The public sphere is a third, egalitarian conversational arena beyond work and family

Evidence

The public sphere is, theoretically, defined as the realm of institutions in which private citizens can carry on free and egalitarian conversation, often about issues of common concern, possibly welding themselves into a cohesive body and a potent political force. … It is not just a closed, hierarchical workplace and not just family but is a third setting for conversation, with three main characteristics: participation is optional, potentially open to all, and potentially egalitarian. — Nina Eliasoph, Avoiding politics, 121

Categorization

• DEFINE: Clear definition of the public sphere’s three defining traits: optional, open, egalitarian conversation.
• XREF: connects to: Future-oriented discourse masks the loss of a genuine public sphere — James W. Carey, Communication as Culture- Essays on…, 765; Public talk itself, not just outcome interest, creates selves and communities. — Nina Eliasoph, Avoiding politics: how Americans…, 163; Citizens jointly create contexts for political conversation through civic practices — Nina Eliasoph, Avoiding politics: how Americans…, 186 (+3 more)

Broader Connections

• Citizens jointly create contexts for political conversation through civic practices #expands (0.82) — Nina Eliasoph, Avoiding politics, 186
• Future-oriented discourse masks the loss of a genuine public sphere #qualifies (0.80) — James W. Carey, Communication as Culture- Essays on…, 765
• Public talk itself, not just outcome interest, creates selves and communities. #expands (0.78) — Nina Eliasoph, Avoiding politics, 163
• Volunteers build egalitarian togetherness by suppressing distinctive principled talking #complicates (0.75) — Nina Eliasoph, Avoiding politics, 334
• The public sphere is defined by shared topics and editorial quality, not participation parity #contradicts (0.75) — Jürgen Habermas, A New Structural Transformation of the…, 44
• Nonspecialized public space necessarily mixed diverse persons together #exemplifies (0.72) — Lyn H. Lofland, World of Strangers_ Order and Action in…, 218