The concept of European public sphere within the European public discourse

Sanja Ivic

doi:10.5324/eip.v11i2.1959

Abstract

This inquiry analyzes the concept of ‘European public sphere’ within the European public discourse. In particular, it explores the European Communication Strategy for creating active European citizenship and European public sphere. The European Commission’s Plan D for Democracy, Dialogue and Debate failed, because it employed homogeneous and static concepts of public sphere and European values. In this way it reduced deliberation to a mere debate. The European Year of Citizens was not sufficiently successful for the same reason. It involved citizens debated about EU rights, but it did not produce deliberation. The purpose of this inquiry is to show the dialectical relation between ideas of European values, European identity and European public sphere. This paper emphasizes performative nature of European public sphere, European identity and European values. These concepts may be perceived as grand narratives which aim at producing universal truths.Article first published online: 16 OCT 2017

Highlights

This inquiry analyses the concept of a ‘European public sphere’ within the European public discourse
This paper aims to show that successful deliberation at the European level requires that ‘European values’ and the ‘European public sphere’ be understood as heterogeneous, contingent and shifting concepts
This paper examines the deliberative character of the European Commission’s Plan D for Democracy, Dialogue and Debate and the European Year of Citizens

Summary

Sanja Ivic

This inquiry analyses the concept of a ‘European public sphere’ within the European public discourse. The European Year of Citizens was not sufficiently successful for the same reason It involved citizens who debated about EU rights, but it did not produce deliberation.

Introduction

Conclusion