UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The Penn State McCourtney Institute for Democracy presented its Brown Democracy Medal in 2019 to David Farrell and Jane Suiter for their work with the Irish Citizens’ Assembly Project — an initiative which has helped transform Irish politics for more than a decade.

Inspired by Farrell and Suiter's visit to Penn State, Department of Communication Arts and Sciences faculty members Jessica O'Hara, Lori Bedell and Johan Bodaski saw a unique opportunity for students to delve deeper into the study of citizen assemblies. Together, they created “The Culture of Deliberative Democracy in Ireland” — a faculty-led course trip that took students throughout Ireland to study citizens’ assemblies and their cultural context, and to examine the deliberative democracy that the country has established. The experience was one of twelve faculty-led course trips that took place in the College of the Liberal Arts this summer.

“This was a particularly exciting program to me since it matched a profound innovation in democracy and deliberative democracy in Ireland,” said Bedell, associate teaching professor of communication arts and sciences and assistant director of the intercollege minor in civic and community engagement. O’Hara, an Irish studies specialist had previously guided another faculty-led course to Ireland offered by the Department of English and was excited to return, this time with a focus on democracy and culture.

Students who participated in the course were introduced to Ireland through a combination of readings, lectures, country tours and firsthand interviews with citizens and legislators. They also learned filmmaking principles so they could collaborate on creating compelling 12- to 15-minute documentaries that capture the essential role of deliberation in political, cultural and constitutional change.

For many of the students participating in the course, the journey to Ireland marked their first time traveling out of the country or traveling without their families. For Clarissa Theiss, a third-year student pursuing degrees in political science and criminology, the course provided an opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of principles she had learned in the classroom.

“I learned a lot of the concepts and theories in my democratic leadership class that I was really able to apply once I got to Dublin,” she said.

Once in Dublin, the students realized that the larger culture of trust and openness that existed in Ireland made the program more than just an exploration of deliberative democracy — it became a deeper and more profound cultural immersion.

A standout moment that resonated with faculty and students alike was the opportunity to meet Leo Varadkar, the former taoiseach, or prime minister, of Ireland who had also held a variety of other ministerial positions in the Irish government. Varadkar, who was also the first openly gay taoiseach, spoke with the group about his experience with the citizens’ assembly and how it affected him as a gay man as the legalization of same-sex marriage was being considered.

Bedell, O’Hara and Bodaski also invited Farrell and Suiter to meet with the students to discuss their experiences working with the Citizens’ Assembly and its future. Those interviews played key roles in the documentaries produced by the students at the end of the program.

“I think one of the most enriching things we did was interview David Farrell and Jane Suiter,” said Barbara Price, a second-year student majoring in history and political science. “It was really interesting to get their take on citizens assemblies, especially as the political science field in the United States looks to implement similar bodies.”

Price said she learned about the trip as a student in O’Hara’s "Rhetoric and Civic Life" class. She was interested in observing Ireland’s political climate firsthand and comparing the differences in government polarization in Ireland to the United States.

An unexpected experience during the trip occurred when the students randomly met a doctoral student who was studying deliberative democracy. That student provided the group with contact information for Roslyn Fuller, a Canadian-Irish author and columnist who the group had learned about while conducting research for the trip, which led to an impromptu Zoom discussion with Fuller.  

Madeline Shanafelt, a second-year student majoring in political science and education and public policy, said that experience was one of the most beneficial moments from the trip.

“It was just a really cool experience that happened on a whim,” Shanafelt said. “We were shocked. I don't know, maybe it was meant to be.”

The group also found time to visit and climb Diamond Hill, a popular mountain located in Connemara National Park. While many were nervous at first about the ascent, everyone overcame their fears with encouragement from their peers — a testament to the personal growth and resilience the students developed during the trip.

“Everybody climbed that mountain,” said O’Hara, teaching professor of communication arts and sciences. “In a different way, just in a sort of a self-discovery way, I think it was an amazing growing experience for the students. I was just so proud of all of them.”

Throughout the entire experience, the students said they gained a deeper understanding of how cultural identity influences self-perception and values. The experience also provided opportunities for the students to make lasting friendships that they hope will continue. Interacting closely with their professors added another layer of value to the experience.

Liberal Arts Career Enrichment Network

The Career Enrichment Network empowers Liberal Arts students to explore, engage and define their career journey through diverse career development opportunities. Students can meet with a career coach to explore careers, internships, education abroad, research, the Liberal Arts Alumni Mentor Program and more. Through donor support, the Career Enrichment Network provides Liberal Arts students the opportunity to apply for funding to help support participation in many of these experiences.