Deliberative Assemblies on Mental Health in Rural Communities Affected by Armed Conflict: An Assessment of Deliberative Quality in Montes de María, Colombia

Abstract

Deliberative quality describes the extent to which processes of citizen dialogue are inclusive, equitable, respectful, well informed, grounded in reasoned argument, and oriented towards the common good. When these conditions are met, deliberation enables equal participation and supports the formation of robust, informed, legitimate, and fair consensus. This article evaluates deliberative quality in a series of citizen dialogue exercises on mental health and psychosocial care conducted with women and men leaders from communities affected by the armed conflict in Colombia’s Montes de María subregion. The analysis examines community perceptions of deliberative quality in the territory, the discursive norms adopted by local leaders, and the factors that enable or constrain deliberation. Drawing on three complementary methods—semi-structured interviews, questionnaires, and structured observation—the study assesses key dimensions such as levels of participation, the justification of arguments, respect for differing viewpoints, and willingness to seek consensus. The findings suggest that participants perceive deliberative quality in the territory as low. Nevertheless, as the deliberative exercises unfolded, participants demonstrated a growing understanding of and adherence to shared discursive norms. The study also documents shifts in participants’ beliefs and value judgements following the deliberations. Despite these advances in openness to dialogue, the article concludes that deliberative quality in Montes de María continues to face significant challenges, particularly in relation to inclusion and consensus-building. Its principal contribution lies in the development of a systematic methodology for assessing deliberative quality in controlled settings, which offers a solid basis for designing strategies to strengthen future participatory processes in rural areas affected by armed conflict.