Counter public spheres and global modernity

Fenton, Natalie (author), Downey, John (author)

This article explores the concept of counter public spheres and their relationship to the dominant public sphere. We argue that counter public spheres are increasingly relevant due to particular social and political configurations that mark out a distinct stage of modernity. We suggest that this stage is characterised in particular by the intensification of globalisation, the rise of neo-liberalism and a decline of trust and social democracy resulting in instability in the dominant public sphere. This, along with the ability to forge solidarity between disparate groups and the technological potential to link geographical distances, political causes and to organise translocal protests opens up the possibility of symbolic contest in the dominant public sphere, increased participation in civil society and asa consequence, the extension of democracy. However, this depends on two mainfactors : (1) the nature of participation - does it simply build on associations of interest that may have arisen out of the individualisation of lifestyles organised around consumption in the market place or is it based on something more than enlightened self-interest? (2) The relative power and ability of counter publicity to break through the increasingly privatised dominant public sphere monopolised by transnational corporations.

• Language: English
• Keywords: unlawfulness, modernity
• Work type: Not categorized
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: FDV - Faculty of Social Sciences
• Year: 2003
• Number of pages: Str. 15-32
• Numbering: Vol. 10, no. 1
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-75797
• UDC: 3
• ISSN on article: 1318-3222
• COBISS.SI-ID: 21945693
• Publication date in RUL: 21.12.2015

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Javnost
• Shortened title: Javnost
• Publisher: Taylor&Francis
• ISSN: 1318-3222
• COBISS.SI-ID: 40119808

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Title: Protijavne sfere in globalna moderna

Abstract

Članek analizira pojem protijavnih sfer in njihov odnos do vladajoče javne sfere. Protijavne sfere so postale relevantne zaradi specifičnih družbenih in političnih oblik, ki opredeljujejo posebno stopnjo moderne. Zanjo je značilna intenzifikacija globalizacije, vzpon neoliberalizma ter zaton zaupanja v socialno demokracijo, kar se izraža v nestabilnosti v vladajoči javni sferi. Skupaj s sposobnostjo doseganja solidarnosti med različnimi skupinami in tehnično možnostjo povezovanja geografskih razdalj, političnih motivov in organizacije translokalnih protestov, to omogoča simbolni boj v vladajoči javni sferi, večjo participacijo v civilni družbi in posledično razširitev demokracije. Ta proces pa je odvisen od dveh glavnih dejavnikov: 1. narave participacije (ali temelji na interesnem povezovanju, ki izvira iz individualizacije življenjskih stilov v sferi potrošnje, ali pa na čem več kot le razsvetljenem samointeresu?) ter 2. relativne moči in sposobnosti protipublicitete, da prodre v vse bolj privatizirano javno sfero, v kateri imajo monopol transnacionalne korporacije.

• Keywords: protipravnost, moderna