The Phantom Public: An Unabridged Book: A Study in Democratic Theory - Hardcover

Inhaltsangabe

First published in 1925, The Phantom Public is Walter Lippmann’s sharp and enduring examination of democratic theory in the modern age. Written as a companion and corrective to Public Opinion, the book challenges the assumption that the general public can—or should—directly govern complex societies through constant political engagement. Lippmann argues that the idealized “omnicompetent citizen” is a fiction, and that modern governance depends instead on expertise, institutions, and informed intermediaries rather than mass participation alone. With clarity and restraint, he explores the limits of public opinion, the role of knowledge in political life, and the dangers of expecting more from democracy than it can realistically deliver. This Unabridged Books edition presents the complete, uncut text, restored for modern readers without editorial distortion. The Phantom Public remains essential reading for anyone interested in democracy, media, political psychology, and the structure of public life in modern societies.

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