Culture and the Public Sphere argues that even in a postmodern world there is a place for value judgements in the arts and seeks to map out a new terrain for policy-oriented cultural studies in education, research and professional practice.

Jim McGuigan challenges the commonly accepted instrumentalist agenda for 'cultural policy studies' and proposes an alternative view of cultural policy as a matter for the widest possible critical and cultural debate. Illustrating his case with examples from recent cultural policy initiatives in Britain, the United States and Australia, McGuigan considers a range of topics which include: the American 'culture wars'; urban regeneration strategies under conditions of de-industrialization and worsening social exclusion; and problems of 'race', identity and cultural citizenship.