Barcelona under the Habermas Perspective. First Steps towards a Sociology of Communicative Action

Abstract

This text presents an investigation of social interaction taking place in the public space of Plaça del Sol (Barcelona), conducted in terms of the conceptual framework offered by the thought of Jürgen Habermas regarding "public opinion" and "communicative rationality". After giving an account of the theoretical and methodological aspects which have informed the study, the article focuses on presenting the findings in concordance with the Frankfurtian philosopher’s conception of ‘communicative action’. Lastly, the studied human activity of the public sphere constitutes a foundation from which a discussion of ideal of a civic and politically active citizenship defended by Jürgen Harbermas and Hannah Arendt.