Constitutional visions from the grass-roots: Towards a deliberative ecology beyond group division

Funded by: Department of Foreign Affairs, Reconciliation Fund, University of Notre Dame

The project titled brings together leading academic and community partners from across Ireland and the UK to support a new model of inclusive, cross-community constitutional dialogue. Rooted in the principles of deliberative democracy and post-conflict reconciliation, the initiative aims to foster sustained, open dialogue on complex and often divisive constitutional questions—particularly those relating to identity, governance, and the future of the island. By building cross-border, cross-community networks that include both local residents and government actors, the project aspires to generate a "deliberative ecology": a system of interconnected community-led forums where diverse perspectives are heard, valued, and responded to.

Through participatory methods and community partnerships, the project will map local needs, build capacity for inclusive dialogue, and pilot scalable models of engagement that move beyond entrenched divisions. While grounded in the unique political context of Ireland and Northern Ireland, the project holds wider relevance for other societies grappling with contested futures and deep-rooted divisions.