The Deliberative System and Inter-Connected Media in Times of Uncertainty (The Palgrave Macmillan Series in International Political Communication)

Deliberative democracy has often been dismissed as an unrealistic ideal especially in our time of democratic crisis. Maia, Hauber, and Choucair put all doubts to rest in this theoretically rich, deeply researched and empirically grounded study of reason-giving in a mediated public sphere. Using a fascinating case study as a foundation, this book builds a compelling picture of both what is wrong with the present state of political communication but also what we can do to put it right. Professor Simone Chambers, Chair of the Department of Political Science, University of California Irvine, USA Yet again, a highly innovative account of the complexities of democratic public debate. Public reasons do not only circulate through, and thus link, various media and non-media arenas; they also characteristically intertwine arguments and emotions. While many of us may have known these things intuitively, Rose Maia and her team thoroughly demonstrate them in sound theorizing and insightful case studies. Professor Hartmut Wessler, Institute for Media and Communication Studies, University of Mannheim, Germany Adopting a systemic perspective, this book explores media-based communication and reason-giving as a linkage process that transcends time and space. Arguments, reasoning perspectives and emotional concerns link elites and citizens political judgement within and across a set of interrelated arenas in the political system. Rousiley C.M. Maia is Professor of Political Communication at the Federal University of Minas Gerais. Gabriella Hauber was a postdoctoral researcher at the Federal University of Minas Gerais when this book was written. She is currently Assistant Professor of Communication at the Federal Technological University of Curitiba Tariq Choucair was a doctoral student at the Federal University of Minas Gerais when this book was written. He is currently a Postdoctoral Fellow at the Digital Media Research Center at the Queensland University of Technology Preface Acknowledgments Contents About the Authors List of Figures List of Tables Chapter 1: Introduction Why Focusing on Deliberative Politics in Dark Times? Why Adopting a Systemic Approach? Developing Systemic Analyses The Case Study Chapter 2: Normative Controversies: Challenges to Apply a Systemic Approach to Deliberation Deliberation Beyond Forums The Systemic Approach: Linkage of Micro- and Macro Social Concerns The Notion of a Social Whole Implications of Adopting a Systemic Approach The Risk of Stretching the Concept of Deliberation Relations Between Deliberative and Non-deliberative Practices Chapter 3: Bringing the Public Sphere and the Media Back to the Systemic Approach The Messy Public Sphere The Concept of Public Sphere Later Developments on the Concept Re-thinking the Public Sphere, the Media and the Mediation Dynamics An Integrated Approach for the Research Agenda Simultaneous Types of Practices Local/Global Chapter 4: Justifications as a Linkage Mechanism Challenges to Identifying Linkages in a Systemic Approach The Nature of Linkages Reason Giving Is a Social Practice The Binding Force of Reasons Operationalizing Reasons as Linkage Why Focusing on the Substantive Content of Reasons? Pragmatic Explanations Epistemic Explanations Multidimensional Analysis Arguments Argumentation Perspective Types Emotion Types Historical and Cultural Explanations Chapter 5: Reason-Giving across Arenas: Elite Actors Distributed Deliberation and Epistemic Division of Labour Different Arenas, Different Goals Elite Actors Arenas Circulation of Reasons Empirical Research Methodology The Set of Interrelated Arenas, Actors and Reasons Sequencing Settings Sequencing Actor Categories Sequencing Reasons Types of Argumentation Theoretical and Practical Considerations Appendix Chapter 6: Reason-Giving across Arenas: Broader Public of Citizens Looking at Citizens as Broader Publics Citizens’ Discussions Online Environments Deliberative and Non-Deliberative Interactions Reason-Giving Within/Outside Forum Rethinking Online Publics Empirical Research Part I: The Deliberative Quality of Online Discussions in Different Contexts Methods Sample, Method and Measurement Techniques Rationality Respect Reciprocity Storytelling Part II: Mapping and Unpacking Reasons Policy Positions Reasons Inside and Outside Forums Types of Reasoning Reasoning and Partisanship Theoretical and Analytical Considerations Empirical and Practical Considerations Chapter 7: The Emotional Dimension of Reason-Giving The Controversial Debate About Emotion in Deliberation Beyond the Reason-Emotion Split Emotions and Moral Judgement The Social Feature of Emotions The Intentional Objects of Emotion Emotion, Groups and Cultural Meanings Settings and Social Contexts Social Learning Towards a Systemic Approach: Emotions in Groups and in Distinct Settings Identifying and Analysing Emotions Chapter 8: Emotions and Reasoning in Divided Groups Different Emotions, Different Dynamics Empirical Research Data and Methods Emotions in Different Settings Emotions in Divided Groups Intentional Objects of Emotions Theoretical and Analytical Considerations The Emotional Dimension of Reasoning Is Multifaceted Evaluative Perspectives Distinctions in the Intentional Object of Emotions Emotional Attunement Appendix Data and Methods Comparing Discussion Contexts Sample and Measurement Techniques Chapter 9: Conclusion and Research Outlook Expanding Research on Reason Exchange Expanding Research on Emotional Dimension of Reason-Giving Expanding Media Analysis References Index