Original scientific paper

Public as Phantom and Public in Eclipse. How is a Controversy between Walter Lippmann and John Dewey on Democracy and Media Still Relevant after almost Hundred Years

Enis Zebić orcid.org/0000-0002-3235-2591 ; Zagreb, Croatia

Abstract

While Walter Lippmann in 1920’s warns that there is no such thing as sovereign and omnicompetent citizen in representative democracy, which also means that there is nothing like consistent and durable public (‘public is a mere phantom’, says Lippmann), John Dewey replies that public is not a phantom but it’s ‘in eclipse’. He suggests that democratic processes can be strengthened by strengthening local community and by different role of the media. Media can reestablish the role and function of citizen and public as they are settled in democratic tradition by different and better publishing results of scientific and social researches. Problem that Lippmann pointed out is still not resolved, but some suggestions Dewey gave – in a new context – can be of help.

Keywords

John Dewey; Walter Lippmann; progessivism; democracy; public; public opinion; media

Hrčak ID:

72737

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/72737

Publication date:

25.7.2011.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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