xiv, 310 p. : ill. A print copy of this thesis is available through the UO Libraries. Search the library catalog for the location and call number. / Considerable interest has emerged recently within U.S. policy scholarship toward deliberative democracy and its potential viability as a form of alternative democratic governance in resolving persistent policy dilemmas. Despite these claims, the deliberative scholarship is an empirically understudied field. Instead, deliberative theory is usually normatively articulated as an alternative and preferable form of governance. Secondly and to a lesser extent, deliberative scholars assert that deliberative governance can work and does exist. In these cases, often extensive deliberative claims are made but not carefully tested according to explicitly identified deliberative criteria and measures. This dissertation contributes to the systematic testing of deliberative theory that has only recently begun. Theoretically, this dissertation fits within the gulf between ideal and non-ideal deliberative scholarship. This dissertation draws from multiple sources, such as interviews, direct observation, meeting minutes, and secondary sources, to systematically evaluate and then comparatively assesses the evidence in four untested exemplar deliberative cases that took place within seemingly intractable policy issues. These cases are Oregon health care reform (OHCR) surrounding the Health Services Commission (HSC), watershed restoration and management in Oregon surrounding the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board (OWEB), and the New Community Meetings in Lane County and the greater Eugene-Springfield metro area surrounding the issues of "gay rights" and sustainable development (NCMI/II). These cases exhibit significant variation along explanatory and outcomes variables. Overall, the findings in this dissertation suggest that at times ideal deliberative scholars establish criteria and measures that are impractical or even unnecessary for robust deliberation. The evidence in these cases suggests that non-ideal deliberative standards appear capable of yielding deliberative outcomes that are perceived by participant stakeholders in adequate terms. / Committee in charge: Gerald Berk, Chairperson, Political Science; Ronald Mitchell, Member, Political Science; Priscilla Southwell, Member, Political Science; Richard Margerum, Outside Member, Planning Public Policy & Mgmt

[pt] A presente tese examina a gênese e o desenvolvimento das novas comunidades, para melhor compreender a sua missão e contribuição específicas na dinâmica da Igreja universal e das igrejas locais. Esta reflexão contribui para aprofundar a autoconsciência eclesial em vista da realização da eclesiologia de comunhão. Portanto, tratar-se-á de uma revisão bibliográfica das principais mensagens do Magistério recente pronunciadas nos congressos mundiais sobre movimentos e novas comunidades, organizados pelo Dicastério para Leigos, Família e Vida. Para melhor compreender o lugar das novas comunidades dentro da missão evangelizadora da Igreja, a pesquisa será delimitada na realidade pastoral do Brasil, em diálogo com o projeto de conversão da paróquia como comunidade de comunidades, com o objetivo de gerar maior comunhão entre ambas as realidades, no respeito à identidade própria de cada uma. As descobertas e as propostas decorrentes abrem novos caminhos na reflexão sobre os Carismas na Igreja e sobre novos modelos de colaboração entre novas comunidades e comunidades paroquiais. / [en] The present thesis examines the genesis and development of new communities, to better understand their mission and specific contributionto the dynamics of the universal and local Church. This reflection contributes to deepening ecclesial self-awareness in view of promoting the ecclesiology of communion. Therefore, this will be a bibliographical review of the main messages of the Magisterium recently pronounced at the world congresses about ecclesiastical movements and the new communities, organized by the Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life. To better understand the place of the new communities within the evangelizing mission of the Church, the research will be limited to the pastoral reality of Brazil, in dialogue with the project of converting the parish as a community of communities, generating greater communion between both realities, respecting their own identity. The resulting discoveries and proposals open new paths in reflection on Charismas in the Church and on new models of collaboration between new communities and parish communities.