Relegitimation crisis: beyond the dull compulsion of media-saturated life

Abstract

This text outlines the relationship between the media, in its myriad of forms, and what we name as ‘relegitimation crisis’, refering to the well-known book by Jürgen Habermas (1970). It argues that current political and economical crisis, particularly the crisis of democracy in many countries, cannot be understood unless one takes into the account the omnipresence of the media not only as a ‘means’ to communicate, but as a major element in a broader process, mediatization. Critical sociology should take the media in consideration in order to elaborate a sharper understand of the relegitimation crisis as it takes many different forms.