Jurgen Habermas: Public Sphere

• Definition: "The public sphere is an area in social life where individuals can come together to freely discuss and identify societal problems, and through that discussion influence political action"
• According to Habermas, the public sphere is a product of democracy
• The concept of public opinion is the "control and criticism of organized political authority which is officially manifested by the public come elections"
• Habermas examines the history of the public sphere and suggests that in medieval times there was no seperation or distinction between the private and public sphere, due to the class pyramid of the feudal system. The system positioned greater power at every level. Rulers saw themselves to represent their power to the people instead of for the people.
• By the late 18th century feudal institutions were finally disappearing. The term "public" did no longer refer to the representation of a man with authority, but rather became the legitimate power of exercising power. The public sphere (according to Habermas), was the final stage of these developments.
• Habermas produced a book called "The Structural Transformation of the Public Sphere" which has had a major impact in a variety of disciplines.