ABSTRACT

This chapter presents the theoretical ground for the possibility to speak of a genuine Arab public sphere in practical terms. The concept of an 'Arab public sphere' is relatively new to the Arab political discourse; however, it has gained prominence in the last few years with the changing landscape of the Arab media. The chapter explores the conditions of possibility of the rise of an Arab public sphere. In addition to satellite television, the rapidly expanding usage of communication technologies among Arabs contributed significantly to the emergence of what Marc Lynch calls 'new Arab public'. At the centre of these developments stands Al Jazeera as leader and trendsetter. Jürgen Habermas's focus on democratization goes hand in hand with his emphasis on political participation as the core of a democratic society. One of the key functions of the bourgeois public sphere is to facilitate rational debate over issues of general concern and secure maximum public participation.