Toward a new perspective on forms and sites of democratic life

Abstract Theoretical research is challenging traditional understandings of the role of citizens in democracies. Phenomena such as anonymity, non‐participation, and spectatorship, previously overlooked or deemed problematic, are now being reconsidered. Acknowledging that these phenomena can, in some cases, enhance democracy is important. However, there is still little guidance on how they might be studied empirically. This paper shows that there are specific forms of spectatorship that might benefit democracy in different ways. It explores real‐life manifestations of “positive spectatorship” and suggests how they can be systematically observed and studied.