“Blogosphere as Public Sphere or as Narcissphere?” with Benjamin Barber

Autonomous Mass Media and Democracy: Blogosphere as Public Sphere or as Narcissphere? with Benjamin Barber

Benjamin R. Barber spoke about his new project which uses an empirical description to establish the relationship of autonomous mass media to the state, civil society and the market. The project focuses on current battles fought over the new communication spaces and investigates those interactions, thereby contributing to a more nuanced understanding of public diplomacy.

Benjamin R. Barber is the Gershon and Carol Kekst Professor of Civil Society and Distinguished University Professor at the University of Maryland. He is also the Director of the Democracy Collaborative, an organization that works to strengthen local and global democracy through research, training, and community action. Professor Barber’s commitment to democratic civil practices has manifested itself in many ways throughout his career: as political theorist, fundraiser, educational and political consultant, administrator, public speaker, and television and theater writer.

Barber was educated at Grinnell College (B.A., 1960) and Harvard University (M.A., 1963; Ph.D., 1966), after earning certificates at Albert Schweitzer College (1959) and the London School of Economics (1957). He has been an outside advisor to President Bill Clinton and has consulted with President Herzog and most recently President Rau of the Federal Republic of Germany, the Liberal Party of Sweden, and the European Parliament. He has drafted papers and lectured for the U.S. Information Agency and the National Endowment for the Humanities, and counseled the Corporation for National and Community Service.

Professor Barber has written 15 books, including Strong Democracy and the international bestseller Jihad vs. McWorld. He speaks frequently in North America and Europe and was the editor-in-chief for ten years of the prominent international journal Political Theory.

2:00 - 4:00 pm
Annenberg Center (734 West Adams Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90089)

Parking is available at the Annenberg Center which is located at 734 W. Adams Blvd. between Hoover and Figueroa.
For directions, please go to: http://www.annenberg.edu/info/