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Transnationalizing the Public Sphere

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Is Habermas's concept of the public sphere still relevant in an age of globalization, when the transnational flows of people and information have become increasingly intensive and when the nation-state can no longer be taken granted as the natural frame for social and political debate? This is the question posed with characteristic acuity by Nancy Fraser in her influential article 'Transnationalizing the Public Sphere?' Challenging careless uses of the term 'global public sphere', Fraser raises the debate about the nature and role of the public sphere in a global age to a new level. While drawing on the richness of Habermas's conception and remaining faithful to the spirit of critical theory, Fraser thoroughly reconstructs the concepts of inclusion, legitimacy and efficacy for our globalizing times.This book includes Fraser's original article as well as specially commissioned contributions that raise searching questions about the theoretical assumptions and empirical grounds of Fraser's argument. They are concerned with the fundamental premises of Habermas's development of the concept of the public sphere as a normative ideal in complex societies; the significance of the fact that the public sphere emerged in modern states that were also imperial; whether 'scaling up' to a global public sphere means giving up on local and national publics; the role of 'counterpublics' in developing alternative globalization; and what inclusion might possibly mean for a global public. Fraser responds to these questions in detail in an extended reply to her critics.An invaluable resource for students and scholars concerned with the role of the public sphere beyond the nation-state, this book will also be welcomed by anyone interested in globalization and democracy today.

176 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 11, 2013

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About the author

Nancy Fraser

142 books441 followers
Nancy Fraser is an American critical theorist, currently the Henry A. and Louise Loeb Professor of Political and Social Science and professor of philosophy at The New School in New York City. Fraser earned her PhD in philosophy from the CUNY Graduate Center and taught in the philosophy department at Northwestern University for many years before moving to the New School.

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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
Profile Image for Hunter Holt-Barry.
21 reviews1 follower
March 29, 2024
This book is grand for its normative debate on the public sphere and its ambitions for what we can achieve in the future--Plus, it is a bonus that Fraser is willing to engage critics and develop her theory. However, it does feel like for a book that is so interested in the international sphere, some of its understandings of how international organizations or law functions is a bit hyperbolic. However, that is not to claim it is a perfectly oiled machine that works beautifully; all of the issues of the current function are true and depressing. Still, there are examples of the public sphere trying to make legitimate binding changes in the grey area, whereas the book operates more strictly to how the authors perceive it in black and white.

But alas, that is just my thoughts, and I could be biased--I would still argue that if you are interested in political theories of global justice, it is a worthwhile and informative read--but if you are a international relations or focused on international law, it can be a slog at times.
Profile Image for Lori.
623 reviews
May 31, 2015
This book should be required reading in all Civics classes.
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