Philosophy
The Concept of the Public Sphere in Deliberative Democracy
Quick fact
The term 'public sphere' was popularized by German philosopher Jürgen Habermas, who argued that in the 18th century, coffeehouses and salons in Europe became arenas for rational-critical debate that challenged state authority.
Why this is interesting
When you chat with friends or post online about politics, are you part of something bigger? What if those everyday conversations are what make democracy work?