Government & Politics
Deliberative dialogue is one of the best ways to engage citizens in conversation and decision-making about politics, governance and citizenship. Below are some guidebooks and resources to assist you.
Guides to Dialogue and Deliberation
Governing America: Our Choices, Our Challenge
1996. National Issues Forums.
Many citizens today believe that our government is not working as it should. How can we find a way to get back in, to reconnect with our government and recapture the knowledge that we are part of a self-governing democracy? This nonpartisan guide is used for citizen deliberations in National Issues Forums. $3.90 (or download free at www.nifi.org). Order from Kendall Hunt Publishing at 800-228-0810 or use the order form at www.kendallhunt.com/order/index.html.
Government of the People?Shall Not Perish
Fall 2003 issue. YES! magazine.
The magazine?s Discussion Guide Series is designed to stimulate meaningful conversations in the classroom or in discussion groups. Go to www.futurenet.org/discuss.htm.
Money and Politics: Who Owns Democracy?
2000. National Issues Forums.
Alienation, distrust, and disillusionment are among the most common words used to describe American feelings about politics. How is the role of money in politics causing the problem? What can be done? This nonpartisan guide is used for citizen deliberations in National Issues Forums. $3.90 (or download free at www.nifi.org). Order from Kendall Hunt Publishing at 800-228-0810 or use the order form at www.kendallhunt.com/order/index.html.
What Does It Mean to Be an American Now?
Spring 2002 issue. YES! magazine.
The magazine?s Discussion Guide Series is designed to stimulate meaningful conversations in the classroom or in discussion groups. Go to www.futurenet.org/discuss.htm.
What Would Democracy Look Like?
Winter 2003 issue. YES! magazine.
The magazine?s Discussion Guide Series is designed to stimulate meaningful conversations in the classroom or in discussion groups. Go to www.futurenet.org/discuss.htm.
Additional Resources
America?s Struggle Within: Citizens Talk About the State of the Union
1995. Prepared by The Harwood Group for the Pew Center for Civic Journalism.
There is a struggle within America. People see fundamental changes taking root in American life and wonder where they will lead - for themselves and the nation. Concerns and aspirations of the American people - for their leaders, the news media, and each other - are reflected in our conversations with focus groups across the country. Order at www.theharwoodinstitute.org.
Citizens and Politics: A View from Main Street America
1991. Prepared by The Harwood Group for the Kettering Foundation.
This report, based on in-depth interviews with citizens in 10 cities across the nation, explores citizen attitudes on politics. It discusses how we can bring Americans back into the political process and begin to restore public confidence in politics. 68 pages. Order from Ruffolo for $5.00 by emailing or calling 1-800-600-4060.
For Communities to Work
David Mathews. Kettering Foundation.
For Communities to Work presents a broad framework intended as background for civic organizations that want to look at the state of the public in their communities. It explains how private individuals become public citizens and how publics form. The process of reinvigorating citizens in communities requires generating the political will for ?public work,? or the work of citizens with each other. 53 pages. Download at www.kettering.org or order from Ruffolo for $3.00 by emailing or calling 1-800-600-4060.
Creating the Commonwealth: Public Politics and the Philosophy of Public Work
Harry C. Boyte, Nancy N. Kari, Jim Lewis and Nan Skelton. Kettering Foundation.
Overall, the general culture has increasingly come to devalue and diminish the capacities, talents, and intelligence of everyday citizens. Authors of the three case histories in this book describe new strategies and ideas for renewing public cultures, especially in educational institutions. 80 pages. Order from Ruffolo for $7.00 by emailing or calling 1-800-600-4060.
Governing America: Our Choices, Our Challenge Item #9808 (1998)
1998. National Issues Forums.
A report on the outcome of forums held across the nation on this issue. Making use of participants' answers to Pre- and Post-Forum Questionnaires, reports from moderators, and in-depth studies of selected forums, these reports describe in some detail what happened as people deliberated about the issue at hand. These reports range from 20 to 48 pages and cost $3.00 (or download at www.nifi.org for free). To order, email Ruffolo at or call 800-600-4060.
Hope: Americans' Aspirations for Public Life and Politics
1999. A Harwood Institute Report funded by The Pew Charitable Trusts.
Americans today are seeking authentic hope. Something genuine, in tune with the reality of their daily lives, that calls forth the best in Americans. Not the false hope that candidates, news media, citizens themselves, and others peddle daily in our nation. This report draws from voices across America to outline the distinctions between false hope and authentic hope, and to offer a vision of what this nation of ours can become. Order at www.theharwoodinstitute.org.
Making It Real: How to Make Civic Engagement a Public Sensibility
2003. Prepared by The Harwood Institute for the C.S. Mott Foundation.
Making it Real offers seven ways for public leaders and organizations to infuse civic engagement practices throughout their public work. The workbook presents stories of success and provides concrete tools and actions to help leaders: Tap the talent and energy within a community to bring new life into a community organization; Discover common ground among organizations in order to work more effectively together; Move beyond statistics to discover public knowledge in the community; Set ground rules that encourage people to listen as well as engage; Ask new questions that create new possibilities, and more. To purchase a copy ($35), go to www.theharwoodinstitute.org/materials/.
