Changing the status quo through democratic innovations? Three paradoxes from the Iberian Peninsula

Abstract Citizen distrust in mainstream politics has spurred the rise of new democratic processes for citizen participation and deliberation, known as democratic innovations. These innovations are believed to improve democracy by changing the status quo. This paper critically examines whether this goal is achieved by focusing on participatory budgeting and citizens’ assemblies in the Iberian Peninsula. Three paradoxes arise from our reflection, related to the role of elected officials, neutralization of policymaking, and evaluation of outcomes. These paradoxes suggest the need for further studies on how democratic innovations can change the status quo and contribute to democratizing our democracies.