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oliverescobar.bsky.social
Citizen Participation
@oliverescobar.bsky.social
2.9K followers 2.6K following 79 posts
Professor of Public Policy and Democratic Innovation | University of Edinburgh | Working on #democracy #participation #deliberation #commons #governance #power #research | RT≠ endorse | Own views | Profile: https://www.sps.ed.ac.uk/staff/oliver-escobar
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oliverescobar.bsky.social
Citizen Participation @oliverescobar.bsky.social · Aug 25
📚 new open access book: "Climate Assemblies - New Civic Institutions for a Climate-Changed World" 🌍

✅ 25 co-authors examine the state of the field and the reasons behind the growing hope and hype about climate assemblies

✅Free PDF available here 👉🏼 www.degruyterbrill.com/document/doi...
Climate Assemblies - New Civic Institutions for a Climate-Changed World Edited by Oliver Escobar and Stephen Elstub Published by Fe Gruyter Book cover depicts the globe, with people gathering around it Colours: yellow, black an d blue
Reposted by Citizen Participation
politicsjournal.bsky.social
This issue offers new directions for rethinking participation, empowerment, and systemic change beyond the deliberative paradigm, a must-read for scholars and practitioners interested in innovation in democratic governance.
@polstudiesassoc.bsky.social
@sagepub.com

Full Issue:
tinyurl.com/bderej5d
Sage Journals: Discover world-class research
Subscription and open access journals from Sage, the world's leading independent academic publisher.
tinyurl.com
January 16, 2026 at 12:08 PM
Reposted by Citizen Participation
politicsjournal.bsky.social
🎉 New Special Issue Published!
(Vol. 46, Issue 1, Feb 2026) is out now, titled: “Democratic Innovation beyond the Deliberative Paradigm?” Exploring fresh horizons in democratic theory and practice.

@polstudiesassoc.bsky.social
@sagepub.com @uofgsocsci.bsky.social
@oliverescobar.bsky.social
January 16, 2026 at 12:08 PM
oliverescobar.bsky.social
🗓️The first 2026 newsletter of the Citizen Participation Network is out 🗞️ including awards, publications, guidelines, funding and events curated from across the field #democracy #participation #deliberation #commons 🤔Available here 👉🏼 www.jiscmail.ac.uk/cgi-bin/wa-j...
In this Newsletter: 2025 SURF Award Winners Revealed Open Access Article: Democratic Innovation beyond the Deliberative Paradigm? Reclaim the Economy Week The People Powered 2026 Convening: Global Challenges, Participatory Solutions Open Calls: Piloting and Twinning Programs for Scaling Democratic Innovations Report and Thought Pieces: The Global Conference on New Ways of Governance New Guidelines: Ensuring Impact – A Guide to Effective Set-up and Follow-up of Citizen Participation New Series: This is Community Wealth Building New Article: Exploring the Interplay Between Democratic Innovations and Social Sustainability – A Scoping Review Blog post: Migrant Women’s Experiences of Policy Making and Political Decision Making
January 15, 2026 at 8:42 AM
Reposted by Citizen Participation
horizon-inspire.bsky.social
🌏 We're excited to share our most recent blog post from INSPIRE's Irish pilot!

"Exploring and Interpreting Migrant Women’s Experiences of Policy Making and Political Decision Making"

Read the full article here: bit.ly/ExploringMig...

