Public debate is a crucial element of democracy as it allows citizens to form informed opinions about the issues that concern them and thus make decisions that shape their collective destinies. To do so, it is necessary that they have access to information independent of private interests and respectful of the diversity of viewpoints. However, the fact that some positions feature in debate and others remain invisible is fundamentally problematic from a normative point of view. It requires an understanding of the background conditions that lead to this and how they influence debate’s dynamics.
This article takes a look at how debate’s features and discourses are constructed within different arenas and how they interact with each other. It also examines how these interactions affect the communicational fluxes of participants.
A typical debate is structured in such a way that a “pro side” and a “neg side” present their cases. These are then followed by a crossfire session in which the speakers of the affirmative and negate sides have the opportunity to ask questions and refute the arguments of their opponent. A coin flip before the beginning of the debate determines whether the winning team will be pro or con and the order in which they will speak.
While debate is an essential element of democracy it also presents certain difficulties. For example, it is important for all debaters to understand the structure and rules of the debate so they can answer all the questions appropriately. Moreover, it is also necessary to communicate with the moderator about what kind of answers they expect so that he can prepare accordingly.