INITIATIVE EUROPE

This article provides a political theory analysis of the potential and limitations of deliberative mini-publics (DMPs) in situations of democratic backsliding, with a focus on Central and Eastern Europe. Despite executive aggrandizement, weakened checks and balances, and the manipulation of the public sphere, DMPs have been introduced across the region. However, their role as mechanisms of democratic self-defence is ambiguous: they may only serve as temporary acts of resistance with limited impact, or they may be co-opted by illiberal regimes, thereby losing their critical edge. This paradox – the simultaneous emergence and fragility of DMPs under autocratic pressure – motivates a shift from institutional design to normative purpose. Adopting a systemic perspective within deliberative theory, the article analyses how DMPs are shaped by, and embedded within, wider deliberative and accountability ecosystems that are deteriorating under democratic backsliding. This approach reveals that the proliferation of citizen forums does not offset systemic erosion and that only certain functions can meaningfully support democratic resilience. The article develops a typology of five functions – technical, educational, informational, militant and oversight – and evaluates their capacity to contest domination under adverse conditions. While most functions face significant constraints, DMPs oriented towards oversight, particularly those addressing corruption and political capture, offer a more plausible route for democratic repair and citizen-led self-defence.