Acta Universitatis Danubius. Communicatio, Vol 8, No 1 (2014)

Abstract

‘Public sphere’ is an important component of modern polity. Civil society brings the state in touch with the needs of the citizens through the medium of public sphere. However, Habermas argues that ‘public sphere’ experienced refeudalization owing to various factors i.e. propaganda, cultural industry, market and state intervention. The ‘public’ was condemned to be mere spectator again. This article argues that modern technologies enabled new public sphere (NPS) can help restore public status as participant in the democratic process. The article compares the Habermasian ideal of public sphere with NPS and constructs a matrix, depicting the various related aspects between the two models for highlighting the revival of the public sphere.