#Inspire #Inclusion #Cocreation #Participation #Artsbased
January 12, 2026 at 3:24 PM
Reposted by Citizen Participation
oliverescobar.bsky.social
📎 "Democratic innovation beyond the deliberative paradigm?" Our open access introduction to a new Special Issue of the journal Politics is now available here 👉🏻 journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
The collection supports a critical turn in the field of democratic innovation. Out in early 2026
Democratic innovation beyond the deliberative paradigm? Introduction to the special issue Abstract This Special Issue addresses mounting concerns about the dominance of an uncritical interpretation of deliberative democratic theory in the study and practice of democratic innovations. While deliberative democracy provides one of the normative undercurrents of the field, its reduction to procedural design and narrow focus on mini-publics risks constraining the democratic imagination and limiting transformative potential. We support a critical turn in the field of democratic innovation by strengthening empowered citizen participation, widening inclusion, confronting political and social domination, and foregrounding systemic change. The contributions in this Special Issue develop this agenda in two directions: by reasserting the critical dimension of deliberative democracy, and by drawing on alternative theoretical traditions to rethink the scope, design, and practice of democratic innovations. The articles in this collection examine diverse contexts and formats, from arts-based practices and post-conflict deliberation to hybrid institutions and assemblage perspectives, as well as a kaleidoscopic view of democratic theory. Together, they highlight the diversity, contextual embeddedness, and plural normative resources of democratic innovation, offering new directions for democratic renewal.
December 10, 2025 at 12:35 PM
oliverescobar.bsky.social
📎 "Democratic innovation beyond the deliberative paradigm?" Our open access introduction to a new Special Issue of the journal Politics is now available here 👉🏻 journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
The collection supports a critical turn in the field of democratic innovation. Out in early 2026
Democratic innovation beyond the deliberative paradigm? Introduction to the special issue Abstract This Special Issue addresses mounting concerns about the dominance of an uncritical interpretation of deliberative democratic theory in the study and practice of democratic innovations. While deliberative democracy provides one of the normative undercurrents of the field, its reduction to procedural design and narrow focus on mini-publics risks constraining the democratic imagination and limiting transformative potential. We support a critical turn in the field of democratic innovation by strengthening empowered citizen participation, widening inclusion, confronting political and social domination, and foregrounding systemic change. The contributions in this Special Issue develop this agenda in two directions: by reasserting the critical dimension of deliberative democracy, and by drawing on alternative theoretical traditions to rethink the scope, design, and practice of democratic innovations. The articles in this collection examine diverse contexts and formats, from arts-based practices and post-conflict deliberation to hybrid institutions and assemblage perspectives, as well as a kaleidoscopic view of democratic theory. Together, they highlight the diversity, contextual embeddedness, and plural normative resources of democratic innovation, offering new directions for democratic renewal.
December 10, 2025 at 12:35 PM
oliverescobar.bsky.social
📍Recent Conference 'New Ways of Governing' convened by @undp.org explored 4 tracks:

💾 governance of AI & data
🔎 future of evidence-informed policymaking
✅ democratic innovation
🪙 governance of public finance

📗 4 thought pieces & Conference Report available here 👉🏻 www.undp.org/policy-centr...
dark blue cover of the UNDP Conference Report 'New Ways of Governing', Oslo, 28-29 October 2025
December 8, 2025 at 9:19 AM
oliverescobar.bsky.social
📍December newsletter, Citizen Participation Network 🗞️ packed with events, resources, publications and more ✅ #democracy. Available here 👉🏻 www.jiscmail.ac.uk/cgi-bin/wa-j...
In this Newsletter: Call for Papers - Designing Democratic Innovation: Co-Design and the Futures of Participation in Governance Call for Applications – Unlocking Funding & Mentorship for Your Participatory Program Green Tease: Economies of Care and the Commons New Events on Participatory Democracy and Legislative Theatre Workshop: Making Democracy Work Again – Exploring Governance, Participation, and Policy Change Conference: Building Capacity in Behavioural Research Conference: World Community Development PB in 2025: A Summary of a PB Scotland Network Engagement Exercise New Report: Safer Streets, Shared Voices New Report: Amazonian Climate Deliberation Democratic Innovations Podcast: Why Intersectional Inclusion? Video of the Webinar: Climate Policy, Democracy and the Potential of Participatory Budgeting Critique as Political Care: Democracy, Memory, Theory – Invite to Mihaela Mihai's Inaugural Lecture at the University of Edinburgh About the Citizen Participation Network
November 28, 2025 at 9:31 AM
Reposted by Citizen Participation
ucuscotland.bsky.social
Cross-party support for the UCU Edinburgh rally this lunchtime @ucuedinburgh.bsky.social #WeAreTheUniversity #Solidarity
November 19, 2025 at 3:24 PM
Reposted by Citizen Participation
ucuedinburgh.bsky.social
Great turnout at the Edinburgh UCU rally at parliament to demand an end to the University of Edinburgh management reckless budget cuts and redundancies!

