Social Science Research Council, the Public Sphere

Media, Democracy and the Public Sphere

A democratic society is defined not just by its elections but also by its public life—by the institutions and channels of communication that support the formulation of common goals and public accountability.

This “publicness” is not a given: it always involves a balance of rights, expectations, and cultural norms, of communications technologies and regulations, and of diverse institutions that mediate state and private interests. It is a question not only of the circulation of information, but of access to knowledge, and of related capacities to speak, share, use, and innovate.

The Social Science Research Councilbrings necessary knowledge to public issues.