The Acceptance and Prospection of Public Sphere Concept in Media Studies since 1990s

Abstract

This paper shows how the concept of the public sphere presented by the German sociologist, J. Habermas, has been accepted by media studies in Japan and abroad since 1990s, and what prospection can be found with the acceptance. It has become clear from such studies that in typical media studies in Japan and abroad since 1990s, it is argued that the spatial theory approach to the concept of public sphere or the virtual community theory associated with that concept. I also showed the possibilities with the concept of public sphere in media studeis from the viewpoint of electronic democracy theory.