In response to the growing political and scholarly interest in citizens’ assemblies (CAs) as a potential response to the ongoing crisis of democracy, the Centre for Research on Democracy (CREDO) at Stellenbosch University, in partnership with the Politics and Urban Governance Research Group (PUG Research) at the University of the Western Cape, has convened a Citizens’ Assembly Working Group. Composed of an interdisciplinary cohort of African and international scholars, the working group is guided by six objectives:
As the first African-led research initiative of its kind, and given the current scarcity of Global South contributions in a field of scholarship and practice dominated by Global North actors, the working group stands to make a significant and timely contribution to the scholarly and practical development of democracy.
A citizens’ assembly (CA) is a new type of innovative democratic process which is quickly gaining popularity worldwide. Emphasising inclusion, informed discussion, and consensus-based decisions, a citizens’ assembly gathers together a representative group of citizens over a number of days to learn about, deliberate on, and put forward recommendations on an important policy issue affecting their community. In most cases, participants are guided throughout the process by trained facilitators who help ensure quality deliberation, and subject experts who inform citizens on the issue at hand. Advocates of citizens’ assemblies argue that they provide a platform to engage ordinary citizens, reflecting the diversity of interests and perspectives of the general public, in decision-making processes which are usually the exclusive domain of politicians and interest groups.
To learn more about CAs as well as their potential for South African democracy, take a look at our recommended videos and articles:
The working group is co-chaired by Kira Alberts, a Research Coordinator with CREDO. They are joined by Alison Kuah of the University of Cape Town. Efforts are currently underway to recruit a small team of interdisciplinary scholars from South Africa, the continent, and abroad.
Kira Alberts, Centre for Research on Democracy (CREDO)
Kira is a Research Associate with the Centre for Research on Democracy (CREDO) at Stellenbosch University and a second-year Master’s student in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences at Stellenbosch University, for which she was awarded a KAS-CREDO scholarship. She is the co-chair of the Citizens’ Assembly Working Group.
Alison Kuah, University of Cape Town, South Africa
Alison is a Doctoral Research Fellow at the Institute of Humanities in Africa, University of Cape Town, and a PhD candidate in Social Anthropology (UCT). She holds a Master’s degree in Practical Anthropology (UCT) and a Bachelors degree in Anthropology from Tufts University.
Fiona Anciano, University of the Western Cape, South Africa
Fiona is an Associate Professor of Political Studies and founder of the Politics and Urban Governance Research Group (PUG). A qualitative researcher with an interest in urban governance, democratisation, citizenship, and civil society, she works with student teams conducting research on urban democracy in informal settlements.
Boitumelo Papane, University of the Western Cape, South Africa
Boitumelo is a researcher at the University of the Western Cape. Papane holds a Master’s degree in Work-Integrated Political Studies from the University West (HV). She is a scholar of the Mellon Foundation with membership to its affiliated Social Science Research Council.
Tina Fransman, University of the Western Cape, South Africa
Tina is an economist and a lecturer in the Department of Economics at the University of the Western Cape (UWC). She holds a Ph.D. candidate from the University of Stellenbosch and her main research interests are development economics and labor economics while her Ph.D. focuses on political accountability, service delivery, and political participation.
Meshay Moses, University of the Western Cape, South Africa
Meshay Moses is an associate lecturer in the Department of Political Studies at University of the Western Cape. Some of her research interests include the politics of social protection with a focus on social assistance in the form of social grants (i.e. direct cash transfers).
Envisioned as a 3-4 year project, the initial phase of the Citizens’ Assembly Working Group follows a multi-stage project roadmap which will result in, among other achievements, three key outputs: South Africa’s first citizens’ assembly (CA) and the official evaluation thereof; a guidebook outlining best practices to inform future South African CAs; and a series of academic publications which draw from the empirical research and analysis generated during the project. For an overview of the research questions and data we will be focusing on for academic publication, please refer to our forthcoming Strategic Research Plan: 2024 – 2027.
Central to the character of the working group is an emphasis on both local and international collaboration, whether formal or informal. Efforts are underway to establish working relationships with several international research centres and networks, individual scholars and practitioners, and local actors motivated to improve South African democracy. Our collaborative network currently includes Participedia; the Centre for Deliberative Democracy and Global Governance; the Democracy R&D Network; the OECD’s Innovative Citizen Participation Network (ICPN); and a diverse cohort of international scholars.
If you’re interested in the work of the Citizens’ Assembly Working Group, we welcome your emails. You can reach out to Kira Alberts (kca@sun.ac.za).
+27 (0) 21 959 2957
4th Floor, EMS Building
University of the Western Cape
Robert Sobukwe Road
Bellville 7530
