by John Tyler

Created on: December 10, 2009

As early as the republican theories developed by Aristotle, which emphasize small public spaces such as those found in New England, as being crucial in the political sphere. The allotment of space to converse, discuss, disagree, and compromise politically has led to centuries of political development that has helped to create the very institutions that stand in contemporary politics. If there were not conversation between political theorists, there would not be political theory; political theory exists when, and only when, theory is discussed and recorded and then subsequently read by other political theorists. This, traditionally, has been accomplished by means of public space and activists direct connection with the public, as theorists such as Rousseau have made clear in their work.

Rousseau argues from both cynic and social constructivism. He makes claims that who we are as people and as a society come from the society that constructs us. In this way, if government has space for political discourse we see development of ideas, challenging of traditions, and evolving. In a democratic society, it is important that this channel be open. Otherwise, the populace loses their ability to converse and thereby modify the realm of law and politics. Rousseau, as a cynic, claims that governments are formed on the lie that they are there to protect; however, the only thing they protect is that of the wealthy. The ability of the people to create protections for themselves then must lie within the ability to spread their cause, mobilize the population, and change the institution’s rules.

This change is created by abstract thought, or political discussion, and political discussion is only available with language. Furthermore, language has developed due to man’s proximity with other men, which created a need for language to communicate with fellow men. Once language developed the core requirement to fulfill philosophical and political thought was met; people now held the means by which they could discuss and establish rules of law that would govern their relations with one another. Aristotle points towards the focal point of politics laying within the city as crucial to creating good citizens. Although he was writing during the era of the city-state, this same theory still applies to the nation-state in order to involve the citizenry with politics.

Some would argue that the Internet has removed the need for town-squares and that malls, private space,

• 1
• 2
• Next Page >>