In the EU Parliamentary year, 2024\/25, there was an experimental citizen’s assembly incubated by the EUI. I attended their Florence assembly 22\/2 & 23\/2, and made some notes. These stayed in my notebook for too long but I have decided to make this page, which collects some reviews and views and may even have some of my notes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
I observed syndicate group 10 or was it 6, and would thank them for explaining their views to me. I enjoyed their company.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The group I chose to observe had the problem of comparing and contrasting the role of IT in enabling citizens in politics or whether its excludes real conversations and solidarity. This wasn’t a group equipped to offer their lived experience on this question and came to be dominated by the best English speakers, both of whom, I think had attended the previous assembly in Athens. Neither the facilitators nor the participants had been trained in ‘brainstorming’ which made building and sharing ideas very difficult. The lack of ‘experts’ which is often part of citizen’s assemblies was also absent (or maybe limited). They did have some knowledgeable speakers from the platform but its not the same. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
These weaknesses in execution, reinforce to me that Citizens’ assemblies must echo the lived experience of its participants, and sometimes this will be expertise, at other times it will be the societal estrangement of people or communities. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Day one was held in the Palazzo Vechio, very grand. Here are my notes,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The second day was held at the University EUI campus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n