KOMUNIKACIJSKI IZAZOVI DELIBERATIVNE DEMOKRACIJE: STUDIJA SLUČAJA VIJEĆA GRAĐANA VARAŽDINA
COMMUNICATION CHALLENGES IN DELIBERATIVE DEMOCRACY: A CASE STUDY OF THE VARAŽDIN CITIZENS’ ASSEMBLY

Summary/Abstract: Contemporary democracies face a significant crisis of trust in institutions, political representation, and decision-making processes. In response, deliberative innovations have developed, with citizens’ assemblies standing out as a form of participation that allows randomly selected citizens to influence public policy directly through informed and structured dialogue. This paper examines the communicative aspect of citizens’ assemblies through a case study of the pilot project conducted in Varaždin in 2024/2025. The methodological approach uses a qualitative case study, combining document analysis, discourse, and rhetorical analysis of deliberations, and media coverage of the project. The findings indicate that internal communication within the assembly was facilitative, inclusive, and debate-based, fostering a stronger sense of political relevance among participants. External communication, though transparent, was mainly represented in the media as affirmative and informational, without critical reflection or the inclusion of diverse viewpoints. This underscores the media’s role in legitimizing the process but also reveals their limited capacity to promote a deliberative public sphere. In conclusion, the Varaždin case demonstrates that deliberative models can help strengthen local democracy and enhance trust in institutions; however, their longterm success depends on clear political backing, institutional integration, and strategic communication that supports pluralism and sustained visibility.

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