#StopStaffCutsatUoE @ucu.org.uk
November 19, 2025 at 3:06 PM
oliverescobar.bsky.social
📢 third day of strike at the University of Edinburgh against unjustified redundancies‼️ #StopStaffCutsAtUoE Picket at the School of Social and Political Science still going strong 💪🏼 And now to the 1pm rally at the Scottish Parliament, if you’re around you’re very welcome to join! 🙏🏼
Picket line at School of Social and Political Science in George Square Picket line at School of Social and Political Science in George Square
November 19, 2025 at 12:17 PM
oliverescobar.bsky.social
Here we go 👏🏼 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 ⚽️ 🌍
November 18, 2025 at 7:07 PM
Reposted by Citizen Participation
ucuscotland.bsky.social
Question from @martinwhitfieldmsp.bsky.social in the Scottish Parliament on cuts and job losses at Edinburgh University as @ucuedinburgh.bsky.social take third day of strike action this week #SaveHE #StopTheCuts www.heraldscotland.com/news/2563152...
SNP minister told to intervene in Edinburgh University crisis to protect 1,800 jobs
SNP ministers have been warned they must intervene in the University of Edinburgh's dispute with staff amid fears 1,800 jobs could be lost.
www.heraldscotland.com
November 18, 2025 at 3:39 PM
oliverescobar.bsky.social
📣 Strike at University of Edinburgh 17-19 November against unjustified compulsory redundancies @ucuedinburgh.bsky.social

📌 JOIN OUR RALLY AT THE SCOTTISH PARLIAMENT, Wed 19 November 1 pm 🙏🏼 www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/rally-to-s...

ℹ️Info about the dispute 👉🏻
www.ucuedinburgh.org.uk/industrial-d...
Local Industrial Dispute FAQs — UCU Edinburgh
www.ucuedinburgh.org.uk
November 14, 2025 at 4:23 PM
Reposted by Citizen Participation
iandunt.bsky.social
Vital piece of investigative reporting from Sky. They've uncovered the X algorithm which feeds users extremist right wing material from the moment they join the site. It is a far-right radicalisation engine, by design.

news.sky.com/story/the-x-...
Elon Musk is boosting the British right - and this shows how
Elon Musk is boosting the British right - and this shows how
news.sky.com
November 6, 2025 at 7:23 AM
oliverescobar.bsky.social
📣There are a few tickets left for our book launch on Friday, see details below, including how to get your free pdf of the book 👇
oliverescobar.bsky.social Citizen Participation @oliverescobar.bsky.social · Oct 2
🌐 Online book launch (open access) 📚 'Climate Assemblies: New Civic Institutions for a Climate-Changed World' - Everyone welcome of this online event, which will feature editors, authors and discussion. Organised by DemFutures #Democracy. Free registration 👉 www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/climate-as...
Visual depicting: a QR code to sign up for the event, the title of the book: Climate Assemblies: New Civic Institutions for a Climate-changed World, the time of the event: Friday 24 October, 1pm-2.30pm, and a little blurb that says: This book brings together 25 authors to offer novel perspectives, critical insights and practical reflections based on original research about paradigmatic cases at local, national, transnational and global levels.
October 22, 2025 at 11:50 AM
Reposted by Citizen Participation
oliverescobar.bsky.social
🌐 Online book launch (open access) 📚 'Climate Assemblies: New Civic Institutions for a Climate-Changed World' - Everyone welcome of this online event, which will feature editors, authors and discussion. Organised by DemFutures #Democracy. Free registration 👉 www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/climate-as...
Visual depicting: a QR code to sign up for the event, the title of the book: Climate Assemblies: New Civic Institutions for a Climate-changed World, the time of the event: Friday 24 October, 1pm-2.30pm, and a little blurb that says: This book brings together 25 authors to offer novel perspectives, critical insights and practical reflections based on original research about paradigmatic cases at local, national, transnational and global levels.
October 2, 2025 at 10:34 AM
Reposted by Citizen Participation
patkane.bsky.social
As one myself, I enjoyed #TheHack’s story of heroic journalists revealing their own profession’s phone hacking. But what of the widespread resentment & powerlessness that produces the appetite/demand for these star-toppling stories? My @ScotNational col www.thenational.scot/comment/2551...
October 4, 2025 at 9:02 AM
Reposted by Citizen Participation
jgarciaiglesias.bsky.social
What a pleasure to listen to @oliverescobar.bsky.social and Nuria Capdevila-Argüelles today talk about the future of Spanish democracy at the Spanish Film Festival in Edinburgh!
October 2, 2025 at 8:02 PM
Reposted by Citizen Participation
marcgeddes.uk
Discussing 50 years of Spanish democracy featuring @edinburghpir.bsky.social’s @oliverescobar.bsky.social! Really interesting themes around change and continuity
In the foreground an audience watching and listening to a discussion on a stage with three people. In the background a large image with lots of hands in different colours and the letters “esff”
October 2, 2025 at 4:46 PM
oliverescobar.bsky.social
🌐 Online book launch (open access) 📚 'Climate Assemblies: New Civic Institutions for a Climate-Changed World' - Everyone welcome of this online event, which will feature editors, authors and discussion. Organised by DemFutures #Democracy. Free registration 👉 www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/climate-as...
Visual depicting: a QR code to sign up for the event, the title of the book: Climate Assemblies: New Civic Institutions for a Climate-changed World, the time of the event: Friday 24 October, 1pm-2.30pm, and a little blurb that says: This book brings together 25 authors to offer novel perspectives, critical insights and practical reflections based on original research about paradigmatic cases at local, national, transnational and global levels.
October 2, 2025 at 10:34 AM
Reposted by Citizen Participation
oliverescobar.bsky.social
🗓️ 🗞️ October newsletter from the Citizen Participation Network, including a book launch event, webinars, awards, a demonstration, an invitation to tender and opportunities to learn & share your work on #Democracy #DemocraticInnovation #Participation

