Authors: Prof. Dr. Barbara Pfetsch, Dr. Curd Knüpfer, Prof. Dr. Annett Heft
Editor: Prof. Dr. Zisi Papacharissi
Global problems and crises cannot be effectively addressed within the confines of the nation-state. Instead, they require transnational political action and public engagement. In democratic nation states, citizens are involved in political decisions through electoral participation and public debate. However, transnational politics suffers from a democratic deficit, lacking similar legitimating mechanisms. This entry to the Routledge Companion to Digital Media and Democracy examines the problem of legitimacy and lack of public deliberation of transnational politics in the context of globalization.
We ask whether digital media ecologies can establish a democratic transnational public sphere to address this problem. The first section reviews theoretical perspectives on transnational public spheres, comparing democratic-normative and constructivist network approaches. The second section analyzes the nature of digital media ecologies and what kind of transnational public spheres they help create. While they could be conducive to democratic developments globally, they are more likely to amplify democratic dysfunctions: rather than mitigating political and social inequalities, dominant digital platforms – due to their commercial logic and ownership structures – exacerbate problems such as political bias, misinformation, and manipulation. We conclude by arguing that existing democratic dysfunctions are reinforced by the resurgence of the nation-state in international politics, which creates further challenges to the development of a transnational public sphere.
The book chapter was published on 28 January 2026 in: Papacharissi, Z. (Hrsg.). The Routledge Companion to Digital Media and Democracy at Routledge.
Available here
