In a recent blog, Daniel Little wrote on the central normative ideas and also on different modes of application of deliberative democracy.
On the normative aspects, he wrote
"
The deliberative approach (...) looks at belief formation as itself a cumulative and reasonable process; one in which the individual needs to have the opportunity to think through the facts and values that surround the choice; and, crucially, one in which exposure to other people's reasoning is an important part of arriving at a sound conclusion.
Notice how different this process is by comparison with the talk radio paradigm -- short blasts of opinion by people whose opinions are already fully cast in concrete; no opportunity for 'listening for learning' among the participants; no willingness to keep an open mind in consideration of a factually and morally complex issue."
On the applications, he references Professor Jim Fiskin's deliberative poll methodology.
Check out the post yourselves. It is a very edifying read.
http://understandingsociety.blogspot.com/2009/07/how-good-is-deliberative-democracy.html
