Why the Public Sphere Matters for Democratic Resilience

Activity: Talk or presentationInvited talk

Description

How do democracies withstand moments of crisis and even grow stronger from them? This lecture rethinks democratic resilience through the lens of deliberative democracy, an approach that sees democracy at its strongest when citizens talk, listen, and reflect together in an open and inclusive public sphere. Democratic resilience, in this view, is not just about strong institutions but about safeguarding the public sphere’s core deliberative qualities: inclusion, openness, and critical reflection. Drawing on findings from an Australian Research Council–funded project that compares how democracies respond to extremist attacks, the lecture outlines the discursive foundations of democratic resilience, with wider implications for addressing polarisation and other pressing challenges of democracy.
Period16 Sept 2025
Held atThe Federal University of Minas Gerais, Brazil
Degree of RecognitionInternational