Kovalov A. James Fishkin’s Concept of Deliberative Democracy: Theoretical and Practical Aspects.

The dissertation is devoted to the research of theoretical and practical aspects of J. Fishkin’s concept of deliberative democracy in order to reveal its scientific principles, content, methodology, advantages and disadvantages, applied implementation and prospects of its application in the Ukrainian socio-political realities. The research analyzes the typology of public consultations proposed by the American scholar, as well as systematizes the principles of deliberative polls organizing and conducting. The method of deliberative poll was researched, as well as essence of its main stages was analyzed (selection of participants, preliminary questionnaire, provision of participants with reliable comprehensive information about the discussed issue / issues, discussion in groups, consultation with experts, general forum, decision-making or recommendations, final questionnaire). Deliberative consultation (deliberative poll) is recognized as the most appropriate to values and principles of democracy, because it meets the following criteria: 1) informativity (arguments are supported by proper factual data); 2) balance (arguments meet counterarguments); 3) honesty (participants have a desire to speak and listen with courtesy and respect); 4) substantiality (arguments are considered on an equal footing, not depending on who speaks or how he does it); 5) comprehensiveness (all points of view, which are supported by a large number of people, receive their attention).