Do You Want To Know A Secret? Wikileaks. Freedom. Democracy

Abstract

<p>This article examines Wikileaks under reference to Habermasian democratic theory, using an analysis of Jonathan Franzen’s novel “Freedom” (2010) to support its argument. The author argues that Wikileaks is significant in two ways. Firstly, it may strengthen democracy as it attempts to facilitate a global public sphere that is transparent. Secondly, it addresses feelings of frustration that arise out of an inability to hold certain agents legally accountable for their policies and acts. The article concludes with observations on the legitimacy of Wikileaks itself as a ‘global watchdog.’</p>

Keywords

• legal accountability
• law and (public) trauma
• agents
• public sphere