Deliberative Discursive Practices in the Slovenian Formal and Informal Public Sphere

Head of research: Metka Kuhar

In this applicative research project, we explored and developed deliberative practices in the Slovenian public sphere. In addition to analysing the deliberative nature of parliamentary debates, the purpose of this project was to promote the active involvement of citizens in debates on complex social topics and in decision-making processes and to improve their quality in general.

Deliberation means a sound and careful consideration of diverse information and attitudes on a particular issue that affects different stakeholders and has a bearing on social development. In a deliberative discussion, participants listen to one another, justify their positions reasonably, are respectful of one another and assess their own interests and needs in terms of their generalisability.

The project was created from the growing awareness that formal and civil social institutions need to redesign their practices to encourage the direct involvement of all social groups and individuals affected by the consequences of their decisions, as well as from an awareness of the need to strengthen the deliberative competencies of all (potential) actors in formal and informal public spheres and in various other organisational contexts.

The first part of the project provides the first comprehensive reflection of the deliberative quality of parliamentary discourse in Slovenia, which is especially relevant given the declining legitimacy of formal political institutions and the increasing public need for greater influence on social happenings. The deliberative nature of the Slovenian Parliament was analysed using debates based on the Family Code 2009–2011 in the National Assembly of the Republic of Slovenia, the National Council of the Republic of Slovenia, as well as in the Committee on Labour, Family, Social Affairs and People with Disabilities of the National Assembly of the Republic of Slovenia. The key questions were the extent to which deliberativeness was present in the various parliamentary bodies and in the various stages of discussion of this topic, in terms of equal discussion, quality argumentation, mutual respect and constructive policy, and the extent to which the deliberative nature of the various discussants was realised. For this analysis, we conceptually upgraded the Discourse Quality Index. This part of the research was led by Metka Kuhar, in collaboration with Gregor Petrič and Andraž Petrovčič.

In the second part of the project, we carried out a deliberative experiment, discussions in the informal public sphere, which represents a novelty in the Slovenian social environment and opens up new possibilities for involving citizens in decision-making on socially important topics. We selected the always-relevant topic of discipline activities in schools. Since we have forwarded the recommendations to the decision makers, this was a practical application of the ideal of deliberative democracy. The second part of the research was led by Metka Kuhar, in cooperation with Robi Kroflič and Katja Jeznik from the Pedagogy Department of the Faculty of Arts, University of Ljubljana. Discussions were facilitated by two professional facilitators, Marjeta Novak and Natalija Vrhunc.

Half of the 26 total discussions were conducted in a highly structured manner, and the other half were conducted in a less-structured manner. We analysed the impact of facilitation on the quality of the discussions and on changing and coordinating the participants’ attitudes. One of the goals of this part of the research was to improve the understanding of the impact of various psychological factors on deliberative processes and outcomes. We have developed specific measuring instruments to measure the participants' assessments of the quality of the discussions and their attachment styles in relation to their participation in group discussions.

Scientific publications in English 

Metka Kuhar, Matej Krmelj, Gregor Petrič

The impact of facilitation on the quality of deliberation and attitude change. Small group research, 2019.

Metka Kuhar, Andraž Petrovčič

The quality of parliamentary deliberation: The case of the Family Code debates in the Slovenian Parliament. Javnost/The Public, 2017.

Metka Kuhar
Exploring psychological factors influencing deliberation. Interdisciplinary Description of Complex Systems, 2013.

Metka Kuhar, Katja Jeznik
Effects of group discussion attachment styles and facilitation on the quality of deliberation. Društvena istraživanja, 2018.

 Katja Jeznik, Robi Kroflič, Metka Kuhar
Between retributive and restorative compulsory school teachers' discipline activities. Center for Educational Policy Studies Journal, 2019.