What is a Public Sphere?

eHow
July 6, 2011

The public sphere is a concept of a community gathering to share information and form opinions. The public sphere is no one place, though it is often associated with public forums. The concept is also related to the marketplace of ideas, a concept that if all ideas, good and bad, are shared, the truth will out. The public sphere was originally proposed by cultural theorist Jürgen Habermas in 1962.

The Public Sphere Conceptualized
The ideal public sphere is made of private people gathered as a public to discuss the needs of society to the state, the ruling force. Through assembly and dialogue, the public generates opinions about the role of the state, either challenging or affirming the status quo. The public then articulates its opinions to the state. This dialogue makes up public opinion. Cultural theorists agree that public opinion is vital for a legitimate democracy.

A Successful Public Sphere
There are five factors that constitute a successful, ideal public sphere. The first is access. People must be able to access the discourse universally to form a true public opinion. Discourse must be open and nonsecretive, taking place in public forums. The second is degree of autonomy. People must participate in the public sphere willingly and without coercion, and their opinions must be their own. The third is egalitarianism, or rejection of a hierarchy. All people must be equal in the public sphere, with each opinion holding equal weight. The fourth is the rule of law, the subordination of the state. The final factor is the quality of participation. The public must commit to a common logic to debate rationally.

Public Sphere Historically
The public sphere as it is now known was established in the 18th century with the growth of public meeting places. Coffeehouses, literary societies and a free press were all meeting places or outlets where issues of public concern could be discussed. The Internet could be considered a modern public sphere. Governments have historically tried to censor the public sphere to control discourse. Attempts to criminalize or stifle speech are still seen today.

Problems with the Public Sphere
A true public sphere has never been achieved. Disenfranchisement of groups throughout history has made it impossible for everyone to have egalitarian access. Ethnic, gender and class exclusions have always existed, though those barriers are continually breaking down. Despite advances in civil rights, private interests continue to invade the public sphere, buying their way into public opinion. For-profit newspapers, advertising and even the enormous spending in public elections are all examples of money confounding an ideal public sphere.

References
Vancouver Island University: Jürgen Habermas and the Public Sphere; Marshall Soules, Ph.D.
“Public Opinion”; Vincent Price; 1992
“Public Opinion”; Carroll J. Glynn, et al.; 2004