/403/ Reading Club: Habermas on Social Media (sample) (Patreon)

On A New Structural Transformation of the Public Sphere and Deliberative Politics

[Patreon Tier III & IV Exclusive]

Continuing our theme of "the intelligentsia & the public," we discuss German critical theorist Jürgen Habermas's 2023 book, asking what sort of political culture is required for democracy.

• What role do the institutions of the public sphere and the media have in producing, sustaining or undermining this culture?

• How does Habermas' account contrast with B. Anderson on print capitalism?

• Is 'deliberative' democracy a trap? Who sets the rules of deliberation?

• Is a good media structure a 'constitutional imperative'?

• How do interests fit into Habermas' model? Do we need to leave our interests at the door?

Links:

• A New Structural Transformation of the Public Sphere and Deliberative Politics, Jurgen Habermas

• Jürgen Habermas is a major public intellectual. What are his key ideas?, Duncan Ivison, The Conversation

• /362/ Life Doesn’t Have to Zuck ft. Cory Doctorow - on social media