This book offers a collection of methods and approaches aimed at resolving some of humanity's most pressing problems on a local and global level. Many of the techniques are practical, with straightforward application and demonstrated positive outcomes, while others are more visionary. Important for transitioning to a more sustainable world, these methods allow for the constructive challenging of existing Western development and governance. The four specific areas covered are: increasing the sustainability of cities, improving governance for sustainability, transitioning to more sustainable economies and encouraging sustainable living. Designing methodologies for change requires competence and knowledge, combined with courage to experiment and willingness to address a challenge. This book provides much-needed methodological solutions, which will have direct implications for the way policies are developed and decisions are made. It challenges many established notions and practices, such as democracy, innovation, urban planning, community participation and marketing. Innovative and creative, the approaches described in this book will be of particular interest to those at the frontier of knowledge development. With 30 contributors from 12 countries, the book will appeal to a global readership, including academics, professionals, practitioners, policy-makers, activists, civil society and anyone interested in sustainability. Contributors include: G. Allegretti, T. Atlee, A. Blinov, D. Bogueva, T. Bouricius, G. Burke, J. Byrne, P. Devereux, C. Eon, D. Galloway, L. Gorissen, X. Guo, J. Hartz-Karp, C. Hendrigan, K. Holmes, J. Hong, J. Kenworthy, D. Marinova, M. Marinova, A. Matan, P. Newman, L. Peral, S. Petrova, J. Pope, T. Raphaely, E. Safonov, L. Stocker, V. Todorov, R. Weymouth, S. White

Growing numbers of scholars, practitioners, politicians, and citizens recognize the value of deliberative civic engagement processes that enable citizens and governments to come together in public spaces and engage in constructive dialogue, informed discussion, and decisive deliberation. This book seeks to fill a gap in empirical studies in deliberative democracy by studying the assembly of the Australian Citizens' Parliament (ACP), which took place in Canberra on February 6-8, 2009. The ACP addressed the question "How can the Australian political system be strengthened to serve us better?"

The ACP's Canberra assembly is the first large-scale, face-to-face deliberative project to be completely audio-recorded and transcribed, enabling an unprecedented level of qualitative and quantitative assessment of participants' actual spoken discourse. Each chapter reports on different research questions for different purposes to benefit different audiences. Combined, they exhibit how diverse modes of research focused on a single event can enhance both theoretical and practical knowledge about deliberative democracy.

Growing numbers of scholars, practitioners, politicians, and citizens recognize the value of deliberative civic engagement processes that enable citizens and governments to come together in public spaces and engage in constructive dialogue, informed discussion, and decisive deliberation. This book seeks to fill a gap in empirical studies in deliberative democracy by studying the assembly of the Australian Citizens’ Parliament (ACP), which took place in Canberra on February 6–8, 2009. The ACP addressed the question “How can the Australian political system be strengthened to serve us better?� The ACP’s Canberra assembly is the first large-scale, face-to-face deliberative project to be completely audio-recorded and transcribed, enabling an unprecedented level of qualitative and quantitative assessment of participants’ actual spoken discourse. Each chapter reports on different research questions for different purposes to benefit different audiences. Combined, they exhibit how diverse modes of research focused on a single event can enhance both theoretical and practical knowledge about deliberative democracy.