Deiric Ó Broin is Professor of Public Policy Practice in the School of Law and Government in DCU where he lectures in Irish politics and public policy. His research is mainly on Irish politics and public policy particularly the area of local and urban governance. He also works in the areas of public participation and deliberation, civil society involvement in public policy formulation, with a particular focus on the social economy. Previously, he taught in TU Dublin, Maynooth University and UCD. His research interests are local (in particular urban settings) and regional governance, public participation and deliberative processes, and social and solidarity economies.