Kristof Jacobs (Belgium) is an Associate professor at the Department of Political Science at Radboud University Nijmegen (the Netherlands). His research focuses on contemporary challenges to the current election-based system, their consequences and the responses to them. On May 31st, 2021, he published an article on the problem of the short-term focus of elections. One of the three possible solutions discussed in the article, are Citizens' Assemblies. He sees some potential in them, but does not have high expectations.
On July 26th, 2022, he briefly summed up three political science blogs on Citizens' Assemblies, presenting earlier research findings. Again, Jacobs sees some potention in CAs, but advises to have moderate expectations.
- Een klimaat-burgerberaad: werkt dat wel? (A climate assembly: would that work?)
by Marie Theuwis and Kristof Jacobs himself, June 8th, 2022
Main points:
1. get society as a whole involved (e.g. by a multi-option referendum)
2. get politicians involved and be explicit about what is done with the outcomes of CAs - 'Wat vinden Nederlanders zelf van een burgerberaad?' (What do the Dutch themselves think about CAs?)
by Josje den Ridder and Franziska de Koning
the blog refers to the research done by Radboud University, previously discussed on this website, stating that there is support for CAs among the Dutch population. - Een burgerberaad kan helpen, maar kan niet toveren (CAs can help, but they can't do magic)
by Lisa van Dijk, July 25th, 2022
Main points:
1. Expect modest results
2. Provide good conditions, because they don't always work
3. A climate assembly can make a contribution to solving the climate problem, but it can't solve the climate problem as a whole