Trends in Mini-Publics Research: High Expectations, Mixed Findings, and Clear-Cut Challenges

Mini-publics have been spreading, particularly in Western countries, with the aim of resolving some deficits of current democracies. An abundant literature focuses on the study of their theoretical expectations and empirical manifestations as well as on the main controversies faced by this deliberative institution. In this article, I review the academic conversation along the three core principles of mini-publics: the conditions and criteria for deliberation to produce informed public opinion; the conceptual and empirical difficulties to achieve inclusiveness, representativeness, and political equality; and the conditions for and challenges of having public influence.