The Public and Its Problems

John Dewey’sThe Public and Its Problemsis a pioneering work of social theory, exploring the fundamental relationship between the state and its citizens and providing critical insights into the enduring problems of governance and civic engagement.

Dewey argues that a “public” forms whenever the actions of individuals have indirect consequences for others, creating shared problems that require collective regulation. In modern, complex societies, these consequences are often obscured by large-scale institutions, making the public fragmented and ineffective.