, representation
Résumé
Dans les études portant sur la démocratie délibérative, théoriciens et empiristes considèrent l’essentiel du temps la légitimité comme procédurale. Cependant, pourquoi et comment les participants à un mini-public tiré au sort pensent-ils qu’ils ont ou non le droit de délibérer et de représenter ? Quelles sont les conceptions de la démocratie et du politique qui sous-tendent ces représentations cognitives ? Afin de répondre à ces question, j’ai effectué une sociologie compréhensive des légitimités perçues par les membres de l’Assemblée Citoyenne irlandaise. J’ai étudié leurs discours, produit lors d’entretiens qualitatifs, à travers le concept de « légitimité-humilité ». Après avoir analysé les preuves empiriques, j’élabore une théorie du « nouvel esprit du tirage au sort » et de ses conséquences pour la démocratie.
Mots-clefs : assemblée citoyenne, démocratie délibérative, légitimité, mini-public, représentation
Pour citer ce dossier / To quote this issue :
Courant, Dimitri (2018). ‘Deliberative Democracy, Legitimacy, and Institutionalisation. The Irish Citizens' Assemblies’, IEPHI Working Paper Series, n°72.
Pour citer individuellement les deux articles présentés dans les Parties 1 et 2 de ce cahier / To quote individually the two articles presented in Part 1 and Part 2 of this issue :
Courant, Dimitri (2018a). ‘The Curious Institutionalisation of Deliberative Democracy. The Irish Citizens’ Assemblies and the Future of Democratic Innovation’, in Dimitri Courant, Deliberative Democracy, Legitimacy, and Institutionalisation. The Irish Citizens' Assemblies, IEPHI Working Paper Series, n°72 : 8-23.
Courant, Dimitri (2018b). ‘“We have humility.” Perceived legitimacy and representative claims in the Irish Citizens’ Assembly’, in Dimitri Courant, Deliberative Democracy, Legitimacy, and Institutionalisation. The Irish Citizens' Assemblies, IEPHI Working Paper SeriesI, n°72 : 25-46.
To better understand the implications of sortition, I begin by contrasting it with the other modes of selection democracies use to place people in positions of power, including not only elections but also nomination and certifi cation. I then distinguish varieties of sortition that differ by their mandate, the population from which a random sample is drawn, and the degree to which service is voluntary or compulsory. Depending on the design considerations such as these, sortition can provide a novel means of realizing the democratic aspirations of equality, impartiality, representativeness, and legitimacy.
Courant Dimitri (2019), "Sortition and Democratic Principles: A Comparative Analysis", in Gastil and Wright (eds.), Legislature by Lot: Transformative Designs for Deliberative Governance, Verso, New York/London, p. 229-248.
https://www.versobooks.com/books/2969-legislature-by-lot
https://aoc.media/analyse/2019/04/09/petit-bilan-grand-debat-national/
https://laviedesidees.fr/Les-assemblees-citoyennes-en-Irlande.html
https://revistas.um.es/daimon/article/view/295921
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Among democratic innovations, deliberative mini-publics, that is panels of randomly selected citizens tasked to make recommendations about public policies, have been increasingly used. In this regard, Ireland stands out as a truly unique case because, on the one hand, it held four consecutive randomly selected citizens' assemblies, and on the other hand, some of those processes produced major political outcomes through three successful referendums; no other country shows such as record. This led many actors to claim that the “Irish model” was replicable in other countries and that it should lead to political “success.” But is this true? Relying on a qualitative empirical case-study, this article analyses different aspects to answer this question: First, the international context in which the Irish deliberative process took place; second, the differences between the various Irish citizens' assemblies; third, their limitations and issues linked to a contrasted institutionalization; and finally, what “institutional model” emerges from Ireland and whether it can be transferred elsewhere.
-
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpos.2020.591983/full
MOTS-CLÉS. — Assemblée citoyenne – climat – délibération – démocratie – innovation démocratique – Irlande.
CITATIONS. — Courant D. (2020), « Des mini-publics délibératifs pour sauver le climat ? Analyses empiriques de l’Assemblée citoyenne irlandaise et de la Convention citoyenne française », Archives de Philosophie du Droit, vol. 62, p. 487-507.
