Institute for Democratic Engagement & Accountability (IDEA)

The Foundational Principle of IDEA

We are grounded in a fundamental principle: When citizens and elected officials participate in civil, representative, and focused dialogue, it fosters mutual respect, enhances decision-making, and builds greater faith in the democratic process.

5
Countries Where DTHs Have Been Held
95%
Of participants say Deliberative Town Halls are "very valuable for democracy"
11%
Avg. Increase in Trust in Participating Elected Official

Upcoming Events

Wed, March 25, 2026
Event Start Time: 1:30 pm
Event Location: Derby Hall, Room 0125 | The Ohio State University

Recent News

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IDEA Launches Second Raven

IDEA, in collaboration with the Machine-Assisted Human Decision-making (MAHD) Lab directed by Dr. Ryan Kennedy, has launched Second Raven, a new Substack newsletter for anyone who wants to understand…

Amy Lee speaking at a panel

IDEA Partners with FIDE North America for Launch of Deliberative State Governance Initiative

On February 18, IDEA partnered with FIDE North America and Meridian International Center to launch the Deliberative State Governance initiative in Washington, D.C., a program designed to bring…

People have been gathered to talk about the project

Deliberative Town Halls and Development Priorities in Malawi

What does it look like when the First and Second Deputy Speakers of a national parliament open their doors to a new kind of democratic experiment? Next month, Jack Fernandes will travel to Malawi to…

Dr. Annelise Russell from the University of Kentucky

Dr. Annelise Russell Visits IDEA to Discuss Congress's Communication Crisis

What happens when the institution responsible for governing a nation cannot keep up with the speed of its own information environment? That is the question at the heart of Dr. Annelise Russell's…

People Directory

Associate Director
Professor of Communication, Professor of Political Science (by courtesy)
Andrei Baronov and Ratmir Timashev Endowed Chair in Data Analytics
Director of the Institute for Democratic Engagement and Accountability (IDEA); Professor of Political Science and (by courtesy) Philosophy, Communication, and Public Policy