The Idea of the Public Sphere A Reader

by Gripsrud, Jostein; Moe, Hallvard; Molander, Anders; Murdock, Graham; Arendt, Hannah; Benhabib, Seyla; Bohman, James; Dewey, John; Elster, Jon; Fraser, Nancy; Habermas, Jürgen; Hegel, G.W.F; Kant, Immanuel; Kluge, Alexander; Lippmann, Walter; Luhmann, Nikl

• ISBN13: 9780739141984
• ISBN10: 0739141988
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2010-10-21
• Publisher: Lexington Books

Summary

The notion of 'the public sphere' has become increasingly central to theories and studies of democracy, media, and culture over the last few decades. It has also gained political importance in the context of the European Union's efforts to strengthen democracy, integration, and identity. The Idea of the Public Sphere offers a wide-ranging, accessible, and easy-to-use introduction to one of the most influential ideas in modern social and political thought, tracing its development from the origins of modern democracy in the Eighteenth Century to present day debates. This book brings key texts by the leading contributors in the field together in a single volume. It explores current topics such as the role of religion in public affairs, the implications of the internet for organizing public deliberation, and the transnationalisation of public issues.

Author Biography

Jostein Gripsrud is professor of media studies at the University of Bergen, Norway. Hallvard Moe is associate professor of media studies at the University of Bergen, Norway. Anders Molander is associate professor and head of research at the Center for the Study of Professions at Oslo University College, Norway. Graham Murdock is reader in the sociology of culture at Loughborough University, UK.

Table of Contents

Preface	p. vii
Acknowledgments	p. ix
Editors' Introduction	p. xiii
The Enlightenment and the Liberal Idea of the Public Sphere	p. 1
Introduction	p. 1
An Answer to the Question: ôWhat is Enlightenment?ö	p. 3
Excerpt from Philosophy of Right	p. 9
Excerpt from On Liberty	p. 15
ôMass Society,ö Democracy, and Public Opinion	p. 23
Introduction	p. 23
Excerpt from The Phantom Public	p. 25
Excerpt from The Public and Its Problems	p. 43
Excerpt from Capitalism, Socialism and Democracy	p. 54
Excerpt from The Crisis of Parliamentary Democracy	p. 73
The Public Sphere Rediscovered	p. 91
Introduction	p. 91
Excerpt from The Human Condition	p. 93
The Public Sphere: An Encyclopedia Article	p. 114
Excerpt from Public Sphere and Experience	p. 121
Rethinking the Public Sphere: A Contribution to the Critique of Actually Existing Democracy	p. 127
The Public Sphere and Models of Democracy	p. 149
Introduction	p. 149
The Market and the Forum: Three Varieties of Political Theory	p. 153
Societal Complexity and Public Opinion	p. 173
Excerpt from Between Facts and Norms Contributions to a Discourse Theory of law and Democracy	p. 184
The Idea of Public Reason Revisited	p. 205
Current Challenges	p. 235
Introduction	p. 235
National and Transnational Public Spheres	p. 237
Expanding Dialogue: The Internet the Public Sphere, and Prospects for Transnational Democracy	p. 247
Deliberative Democracy or Agonistic Pluralism?	p. 270
Excerpt from The Claims of Culture: Equality and Diversity in the Global Era	p. 279
Religion in the Public Sphere	p. 290
Further Readings	p. 313
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