Europeans and the public sphere

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What kind of public sphere is possible in the European Union, given its diversity of national identities, languages, and media systems? This exploration delves into the role of a European public sphere in bridging gaps between citizens and their representatives in EU institutions and fostering transnational communicative spaces that politicize EU politics. Drawing on Deweyan pragmatism, social constructivism, and Habermasian constitutional patriotism, the work challenges the notion that a European public sphere requires a sense of European "identity light." It posits that a political sense of community can only emerge from the democratic process itself. The author examines the role of daily newspapers as not only framers of public debate but also as actors with distinct normative views on the future of EU integration, addressing the nature of the EU as a polity and the essence of democratic rule within it. A key empirical question is whether newspapers advocating for greater democracy beyond the nation-state actively provide forums for transnational debate. This inquiry sheds light on how media can influence the development of a cohesive European public sphere amidst diverse national contexts.