Abstract
Cases of deliberative democracy are ever-growing, however they remain largely ad hoc and ephemeral. Is institutionalisation a necessary condition for democratic innovations to meet great expectations? As the latest chapter in deliberative innovation, Ireland saw three successive assemblies produce major political outcomes through three successful referendums. Will Ireland lead the way in terms of new democratic institutions? First, I start by presenting the context within which the Irish case arose. It is crucial to perceive the Irish citizens’ assemblies as the latest chapter of a long trend involving deliberative mini-publics and as a product of transfers. Second, I analyse the institutionalisation process of deliberative democracy in Ireland by studying the successive assemblies, their ruptures and continuities, and their articulation. This case study will allow us to identify the relevant dimensions for institutionalisation. Finally, in light of the Irish insights, I establish some comparative typologies of the various institutionalisations displayed by deliberative democratic innovations worldwide and the challenges they raise.
Keywords : democratic innovation, institutionalisation, deliberative democracy, mini-public, participatory democracy
Résumé
Les expérimentations pratiques de démocratie délibérative se multiplient dans le monde, mais elles demeurent largement ad hoc et éphémères. L’institutionalisation est-elle une condition nécessaire pour que les innovations démocratiques répondent aux attentes à leur égard ? En tant que pointe avancée de l’innovation délibérative,
L’Irlande a vu trois assemblées successives produire des changements politiques majeurs, notamment à travers trois référendums victorieux. L’Irlande sera-t-elle un modèle en termes de nouvelles institutions démocratiques ? Premièrement, je commence par présenter le contexte au sein duquel le cas irlandais émerge. Il est crucial de considérer les assemblées citoyennes irlandaises comme le dernier chapitre d’une longue tendance impliquant des mini-publics délibératifs et comme le produit de transferts. Deuxièmement, j’analyse le processus d’institutionalisation de la démocratie délibérative en Irlande en étudiant les trois assemblées successives, leurs ruptures et continuités ainsi que leur articulation. Ce étude de cas nous permettra d’identifier les dimensions pertinentes concernant l’institutionnalisation. Enfin, à la lumière de ces découvertes, j’établis des typologies comparatives des différentes institutionnalisations révélées par les innovations délibératives contemporaines au niveau mondial, ainsi que les enjeux qu’elles soulèvent.
Mots-clefs : innovation démocratique, institutionalisation, démocratie délibérative, mini-public, participation
Part 2: “We have humility.” Perceived legitimacy and representative claims in the Irish Citizens’ Assembly
Abstract
In the study of deliberative democracy, both theorists and empiricists often consider legitimacy as procedural. However, why and how do randomly selected mini-public’s participants think they have the right -or not- to deliberate and to represent? What are their subjective cognitive representations and justifications regarding their own legitimacy? What are the visions of democracy and politics underlining those cognitive representations? To answer these questions, I develop a comprehensive sociology of the perceived legitimacy of the members of the Irish Citizens’ Assembly. I study their discourse, produced during qualitative interviews, through the concept of humility-legitimacy. After looking at this empirical evidence, I propose a theory of a “new spirit of sortition” and its consequences for democracy.
Keywords : citizen assembly, deliberative democracy, legitimacy, mini-public, representation
Résumé
Dans les études portant sur la démocratie délibérative, théoriciens et empiristes considèrent l’essentiel du temps la légitimité comme procédurale. Cependant, pourquoi et comment les participants à un mini-public tiré au sort pensent-ils qu’ils ont ou non le droit de délibérer et de représenter ? Quelles sont les conceptions de la démocratie et du politique qui sous-tendent ces représentations cognitives ? Afin de répondre à ces question, j’ai effectué une sociologie compréhensive des légitimités perçues par les membres de l’Assemblée Citoyenne irlandaise. J’ai étudié leurs discours, produit lors d’entretiens qualitatifs, à travers le concept de « légitimité-humilité ». Après avoir analysé les preuves empiriques, j’élabore une théorie du « nouvel esprit du tirage au sort » et de ses conséquences pour la démocratie.
Mots-clefs : assemblée citoyenne, démocratie délibérative, légitimité, mini-public, représentation
Pour citer ce dossier / To quote this issue :
Courant, Dimitri (2018). ‘Deliberative Democracy, Legitimacy, and Institutionalisation. The Irish Citizens' Assemblies’, IEPHI Working Paper Series, n°72.
Pour citer individuellement les deux articles présentés dans les Parties 1 et 2 de ce cahier / To quote individually the two articles presented in Part 1 and Part 2 of this issue :
Courant, Dimitri (2018a). ‘The Curious Institutionalisation of Deliberative Democracy. The Irish Citizens’ Assemblies and the Future of Democratic Innovation’, in Dimitri Courant, Deliberative Democracy, Legitimacy, and Institutionalisation. The Irish Citizens' Assemblies, IEPHI Working Paper Series, n°72 : 8-23.