Mission Uncertain: Reassessing America's Global Role
1996. National Issues Forums.
A report on the outcome of forums held across the nation on this issue. Making use of participants' answers to Pre- and Post-Forum Questionnaires, reports from moderators, and in-depth studies of selected forums, these reports describe in some detail what happened as people deliberated about the issue at hand. These reports range from 20 to 48 pages and cost $3.00 (or download at www.nifi.org for free). To order, email Ruffolo at or call 800-600-4060.
Money and Politics
2001. National Issues Forums.
A report on the outcome of forums held across the nation on this issue. Making use of participants' answers to Pre- and Post-Forum Questionnaires, reports from moderators, and in-depth studies of selected forums, these reports describe in some detail what happened as people deliberated about the issue at hand. These reports range from 20 to 48 pages and cost $3.00 (or download at www.nifi.org for free). To order, email Ruffolo at or call 800-600-4060.
The National Piggybank: Does Our Retirement System Need Fixing?
1997. National Issues Forums.
A report on the outcome of forums held across the nation on this issue. Making use of participants' answers to Pre- and Post-Forum Questionnaires, reports from moderators, and in-depth studies of selected forums, these reports describe in some detail what happened as people deliberated about the issue at hand. These reports range from 20 to 48 pages and cost $3.00 (or download at www.nifi.org for free). To order, email Ruffolo at or call 800-600-4060.
A New Political Covenant: America's Aspirations for Political Conduct
Harwood, Richard C. 2002.
This treatise lays out in detail the aspirations Americans hold for political leaders, news media, and their fellow citizens, as articulated by participants in our Citizen Assemblies and other Harwood Institute projects over the past fourteen years. To read an excerpt and to order your free copy of this treatise, go to the New Patriotism Project website, at www.newpatriotismproject.org.
Political Fortunes: A Public Voice on Money and Politics
1996. Prepared by The Harwood Group for Money+Politics: People Change the Equation.
Part of Money+Politics - a partnership between the League of Women Voters Education Fund and The Harwood Group - Political Fortunes addresses some of the key issues surrounding money and politics - issues that concern citizens across the country. The report is based on conversations with hundreds of participants in Citizen Assemblies in California, Massachusetts, Florida, Colorado, Illinois, and Washington State. It lays out a framework for action, which describes the leverage points for acting on money and politics; explores rejected approaches and unresolved issues; and spells out the conditions for effecting change and moving ahead. Order at www.theharwoodinstitute.org.
A Public Voice '01: Money and Politics
Each year, many public TV stations around the nation air an hour-long program that features American citizens deliberating in National Issues Forums around the nation, and a distinguished panel of nationally-known political leaders, commentators and journalists meeting at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. to reflect on what this "public voice" may mean in setting direction for America. Tapes of these programs (produced by Milton B. Hoffman Productions) are available for $6.50 each. To order, email Ruffolo at .
A Public Voice '98: Governing America
Each year, many public TV stations around the nation air an hour-long program that features American citizens deliberating in National Issues Forums around the nation, and a distinguished panel of nationally-known political leaders, commentators and journalists meeting at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. to reflect on what this "public voice" may mean in setting direction for America. Tapes of these programs (produced by Milton B. Hoffman Productions) are available for $6.50 each. To order, email Ruffolo at .
A Public Voice '97: Does Our Retirement System Need Fixing?
Each year, many public TV stations around the nation air an hour-long program that features American citizens deliberating in National Issues Forums around the nation, and a distinguished panel of nationally-known political leaders, commentators and journalists meeting at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. to reflect on what this "public voice" may mean in setting direction for America. Tapes of these programs (produced by Milton B. Hoffman Productions) are available for $6.50 each. To order, email Ruffolo at .
Roundtable on Democracy Research
Scott London. Kettering Foundation.
This is a 23-page report on a gathering of distinguished thinkers and practitioners who came together in May 2001 to explore questions concerning a series of worrisome trends, from declining confidence in government to a deepening anxiety about our social and moral values. Order from Ruffolo for $7.00 by emailing or calling 1-800-600-4060.
Shutting the Public Out of Politics: Civic Republicanism, Professional Politics, and the Eclipse of Civil Society
R. Claire Snyder. Kettering Foundation.
In this historical overview of the role of the citizen, Snyder examines the elements of, and the causes for, the decline of active citizenship in the U.S. and the emergence of "professional policymakers." She advocates public deliberation and civic action as ways for citizens to take back their traditional roles and "force open the door" of American politics. 52 pages. Order from Ruffolo for $7.00 by emailing or calling 1-800-600-4060.
What Citizens Can Do: A Public Way to Act
The Kettering Foundation
This collection of a dozen stories are about everyday people who have changed the way politics is practiced in their towns. They share a commitment to the idea that in a democracy citizens take responsibility for dealing with community problems. 51 pages. Order from Ruffolo for $7.00 by emailing or calling 1-800-600-4060.
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