Our Republic has undergone a major social transformation over the past century. This transformation has brought about significant changes and transformations in terms of both institutions and individuals. Perhaps the most important of these has manifested itself with the concept of citizen. While the republican administration grants citizens their rights and responsibilities, it also provides them with ‘democratic participation’ and ‘the opportunity to express their ideas freely’.
A republic can be defined as a form of government where sovereignty is in the hands of the nation and citizens participate in the administration by electing their representatives. The word's root comes from the Ancient Roman word “res publica”, translated as ‘public things’ or ‘public interest’. Therefore, the concept of the republic also derives its semantic root from “public”.
The concept of the public sphere, which is increasingly at the center of political and social discussions today, can be defined as an area where citizens can create a democratic discussion environment, exchange ideas with equal and free participation, and where mutual opinions are discussed. Therefore, a healthily managed public sphere creates a solid foundation for republican administration. The existence of a healthy public sphere also supports the republican ideal on many grounds and strengthens its meaning. The practice of these two concepts also determines the quality of democracy, freedom, and equality of the society in which it is located. It is possible to observe the reflections of the concepts of ‘republic’ and ‘public sphere’ as mutually supporting concepts in social life. Our book, which we set out with this perspective, aims to reveal how the concept of the public sphere takes place on the social structure with studies from different fields. In almost every section of the book, which includes applications and current titles regarding the public sphere in the field of communication science, the effect of public communication created by the public sphere on the individual’s sense of belonging and citizenship bond is investigated. |
