Blackwell Reference Online

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The notion of a →  “public sphere” is useful when thinking about the spaces available for public discussion and debate – and thus the formation of →  public opinion – in different societies). The writings of →  Jürgen Habermas (1989 ; 1992 ) have proven to be especially valuable in this regard. It is Habermas' contention that under ideal conditions the public sphere serves as a discursive realm situated between the purview of the state on the one hand, and the economic dictates of the marketplace on the other, for public deliberations over social issues (→  Discourse ; Argumentative Discourse ). In his words, the public sphere represents a space for “rational-critical debate” among citizens, where “a time consuming process of mutual enlightenment” may take place “for the ‘general interest’ on the basis of which alone a rational agreement between publicly competing opinions could freely be reached” ( Habermas 1989 , 195). This normative conception of open and free relations of communication, where people can engage in reasoned dialogue about the conduct of social life as equals, highlights a range of intriguing questions for communication scholarship. The importance of coffee houses for the emergence of what may be described as an embryonic public sphere in various European countries has been the subject of much scholarly attention. For Habermas, the coffee house – with its idealized ... log in or subscribe to read full text