Boosting, not replacing: Online deliberation tools in a face-to-face student citizens’ assembly

An empirical study examining how online deliberation tools (specifically Decidim and pol.is) were used to complement a largely face-to-face deliberative process in a student assembly at Université Paris‑Est Créteil.

The authors explore how digital platforms can enhance (but not replace) in-person deliberation by improving pedagogy, inclusivity, transparency, continuity and legitimacy. The study finds that although true online deliberation remained limited, the tools helped maintain engagement, enabled asynchronous participation and strengthened connections between participants and decision-makers.

Source: UCLouvain
Language: English

Year of publication: 2025