The Public Sphere

The idea of the public sphere as the space where citizens come together to deliberate on issues of common concern and to critique and influence the government has been one of the most influential and contested concepts since the beginning of debates on the constitution of democracy. Not simply of historical interest, the notion of a public sphere remains central to contemporary issues such as the democratic potential of the internet, the challenges posed by the resurgence of fundamentalisms, and the possibilities for a post-national, cosmopolitan, political order in the age of globalization.

This four volume set is a 'must-have' guide to the idea of the public sphere, its history, the ongoing struggles over its meaning and importance to democracy, and its continuing relevance to emerging issues. It offers an authoritative presentation of the 'canon' in this area of scholarship, emphasizing 20th century and recent contributions.

Volume 1 Defining the Public Sphere

Volume 2 The Political Public Sphere

Volume 3 The Cultural Public Sphere

Volume 4 The Future of the Public Sphere