Courant, Dimitri (2018b). ‘“We have humility.” Perceived legitimacy and representative claims in the Irish Citizens’ Assembly’, in Dimitri Courant, Deliberative Democracy, Legitimacy, and Institutionalisation. The Irish Citizens' Assemblies, IEPHI Working Paper SeriesI, n°72 : 25-46.
To better understand the implications of sortition, I begin by contrasting it with the other modes of selection democracies use to place people in positions of power, including not only elections but also nomination and certifi cation. I then distinguish varieties of sortition that differ by their mandate, the population from which a random sample is drawn, and the degree to which service is voluntary or compulsory. Depending on the design considerations such as these, sortition can provide a novel means of realizing the democratic aspirations of equality, impartiality, representativeness, and legitimacy.
Courant Dimitri (2019), "Sortition and Democratic Principles: A Comparative Analysis", in Gastil and Wright (eds.), Legislature by Lot: Transformative Designs for Deliberative Governance, Verso, New York/London, p. 229-248.
https://www.versobooks.com/books/2969-legislature-by-lot
https://aoc.media/analyse/2019/04/09/petit-bilan-grand-debat-national/
https://laviedesidees.fr/Les-assemblees-citoyennes-en-Irlande.html
https://revistas.um.es/daimon/article/view/295921
https://www.cairn.info/revue-francaise-de-science-politique-2017-5-page-946.htm#pa138
https://www.cairn.info/revue-francaise-de-science-politique-2017-1-page-177.htm#pa189
Dimitri Courant, doctorant et chercheur à Paris 8 et à Lausanne, décrypte pour France Inter les enjeux du débat démocratique lié aux assemblées citoyennes et au RIC : "On dit au peuple qu’il va faire n’importe quoi comme on disait aux suffragettes qu’elles allaient faire n’importe quoi".
https://www.franceinter.fr/societe/ric-l-idee-selon-laquelle-le-peuple-quand-il-s-exprime-fait-le-choix-le-plus-reactionnaire-ne-tient-pas
https://www.liberation.fr/debats/2019/01/17/assemblees-citoyennes-des-exemples-positifs-a-l-etranger_1703621
https://blogs.mediapart.fr/dimitri-courant/blog/100119/assemblees-citoyennes-tirees-au-sort-renouveau-democratique-ou-artifice-illusoire
L'assemblée citoyenne a permis le vote sur l'avortement en Irlande. Explications.
https://lecourrier.ch/2018/05/28/inclure-le-citoyen-dans-la-decision/
Les Nouvelles Vagues entament un chantier de réflexion sur le hasard. Au lendemain du premier tour des élection présidentielles, nous discutons avec un chercheur en sciences politiques d'un dispositif démocratique : le tirage au sort.
Aujourd’hui, c'est le premier jour de notre semaine consacrée au “hasard”. Le hasard qui fait bien ou mal les choses et dont nous peinons à connaître la part. Si ce n’est comme un résidu de coïncidences que l’on ne peut expliquer. Le hasard porte en lui tous les espoirs et les dangers, à commencer par celui de ne pouvoir être maîtrisé. Si le hasard rebat les cartes, alors il met à égalité tous les hommes et serait, pour cela, source de justice. C’est en tout cas l’idée fondatrice du tirage au sort, dont nous allons parler aujourd’hui.
Avec Dimitri Courant, doctorant en science politique (Université Paris 8 / Université de Lausanne), qui travaille sur l’institution, la délibération, la participation et la représentation politique. Sa thèse, sous titrée "Principes démocratiques et représentation au sein de dispositifs délibératifs contemporains", porte sur "Le nouvel esprit du tirage au sort".
Son prochain article "Tirage au sort et délibération dans l'Armée française. Sociologie du Conseil Supérieur de la Fonction Militaire" est à paraître dans la Revue Participations.
https://www.franceculture.fr/emissions/les-nouvelles-vagues/le-hasard-15-la-politique-du-tirage-au-sort
Le tirage au sort actualise un idéal démocratique où tout citoyen a une égale capacité à participer à la vie publique.
Quels sont les recours actuels au tirage au sort ? Comment le mettre en œuvre ? Quels sont les défis à relever pour en faire un outil efficace de mobilisation citoyenne ? Regards croisés de praticiens et de chercheurs.
Organisé par Missions Publiques
https://www.rencontres-participation.fr/page/81207-session-2-16h45-18h30
Article de Martin Brésis publié dans "La Vie" le 2 mars 2017
http://www.lavie.fr/debats/idees/le-tirage-au-sort-peut-il-sauver-la-democratie-28-02-2017-80254_679.php