IDEA bridges the gap between rigorous democracy research and real-world impact, through programs that put citizens and their representatives in direct conversation at every level of government.

Too often, research on democracy sits on a shelf gathering dust. IDEA makes sure it does not stay there. As part of Ohio State's land-grant mission of Education for Citizenship, we turn applied political science into practical tools, and we mobilize leading researchers and experienced practitioners to put those tools in people's hands, from Ohio State students to Chileans debating their constitution.

From research to practice

The toolkit is built to travel: an adaptable model for running Deliberative Town Halls, the technology to convene them, a handbook for practitioners, and built-in evaluation so every program is tested and improved. Independent studies, including randomized controlled trials, hold our work to the standard we would ask of any serious research.

Designed for the people usually left out

Deliberation does the most good for those who are furthest from politics, so we design for them first. We subsidize the cost of participating, build mobile-first tools that meet accessibility standards, and provide real-time translation, so that language, income, or disability does not decide whose voice is heard.

Our Vision

When citizens and elected officials come together for civil, representative, focused conversations, we respect one another more, our leaders make better decisions, and everyone has more faith in the democratic process.

That idea sits at the heart of everything we do. We want a democracy where deliberation is a habit rather than a luxury, where the people most often left out are deliberately brought in, and where evidence rather than noise shapes the decisions that affect everyday life. We work toward legislatures, classrooms, and communities around the world that put democracy research to use.