The Idea of the Public Sphere: A Reader

by Jostein Gripsrud (Editor), Hallvard Moe (Editor), Anders Molander (Editor), Graham Murdock (Editor), Hannah Arendt (Contribution by)

Overview

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.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780739141991
Publisher:	Lexington Books
Publication date:	10/21/2010
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	346
File size:	546 KB

About the Author

Jostein Gripsrud is professor of Media Studies at the University of Bergen in Norway. Hallvard Moe is associate professor of Information Science and Media Studies at the University of Bergen in Norway. Anders Molander is associate professor and research coordinator at the Center for the Study of Professions at Oslo University College in Norway. Graham Murdock is reader in the sociology of Culture at Loughborough University.
Nancy Fraser is Henry A. and Louise Loeb Professor of Political and Social Science at the New School for Social Research. Her many publications include Fortunes of Feminism (2013), Scales of Justice (2008), Adding Insult to Injury: Nancy Fraser Debates Her Critics (2008) and Redistribution or Recognition? (with Axel Honneth, 2003).

Table of Contents

1 Preface
2 Acknowledgments
3 Editors' Introduction
Part 4 I: The Enlightenment and the Liberal Idea of the Public Sphere
5 Introduction to section I
6 Introduction to Kant
7 Immanuel Kant: An Answer to the Question: "What is Enlightenment?"
8 Introduction to Hegel
9 G.W.F. Hegel: Excerpt from Philosophy of Right
10 Introduction to Mill
11 J.S. Mill: Excerpt On Liberty
Part 12 II: "Mass Society", Democracy and Public Opinion
13 Introduction to section II
14 Introduction to Lippmann
15 Walter Lippmann: Excerpt from The Phantom Public
16 Introduction to Dewey
17 John Dewey: Excerpt from The Public and its Problems
18 Introduction to Schumpeter
19 Joseph Schumpeter: Excerpt from Capitalism, Socialism and Democracy
20 Introduction to Schmitt
21 Carl Schmitt: Excerpt from The Crisis of Parliamentary Democracy
Part 22 III: The Public Sphere Rediscovered
23 Introduction to section III
24 Introduction to Arendt
25 Hannah Arendt: Excerpt from The Human Condition
26 Introduction to Habermas I
27 Jürgen Habermas: "The Public Sphere: An Encyclopaedia Article"
28 Introduction to Negt and Kluge
29 Oskar Negt and Alexander Kluge: Excerpt from Public Sphere and Experience: Toward an Analysis of the Bourgeois and Proletarian Public Sphere
30 Introduction to Fraser
31 Nancy Fraser: "Rethinking the Public Sphere: A Contribution to the Critique of Actually Existing Democracy"
Part 32 IV: The Public Sphere and Models of Democracy
33 Introduction to section IV
34 Introduction to Elster
35 Jon Elster: "The Market and the Forum: Three Varieties of Political Theory"
36 Introduction to Luhmann
37 Niklas Luhmann: "Societal Complexity and Public Opinion"
38 Introduction to Habermas II
39 Jürgen Habermas: Excerpt from Between Facts and Norms: Contributions to a Discourse Theory of Law and Democracy
40 Introduction to Rawls
41 John Rawls: "The Idea of Public Reason Revisited"
Part 42 V: Current Challenges
43 Introduction to section V
44 Introduction to Peters
45 Bernhard Peters: "National and Transnational Public Spheres"
46 Introduction to Bohman
47 James Bohman: "Expanding Dialogue: The Internet, Public Sphere, and Transnational Democracy"
48 Introduction to Mouffe
49 Chantal Mouffe: "Deliberative Democracy or Agonistic Pluralism?"
50 Introduction to Benhabib
51 Seyla Benhabib: Excerpt from The Claims of Culture: Equality and Diversity in the Global Era
52 Introduction to Habermas III
53 Jürgen Habermas: "Religion in the Public Sphere"
54 Bibliography and Further Readings

Editorial Reviews

The idea of the public sphere has been a vital part of democratic theory throughout the modern era. This helpful reader provides the intellectual and historical background to enable those thinking about these issues today to connect the most important contemporary contributions to their intellectual history.

Craig Calhoun

Though much has been written about the public sphere, this ambitious and generous collection of key texts is truly in a class by itself. While tracing the intellectual history of the concept from the Enlightenment, the volume also probes its links to other key notions such as democracy, culture, media, and multiculturalism, placing it in the context of contemporary debates. Framed by edifying and accessible introductions – to the whole volume, to the seven sections, and to each one of the texts – this book will prove to be an immensely useful resource. It destined to become a classic volume on this topic.

Peter Dahlgren

This is a timely and long-needed introduction to the roots of public sphere thinking, which could help to better understand some burning contemporary controversies in the filed.

Slavko Splichal

This is a timely and long-needed introduction to the roots of public sphere thinking, which could help to better understand some burning contemporary controversies in the filed.--Slavko Splichal, University of Ljubljana

Though much has been written about the public sphere, this ambitious and generous collection of key texts is truly in a class by itself. While tracing the intellectual history of the concept from the Enlightenment, the volume also probes its links to other key notions such as democracy, culture, media, and multiculturalism, placing it in the context of contemporary debates. Framed by edifying and accessible introductions - to the whole volume, to the seven sections, and to each one of the texts - this book will prove to be an immensely useful resource. It destined to become a classic volume on this topic.--Peter Dahlgren, Lund University

The idea of the public sphere has been a vital part of democratic theory throughout the modern era. This helpful reader provides the intellectual and historical background to enable those thinking about these issues today to connect the most important contemporary contributions to their intellectual history.--Craig Calhoun, Professor of Social Sciences, Arizona State University, USA

From the Publisher