ABSTRACT
This chapter distinguishes between the concepts of public space and the public sphere or public realm, arguing that “public space” should be understood as referring to physical sites rather than abstract ideals. The essay defines the concept of public space as in between the descriptive and normative, arguing for an understanding in which spaces are not intrinsically “public” nor “private,” but the “publicness” of a space existing along a continuum, evaluated based on criteria associated with the concept whose meaning has accrued across different historical contexts by way of rhetorical and political contests. The chapter finds roots of the concept in the Greek agora, the Roman forum and Enlightenment-era cafes, salons, and coffeehouses, focusing on the key attributes of accessibility, inclusiveness, ownership, and political action, ultimately defining the concept as human-created physical sites accessible with few if any restrictions on entry where diverse members of the polity may assemble to discuss, debate, and possibly make decisions over matters that effect their lives together. Finally, the essay concludes by noting a number of contemporary threats to public space’s democratic potential, including commercialism, the online world, and increased surveillance.
