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This study presents an empirical evaluation of the co-production of a "Statement to the Candidates" and a "Voters Guide" for a key U.S. Congressional race. Citizens produced these materials during an intensive process called "Reclaim November Ohio," which used the Citizen Jury method of public deliberation. We use a series of pre-and post-test surveys to evaluate this unique application of coproduction. Specifically, we assess whether this deliberative approach to co-production in the political and electoral arena improved participants' perceptions of politics and government and made citizens more interested in and knowledgeable about policy issues. We also assess whether participants believed the Reclaim November Ohio process would help the candidates better understand citizens' concerns and whether participants were satisfied with the event. The results suggest that co-production in the political and electoral arena can have positive effects on citizens' agency, voice, and perceptions of politics and government. The results are mixed for both the perceived influence of the event and issue interest and knowledge. Nevertheless, participants were extremely satisfied with the event and its various components.

The town of Nosara on Costa Rica’s Nicoya peninsula is home to a vibrant community of diverse residents and is adjacent to an important turtle nesting site. However, tensions between lifelong residents, more recent transplants, visitors, and developers have increased as more of the world discovers this once-isolated haven. Climate change, income inequality, and alienation from a distant government apparatus have further complicated effective land-use planning and fractured social cohesion. Using a mixed-method approach of in-depth interviews (n = 67), Q methodology (n = 79), and public deliberation (n = 88), we explored residents’ priorities for the future of their town. The results indicate four different perspectives on Nosara’s future. Despite the tensions among those four perspectives, they show consensus on one overarching community issue: the need for a sustainable development plan. The case also shows how Q-methodology can assist scholars and practitioners who embrace participatory approaches to policy development and conflict resolution in the environmental arena.

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This analysis of opinion pieces in The New York Times and The Washington Post points to a limited discussion of Latin America. The majority of the articles were filtered through the American conflict and security frames, thus providing readers with a narrow perspective regarding the region.