REDIRECT is a four-year research project funded (€3 millions) by the Horizon Programme (and UKRI for the Exeter participation). It aims is to enhance our understanding of the current transformations of representative democracy in Europe at national and supranational level, assessing whether the centre of gravity of democratic representation is shifting away from the traditional forms of political intermediation, such as parties, parliaments, and party-based government, towards other forms of political representation. Its focus is on the representative disconnect, a multidimensional phenomenon of regression of the demos-kratos linkage involving institutional, behavioural and affective components, which risks undermining the trust in and legitimacy of the overall system of democratic representation. The two main questions REDIRECT addresses are: a) what are the nature, scope, aspects and causes of the representative disconnect; and b) how can the current representative disconnect be addressed, ameliorated, and/or rectified? The Exeter team comprises Dario Castiglione, Lise Herman, Oliver James, Alice Moseley, and Andrew Schaap. Dario and Andy will work on the more theoretical aspects of the project, while Lise, Oliver and Alice will study the role that Citizens’ Assemblies can play in the changing ecology of political representation. The project comprises seven international partners, from Italy, Belgium, Hungary, Norway, Poland, and the UK.
May 8th and 9th 2025, University of Exeter
Student Engagement & Deliberation on the University’s Climate and Sustainability Agenda
A two-day Learning and Engagement Event with Public Lecture
Organised by the Exeter ReDirect Research project (Horizon/ UKRI)
Sponsored by the Societies and Cultures Institute (SCI) visiting lecturer series
Day 1 (8th May):1.30-4.30pm (buffet lunch 1-1.30).
Venue: Constantine Leventis Teaching Room, Building One, Business School
Workshop (2.00-4.30): Lessons from French Student Citizens Assemblies on Climate Change
Day 2 (9th May): 11.30-3.00pm (buffet lunch 12.30-1.30).
Venue: Matrix Lecture Theatre, Building One, Business School
Public Lecture (11.30-12.30): Prof Emilie Frenkiel: ‘'Politicisation and Empowerment/ Disempowerment within Student Citizen's Assemblies’
Roundtable (1.30-3.00): Student Engagement Priorities at the University of Exeter
19-20 May 2025, Reed Hall, University of Exeter
Study Workshop: Can public deliberation help address the environmental crisis?
Practitioners and academics are invited to address the question of whether citizens’ deliberative forums may contribute to revitalise the representative political system. The aim of this two-day workshop is to foster a productive dialogue between political representatives, public administrators, civil activists, and researchers about the challenges and the proposals for citizens’ involvement in public debate, political deliberation and policy making for a sustainable environment.
20 May 2025, Reed Hall, University of Exeter
Public Lecture: When, Where, and Why Might Elected Political Elites Reach for Democratic Innovations?
By Professor Mark E. Warren. Sponsored by the Department of Social and Political Sciences, Philosophy and Anthropology.
Download Lecture Abstract and Prof Mark Warren’s Brief Bio
The Public lecture will be followed by a Postgraduate Master Class on political representation, democratic innovation and citizens’ deliberative assembly.
Public Lecture and Master Class
13.00-14.00 Politics Public Lecture by Professor Mark E Warren, ‘When, Where, and Why Might Elected Political Elites Reach for Democratic Innovations?, followed by Q/A. Location: Ibrahim Ahmed Room, Reed Hall
14.15-16.00 Workshop / Postgraduate Masterclass on Democratic deliberation and Representation, with Professor Mark E. Warren and other academics. Location: Ibrahim Ahmed Room, Reed Hall