Civility Norms in Public Discourse: An Explication

• In Event: Democratic Deliberation: New Perspectives

Abstract

The public call for more civility in public discourse – most notably by President Obama in 2011 – raises the need for a new explication of the concept. The potential societal gain from an operationalization of the concept of civility norms in public discourse is the possibility of recognizing the ideal speech situation for social discussions of important public issues. This study looks at the origins of certain characteristics that traditionally make up the definition of civility and then attempts to restructure them in a way that moves us away from a dichotomous understanding of discourse being either civil or uncivil and toward a definition that recognizes the presence of innocuous discourse that is neither. Ultimately civil discourse is defined based on its public nature, the level of interpersonal respect, the presence of tolerance for ideas, the existence of social conflict, and the pursuit of a public objective.

Author

• David Wolfgang, U of Missouri