Deliberative democracy aspires to deepen the inclusion of marginalised people in democracy, yet it has paid limited attention to how trauma affects deliberative engagement, and how deliberative processes might be designed to recognise and respond to trauma. This paper addresses this gap by drawing on insights from the theory and practice of social work. It first identifies three limitations in deliberative democracy research regarding trauma and its impacts on participants: a fragmented and ad hoc approach to engaging participants experiencing vulnerability and distress; limited attention to the embodied nature of trauma in shaping participation; and a lack of recognition of trauma as an access issue that demands intentional design. The paper then responds through a critical social work lens. Drawing on the Trauma-Informed Practice Framework and in-depth interviews with advocacy workers, it posits six key principles of trauma-informed practice – safety, trust, voice and choice, collaboration and mutuality, empowerment, and intersectionality and cultural awareness. These principles not only offer a robust foundation for addressing gaps in the theory and practice of deliberative democracy; they also show how its aspirations can be advanced by moving beyond formal inclusion on paper toward a felt sense of inclusion for all participants, including those from trauma-impacted cohorts.
