PERSPECTIVE DEMOCRACY AND HUMAN RIGHTS POWER FROM THE PEOPLE? Citizens’ Assemblies in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland Frances Foley January 2022 Recent political turmoil has led to concerns about significant political divisions – between young and old, remainers and leavers, progressives and con­servatives, and between the North and the South. Into this breach has stepped the potent idea of the citizens’ assembly – a form of decision-­making characterised by collec­tive reasoning, consideration of evidence, facilitated discussion and a series of proposals. But if citizens’ assemblies in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland are to fulfil their promise, they must enter into dialogue with our existing institutions and processes.