The Illiberal Public Sphere

This book provides the first systematic analysis of the role of the media and communication technologies in the rise of illiberalism, based on an original theoretical framework and extensive empirical research in Eastern Europe - a region that serves as a key battleground in the global advance of illiberalism. Liberal democracies across the world are facing a range of challenges, from the growing influence of illiberal leaders and parties to declining trust in political elites and mainstream media. In many countries, the gradual decoupling of democracy from constitutional liberalism is accompanied by deepening polarization of both political and media landscapes, fueling social tensions and radicalizing political discourse. Although these developments have attracted significant scholarly attention, the factors that contribute towards the spreading of illiberalism remain poorly understood, and the communication perspective on illiberalism is particularly underdeveloped. Stetka and Mihelj address this gap by introducing the concept of the illiberal public sphere, identifying the key stages in its development, and explaining what makes illiberalism distinct from related phenomena such as populism. Their analysis reveals how the shifting communication environment facilitates selective exposure to ideologically and politically homogeneous sources, fosters changes in normative assumptions that guide media trust, increases vulnerability to disinformation, and goes hand in hand with changing attitudes to polarizing issues such as immigration and LGBTQ+ rights. The findings challenge widespread assumptions about digital platforms as key channels of illiberalism and call for a more context-sensitive approach that acknowledges how their role shifts as the illiberal sphere progresses.The arguments presented in this book have important implications for future research on contemporary challenges to liberal democracy, as well as for journalists, media regulators and other professionals committed to rebuilding media trust and containing the forces of polarization.