Thriving on poor soil? People’s attitudes towards deliberation in transition countries

Demand for and participation in deliberative practices have often been studied in democratic settings where they were available or took place. However, there is limited information about what shapes people’s attitudes towards deliberative practices in countries that struggle with representative democracy and where deliberation is not available. This article addresses these gaps in the literature and aims to explain why people in the Republic of Moldova support deliberative practices and would engage with them should they happen in their country. We draw on individual data from a survey conducted in November 2024 on a national representative sample. We isolate baseline orientations towards deliberation and find that most Moldovans have positive views about deliberation, but many support deliberation strongly without striving to engage. Support for deliberation is influenced by area of residence and gender, while the willingness to engage is the result of people’s attitudes towards politics and decision-making.