The Idea of the Public Sphere: A Reader

by Jostein Gripsrud (Editor), Hannah Arendt (Contributor), Seyla Benhabib (Contributor)

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 ofmodern 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.

Genres: Nonfiction, Politics

347 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 16, 2010

Reviews

[Rhys · Rating 3 out of 5]

A compendium of readings on how democracy works for The Public. Interesting excerpts and articles explore how a plurality of values can be transposed into governance for the public good. Most of the theses rely on something called 'rationality' ... oh oh.

[Alexandra Chauran · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was intrigued by some of the characters in this reader. It was well organized, but selections were dense and dry. I wish there had been an end summary to each section.