DELIBERATION AMID DEMOCRATIC BACKSLIDING: INSIGHTS FROM CITIZENS’ ASSEMBLIES IN THE WESTERN BALKANS

SURLIĆ Stefan (Assistant Professor, Faculty of Political Sciences, University of Belgrade, Serbia), stefan.surlic@fpn.bg.ac.rs
KOLARSKI Ljiljana (PhD candidate, Faculty of Political Sciences, University of Belgrade, Serbia), ljiljana.kolarski11@gmail.com

This paper explores the role of Citizens’ Assemblies (CAs) in fostering deliberative democracy and resisting authoritarian tendencies in the Western Balkans, a region facing significant democratic backsliding. Analysing three assemblies held in Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Montenegro between October 2023 and February 2024, with 133 participants, the study investigates citizens’ willingness to participate and their satisfaction with deliberations on critical societal issues. While CAs remain primarily organised by civil society organisations and face limited institutional support, they have demonstrated significant potential to enhance citizen participation and bridge societal divides. The findings reveal high levels of citizen engagement, with participants articulating perspectives that often challenge dominant political narratives. Notable examples include fostering inter-ethnic dialogue in Bosnia and Herzegovina and producing actionable recommendations on disinformation in Serbia. However, CAs’ influence on formal policymaking is constrained by entrenched political structures, resistance from elites, and funding uncertainties. Despite these challenges, CAs serve as vital platforms for deliberation, offering a corrective to the deficits of traditional governance in hybrid regimes. This study highlights the transformative potential of CAs in building democratic resilience, emphasising their role in advancing deliberative practices and challenging authoritarian norms in fragile political contexts.

Keywords: Citizens’ assemblies; deliberative democracy; deliberation; Western Balkans.