Public Things in the Age of Platforms
Bonnie Honig in Conversation
18 November 2026, 17:00-18:30
Sociology Seminar Room, Department of Sociology
University of Cambridge
Almost ten years ago, Bonnie Honig published Public Things, a landmark work that had profound effects on Arendt scholarship and on the political theory of “things;” the artefacts, objects, and infrastructures that uphold democratic action.
Professor Honig join us a decade later to reflect on how public things have changed in the age of platforms. The age of platforms increasingly evokes digital oligarchy and, some convincingly argue, techno-fascism. In that context, it is more important than ever to understand the politics of public things and how they can be brought back under public control to foster democratic action against digital oligarchy.
This event is organised in collaboration with the Centre of Governance and Human Rights at Cambridge.