Hopes over fears: Can democratic deliberation increase positive emotions concerning the future?

Abstract

<p>Deliberative mini-publics have often been considered to be a potential way to promote futureoriented<br>thinking. Still, thinking about the future can be hard as it can evoke negative emotions<br>such as stress and anxiety. This article establishes why a more positive outlook towards the<br>future can benefit long-term decision-making. Then, it explores whether and to what extent<br>deliberative mini-publics can facilitate thinking about the future by moderating negative emotions<br>and encouraging positive emotions. We analyzed an online mini-public held in the region of<br>Satakunta, Finland, organized to involve the public in the drafting process of a regional plan<br>extending until the year 2050. In addition to the standard practices related to mini-publics, the<br>Citizens’ Assembly included an imaginary time travel exercise, Future Design, carried out with<br>half of the participants. Our analysis makes use of both survey and qualitative data. We found that<br>democratic deliberation can promote positive emotions, like hopefulness and compassion, and<br>lessen negative emotions, such as fear and confusion, related to the future. There were, however,<br>differences in how emotions developed in the various small groups. Interviews with participants<br>shed further light onto how participants felt during the event and how their sentiments concerning<br>the future changed.<br></p>