A process model of the public sphere: A case of municipal policy debates on Sina Weibo

Abstract

Abstract Social media have become a major venue where citizens discuss matters of public concern, prompting some scholars to apply theory of the public sphere to analyze online discussion. However, the public sphere is often viewed as a static space; little attention is given to the complex processes through which topics are raised, debated, and refined by the public through this discussion. This study conceptualizes the public sphere as a problematization process and proposes a novel framework combining a four‐phase process analysis together with content analysis to analyze public deliberation process on social media. A case study is conducted of public discussion on Sina Weibo about municipal policy in Hangzhou, China. Data generated using the framework illustrate how social media function as a filtering mechanism, channeling salient public opinions from civil society to decision‐making bodies in the center of the politico‐legal system, where these opinions play a role in policy decision‐making. This paper provides analytic leverage for understanding the relevance of public sphere theory to policymaking processes.

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