Negative political ads, high voltage political talk shows, and dramatic sound bites on the news are the most recognized forms of political discourse in our society. As a result, our public discussion on political issues is now characterized by high-decibel speech, personal attacks, and ideological sloganeering.

The Institute for Civic Discourse and Democracy (ICDD) was formed in 2004 in response to these problems that result in incivility, citizen alienation, and community fragmentation. ICDD promotes citizen deliberation on tough political and social issues, resulting in increased citizen participation, reflection, communication, and respect.

ICDD works to enhance democratization locally, nationally, and internationally through improved community deliberation, facilitation and evaluation practices, development of a certified facilitator training program, and interdisciplinary research on models of civic discourse.

ICDD is a non-partisan agency bringing together a diverse group of scholars and practitioners to address the relationship between democracy and civic discourse.

ICDD's faculty includes communication specialists, engineers, geographers, political scientists, extension specialists, database managers, professional facilitators and evaluators, and authorities in conflict management.

These individuals bring a variety of technical expertise, theoretical orientation, and process skills to promote civic engagement and deliberative democracy, to improve the quality of political communication and to increase our understanding of the relationship between communication and democratic decision-making.

Through this breadth of scholarly and practical experience, ICDD has the capacity to assist citizen deliberation on a wide-variety of public issues and in diverse public forums.

For more information:

Dr. David E. Procter, ICDD Director
202 Ahearn Field House
Kansas State University
Manhattan, KS 66506-0307
(785) 532-7252, fax (785) 532-6808
icdd@k-state.edu
http://www.k-state.edu/icdd

The Institute for Civic Discourse and Democracy is committed to improving public deliberation locally, nationally, and internationally by engaging in scholarship, education, facilitation, and outreach.

NEW!:

ICDD principals applauded in letter to the editor "The anti-NBAF folks were much more civil than we were."

NEWSLETTER

September 2008 (PDF)

UPCOMING EVENTS

PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE WATCH, Public viewing and forum responses to the 2008 Presidential Debates:

10/15: 3rd. Presidential Debate. 8pm CST, Eisenhower Presidential Library Visitors Center, Abilene

10/16: Health Care Forum, El Dorado

NATIONAL ISSUES FORUMS, Special election-season public forums hosted by the Eisenhower Presidential Library and ICDD between Labor Day and Election Day:

10/21: "Coping with the Cost of Health Care: How Do We Pay for What We Need?"7-9PM Eisenhower Presidential Library Visitors' Center, Abilene

11/4 Election Day and Kids Voting Activites

1/12-14/2009 Public Issues Facilitation Workshop (PDF)

RECENT EVENTS

10/7: 2nd. Presidential Debate. 8pm CST, K-State Union 212

10/2: Vice Presidential Debate. 8pm CST, K-State Union 212

9/30: "The Energy Problem: Choices for an Uncertain Future" 7-9PM K-State Salina College Center

9/26: 1st. Presidential Debate. 8pm CST, K-State Alumni Center

HOW SECURE ARE ELECTRONIC VOTES? Lectures by Douglas W. Jones, international expert in voting systems and election security:

9/16: "Electronic Voting; an International Perspective", Noon-1PM, Manhattan Public Library and "The Trials and Tribulations of Electronic Voting" 1:30-2:30 Hale Library, K-State Campus

9/11: "Americans' Role in the World:Building a More Secure Future" 7-9PM K-State Alumni Center

9/7: Town Hall Meeting for cItizens and city commissioners of Manhattan, Kansas, moderated by ICDD.

8/24-26: Facilitation Training Workshop for Wisconsin Institute for Public Policy and Service

8/19: Presidential Libraries Inaugural Event for Fall National Issues Forums in Kansas, held at Eisenhower Presidential Library Visitors Center, Abilene

4th. ANNUAL MOVIES ON THE GRASS free outdoor film and discussion series, next to K-State's Hale Library at 8pm

8/24: hACKING dEMOCRACY

9/07: i kNOW i'M NOT ALONE