📌 Available 👉🏼 www.jiscmail.ac.uk/cgi-bin/wa-j...
In this Newsletter: Online Book Launch: Climate Assemblies – New Civic Institutions for a Climate-Changed World 2025 SURF Awards Shortlist Webinar: From Barriers to Bridges – Community Researchers as Methodological Innovation in Health Intervention Evaluation Scotland Demands Better – March and Rally Invitation to Tender: Learning and Evaluation of the Global Citizens’ Assembly for COP30 Apply for Cohort 4 School for Everyday Democracy Event - 50 Years of Democracy in Spain: Perils and Possibilities for a Changing Future DemFutures Work-in-Progress Sessions
September 30, 2025 at 1:15 PM
Reposted by Citizen Participation
uoe-sps.bsky.social
Book Launch
Friday 24th October
1pm-2.30pm
Online

Join us for the launch of
Climate Assemblies
New Civic Institutions for a Climate-changed World
Edited by Oliver Escobar and Stephen Elstub

Info and booking:
edin.ac/4nKszjT
Pile of copies of book 'Climate Assemblies'. Text reads: Book Launch. Climate Assemblies. New Civic Institutions for a Climate-changed World. Oliver Escobar and Stephen Elstub. ‘Climate Assemblies’ brings together 25 authors to offer novel perspectives, critical insights and practical reflections based on original research about paradigmatic cases at local, national, transnational and global levels.
September 30, 2025 at 11:00 AM
oliverescobar.bsky.social
🗓️ 🗞️ October newsletter from the Citizen Participation Network, including a book launch event, webinars, awards, a demonstration, an invitation to tender and opportunities to learn & share your work on #Democracy #DemocraticInnovation #Participation

📌 Available 👉🏼 www.jiscmail.ac.uk/cgi-bin/wa-j...
In this Newsletter: Online Book Launch: Climate Assemblies – New Civic Institutions for a Climate-Changed World 2025 SURF Awards Shortlist Webinar: From Barriers to Bridges – Community Researchers as Methodological Innovation in Health Intervention Evaluation Scotland Demands Better – March and Rally Invitation to Tender: Learning and Evaluation of the Global Citizens’ Assembly for COP30 Apply for Cohort 4 School for Everyday Democracy Event - 50 Years of Democracy in Spain: Perils and Possibilities for a Changing Future DemFutures Work-in-Progress Sessions
September 30, 2025 at 1:15 PM
Reposted by Citizen Participation
oliverescobar.bsky.social
🗓️ "50 Years of Democracy in Spain: Perils and Possibilities for a Changing Future" Roundtable at the Edinburgh Spanish Film Festival this Thursday evening, in collaboration with the Consulate General of Spain in Edinburgh. Info and free registration 👉 www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/50-years-o...
50 Years of Democracy in Spain
50 Years of Democracy in Spain: Perils and Possibilities for a Changing Future, guided by Prof Nuria Capdevila and Prof Oliver Escobar
www.eventbrite.co.uk
September 29, 2025 at 11:04 PM