The setting was a hall in Amman, Jordan, packed with more than 500 students from eight universities, members of the community, and a panel of judges representing members of parliament, civil society organizations, university officials and veteran journalists. They were there for the culmination of five weeks of debate practice and training. Over the next four hours, they would watch eight teams debate seven topics ranging from lowering the age of candidacy for parliament to receiving Syrian refugees in Jordan. At the end, only one team would be left standing.

Throughout Latin America, political and civic leaders are under increasing pressure to solve pervasive problems such as poverty, insecurity, corruption and lack of government transparency. Some of that pressure is generated by social media and other new communications tools available to constituents. But new technology is also aiding the response.