Page 126 - Mike Ratner CC - WISR Complete Dissertation - v6

Three primary emotions associated with deliberation in the Socratic model are fear, anger,

and hope (Gunderson, 2000). These emotions are in congruence with Socratic discourse in that

they evoke a “challenge to a citizen’s belief and an active response” (p. 176). Gunderson’s theory

of deliberative democracy based on a Socratic model and dyadic method can thus be seen as

instructive to an exploration of tension and conflict, as experienced by members of DD groups.

Conflict, Tension, and Power

The role of conflict, tension, and disagreement is inevitable in deliberative encounters.

Deliberative scholars discuss conflict from a variety of perspectives considering “the interactive

back and forth process of communication” that occurs in civic participatory processes (Koch, 1996,

p. 95). While Koch explored the existence of tension and disagreement in homogeneous groups

based on Dewey’s theory that conflict fosters more effective dialogue, the work of Hall (2007),

Locher (2004), and Mansbridge (1996) investigated disagreement and tension by examining more

explicitly the influencing forces of power and passion in DD encounters.

Koch (1996) provided a useful analysis of Dewey’s account of conflict situations and the

significance of communication patterns consisting of a back and forth exchange. In the back and

forth of dialogue participants exchange information in a way that serves to inform and challenge

the rationale and reasons offered by those involved. Koch has noted that effective dialogue results

from effective inquiry, the basis of which rests upon the shared principles among those who gather.

Shared moral principles of dialogue consisting of respect, careful listening, appreciation of

suggestions from others in the group, and reasonable use of language (Koch, 1996) allows dialogue

members the opportunity for inquiry that may lead to resolution and a shared course of action.

Koch further indicated that this model of dialogue holds up well only when a high degree of

homogeneity exists among participants and this is an area of interest for future research for me.

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