Fostering Civil Discourse: Dr. Emily Stacey’s Commitment to Deliberative Dialogue in Political Science

This week’s faculty in focus is Dr. Emily Stacey, Professor of Political Science and Program Coordinator at Rose State College. 

As a Periclean Fellow, Dr. Stacey integrated deliberative dialogues into two political science courses.

The first course, Introduction to Mass Media & Politics, provided a comprehensive survey of both international and American media systems, exploring traditional and digital media and their role in shaping civic participation and political behavior. The second course, American Federal Government offered an overview of key constitutional principles, major U.S. political institutions, and contemporary political issues. 

Both courses featured deliberative dialogues on four key topics: reducing hyperpartisanship, censorship legislation and free speech, youth and economic opportunity, and voting rights for incarcerated individuals. Using prompts and resources from our deliberative dialogue modules, students conducted independent research to develop informed perspectives. Class discussions encouraged them to explore these issues, consider diverse viewpoints, and assess potential political actions. Through this process, students became more confident in engaging in civil discourse.

 Reflecting on the value of deliberative dialogue, Dr. Stacey shared, “Discourse is key to a democracy, but can be daunting and intimidating in the hyperpolarized political environment that we live in. Deliberative Dialogue modules allow students to approach issues from different perspectives, grounded in fact- based information, and convey their opinions and thoughts to their peers. This experience makes them more willing to do so in the greater community and democracy.”

Dr. Stacey’s work demonstrates the power of deliberative dialogue in fostering thoughtful, respectful conversations about complex issues. By creating spaces where students can explore diverse perspectives and engage in meaningful discussions, she is helping to prepare the next generation of informed empathetic citizens ready to participate in our democracy.

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