Policy synthesis #3: Moving democratic innovations from the margins to the mainstream

The rise in populist movements and a general decline in democratic trust have highlighted the urgent need to deepen the role of citizens in governance. Democratic innovations—defined as processes designed with the “overarching goal of improving the quality of democracy by tackling specific contextual deficits”—have emerged as a powerful response. However, these innovations are not without risks; while they can restore trust, they can also deepen cynicism if perceived as manipulative, rather than genuinely transparent and inclusive. Despite this risk, initiatives like citizens' assemblies, participatory budgeting, and policy labs are seen as vital for tackling complex, long-term challenges like the climate crisis. For these innovations to fulfil their promise, they must move beyond their current experimental and often-marginalised status. This policy brief argues that the foundational challenge is the absence of a permanent infrastructure to support and embed them within our democratic systems.