Keeping Democracy Alive: Reviving the Public Sphere Through Constructive Use of Media

The rise of hate-driven populism and subsequent marginalization of segments of society in many of the modern democracies represents a threat to the democratic tradition. This manifests the failure of democracy to fulfill the principle of affected interests, thus questioning its legitimacy. The modern manifests of the democratic tradition represent a Majoritarian rule operating on the principle of exclusion instead of being inclusive of the societal diversity; representation as well as protection of this diversity is otherwise the supposed essence of democratic systems. The marginalization and oppression evident in modern day democracies, is greatly facilitated by Media that promotes divisiveness instead of a sense of unity, and is responsible for rise of reactionary movements like Black Lives Matter – something is not right and needs fixture to attenuate such trends. The distinct and overlapping traditions of enlightenment, including utilitarianism, marxism, social contract provide a conceptual foundation to test legitimacy of modern democratic governments. A two-pronged approach, aimed at inclusive representation and reinvigorating the sense of society, can help strengthen the Democratic tradition. This can be done by utilizing Media to take steps towards the revival of Public Sphere – the ultimate remedy to overcome divisiveness. Media needs to be put to the task of promoting platforms of inclusion, representation and discussion that help reinforce a sense of community instead of fueling otherization and marginalization.