Over the last several years, the debate about publics seems to have newly emerged. This debate critically reflects the Habermasian ideal of a (national) public sphere in a transnational context. However, it seems that the issue of a reconstruction of a global public sphere is more complex. In this brilliant and provocative book, Ingrid Volkmer argues that a reflective approach of globalization is required in order to identify and deconstruct key strata of deliberate public discourse in supra- and subnational societal formations. This construction helps to understand the new processes of legitimacy at the beginning of the 21st century in which the traditional conception of a 'public' and its role as a legitimizing force are being challenged and transformed. The book unfolds this key phenomenon of global deliberate interconnectedness as a discursive and negotiated dimension within 'reflective' globalization, i.e. continuously constituting, maintaining and refining the 'life' of the global public and conceptualizes a global public sphere.Offering insightful case studies to illustrate this new theory of the global public sphere, the book will be essential reading for students and scholars of media and communication studies, and social and political theory.

Bringing together the perspectives of more than 40 internationally acclaimed authors, The Handbook of Global Media Research explores competing methodologies in the dynamic field of transnational media and communications, providing valuable insight into research practice in a globalized media landscape. * Provides a framework for the critical debate of comparative media research * Posits transnational media research as reflective of advanced globalization processes, and explores its roles and responsibilities * Articulates the key themes and competing methodological approaches in a dynamic and developing field * Showcases the perspectives and ideas of 30 leading internationally acclaimed scholars * Offers a platform for the discussion of crucial issues from a variety of theoretical, methodical and practical viewpoints

Bringing together the perspectives of more than 40 internationally acclaimed authors, The Handbook of Global Media Research explores competing methodologies in the dynamic field of transnational media and communications, providing valuable insight into research practice in a globalized media landscape. * Provides a framework for the critical debate of comparative media research * Posits transnational media research as reflective of advanced globalization processes, and explores its roles and responsibilities * Articulates the key themes and competing methodological approaches in a dynamic and developing field * Showcases the perspectives and ideas of 30 leading internationally acclaimed scholars * Offers a platform for the discussion of crucial issues from a variety of theoretical, methodical and practical viewpoints

Over the last several years, the debate about publics seems to have newly emerged. This debate critically reflects the Habermasian ideal of a (national) public sphere in a transnational context. However, it seems that the issue of a reconstruction of a global public sphere is more complex. In this brilliant and provocative book, Ingrid Volkmer argues that a reflective approach of globalization is required in order to identify and deconstruct key strata of deliberate public discourse in supra- and subnational societal formations. This construction helps to understand the new processes of legitimacy at the beginning of the 21st century in which the traditional conception of a 'public' and its role as a legitimizing force are being challenged and transformed. The book unfolds this key phenomenon of global deliberate interconnectedness as a discursive and negotiated dimension within 'reflective' globalization, i.e. continuously constituting, maintaining and refining the 'life' of the global public and conceptualizes a global public sphere.Offering insightful case studies to illustrate this new theory of the global public sphere, the book will be essential reading for students and scholars of media and communication studies, and social and political theory.