Stakeholder Suite: A Unified AI Framework for Mapping Actors, Topics and Arguments in Public Debates

TL;DR

Stakeholder Suite is a comprehensive AI framework that maps actors, topics, and arguments in public debates, providing transparent insights to aid decision-making in complex infrastructure and energy projects.

Contribution

The paper introduces Stakeholder Suite, a unified system combining actor detection, topic modeling, argument extraction, and stance classification for public debate analysis.

Findings

Achieves high retrieval precision and stance accuracy.

Relevant arguments in 75% of pilot cases.

Effective for operational decision support.

Abstract

Public debates surrounding infrastructure and energy projects involve complex networks of stakeholders, arguments, and evolving narratives. Understanding these dynamics is crucial for anticipating controversies and informing engagement strategies, yet existing tools in media intelligence largely rely on descriptive analytics with limited transparency. This paper presents Stakeholder Suite, a framework deployed in operational contexts for mapping actors, topics, and arguments within public debates. The system combines actor detection, topic modeling, argument extraction and stance classification in a unified pipeline. Tested on multiple energy infrastructure projects as a case study, the approach delivers fine-grained, source-grounded insights while remaining adaptable to diverse domains. The framework achieves strong retrieval precision and stance accuracy, producing arguments judged relevant in 75% of pilot use cases. Beyond quantitative metrics, the tool has proven effective for operational use: helping project teams visualize networks of influence, identify emerging controversies, and support evidence-based decision-making.