Jurgen Habermas: Democracy And The Public Sphere

Habermas is a hugely influential thinker, yet his writing can be dense and inaccessible. This critical introduction offers undergraduates a clear way into Habermass concept of the public sphere and its relevance to contemporary society. Luke Goodes lively account also sheds new light on the public sphere debate that will interest readers already familiar with Habermass work.

For Habermas, the public sphere was a social forum that allowed people to debate -- whether it was the town hall or the coffee house, maintaining a space for public debate was an essential part of democracy. Habermass controversial work examines the erosion of these spaces within consumer society and calls for new thinking about democracy today.

Drawing on Habermass early and more recent writings, this book examines the public sphere in its full complexity, outlining its relevance to todays media and culture. It will be of interest to students and scholars in a range of disciplines across the social sciences and humanities.