Demokratie und Öffentlichkeit

There have been immensely diverse changes in the public sphere ever since ancient times, and it has constantly found new means of communication. Spoken communication was replaced by written correspondence, letters were replaced by pictures, and face-to-face meetings were replaced by long-distance communication. The media has enabled an increasing number of people to have access to the public sphere, and never before has it been easier to obtain information. Nevertheless, it is questionable whether there is still room for optimism about having access to such a wealth of information. The media can either encourage or stifle freedom; it can either inform or manipulate. This anthology is dedicated to studying the concept and function of the public sphere as well as the problems which are currently arising from it.