Public Opinion does Not Exist

In his article “Public Opinion Does Not Exist”, Pierre Bourdieu argues that the concept of “public opinion” is a myth, a product of the media and the political elite. He contends that there is no such thing as a monolithic public opinion, but rather a diversity of opinions held by different groups in society.

Bourdieu argues that the media, through their selection and framing of news stories, create the illusion of a unified public opinion. They do this by focusing on the opinions of the most powerful and influential members of society, and by ignoring the views of those who are less powerful or marginalized.

Bourdieu also argues that the political elite use the concept of public opinion to justify their actions and to maintain their grip on power. They claim to be acting in the best interests of the people, but they are really only acting in the interests of themselves and their allies.