Coffee Shops and Democracy: The Case for Preserving Urban “Third Spaces”

Coffee shops became the hotbeds of democracy. They are emblematic of the important civic function "third spaces" serve in society (Illustrated by Rutu Modan).

What is the relationship between coffee shops and democracy?

Originating in the Middle East, coffee shops became the hotbeds of social change when they began springing up across European cities. They became the centers of political discourse, where visionaries and reformers would gather to read the newspaper and debate notions of equality and justice. Sensing the brewing political instability (no pun intended), King Charles II introduced an edict in 1675 to suppress coffee shops across England — only to walk back on his decision due to public pressure (Oldenburg and Christensen).

These coffee shops can be described as "third spaces." Coined by American sociologist Ray Oldenburg in his book The Great Good Place, it refers to spaces where people spend their time between home and work. He noted that these spaces nurture human relationships, promote civic discourse, and strengthen our sense of community, all of which are necessary for a healthy democratic society.

When most policymakers discuss democracy, they devote most of their attention to institutions and processes. While these are undoubtedly key considerations for any democracy, "land" has been a long-overlooked policy area. As the coffee shop example illustrates, spaces can become associated with civic discourse and the exchange of ideas. So, perhaps it is time to ask ourselves: How do democratic ideals and institutions manifest in the physical world? How do people experience democracy in their day-to-day lives?

Reading Professor Danielle Allen's book Justice by Means of Democracy made me realize that urban planning is a political responsibility, too. Professor Allen proposes a series of benchmarks for us to evaluate democratic societies — one of them is the "connected society." She suggests that we should strive for societies where people "find themselves routinely interacting with those whom they have not, so to speak, chosen, and routinely obliged to share power in a variety of public contexts with these unchosen others" (Allen).  

While Professor Allen's vision may appear abstract in writing, urban planning can provide concrete ways to fulfill her objectives. Neighborhood squares, exercise facilities at the local park, and coffee shops on street corners could all create opportunities for these routine exchanges between people from different backgrounds and segments of society. These spaces are the adhesives that combat social isolation. Hence, while "third spaces" may be small and modest, they are anything but insignificant.

Cuts in public infrastructural funding have led to renewed concerns that third spaces are being chased out of our cities due to poor management and lack of government attention. So how do we keep these "living rooms" of society healthy?

The first would be to recognize the value of preserving these spaces — we should update our framework for analyzing democracies by considering the role physical spaces play in making us feel heard and valued.

Arguably, "third spaces" do not and perhaps should not be deliberately inserted into communities. They already exist in some natural form or another. It is the urban planner's role to be attentive — where do people gravitate towards at different times of the day? What are the common hangout spots for youngsters? For families? For elders? The urban planner is responsible for letting things take their course and preserving these spaces.

That is not to say that the urban planner does not have anything to utilize from their toolkit. Mixed-use zoning is the friendliest to third spaces that are often blended with residential and commercial spaces (Butler). Segregating people's daily activities into distinct spheres of work, living, and leisure leads to one-dimensional neighborhoods. Connectivity should be a priority — "third spaces" are better when they are integrated with other parts of the city and easily accessible either by foot or public transport.  

So, the next time you walk around your neighborhood, remember to appreciate the local spots you may have taken for granted — the coffee shops, restaurants, parks, and shopping arcades that have kept your community together.

Bibliography

Allen, Danielle S. Justice by Means of Democracy. The University of Chicago Press, 2023.

Butler, Stuart. ‘“Third Places” as Community Builders’. Brookings, 14 Sept. 2016, https://www.brookings.edu/articles/third-places-as-community-builders/.

Gopnik, Adam. ‘What Cafés Did for Liberalism’. The New Yorker, 17 Dec. 2018. www.newyorker.com, https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2018/12/24/what-cafes-did-for-liberalism.

Oldenburg, Ray and Karen Christensen. Third Places, True Citizen Spaces | The UNESCO Courier. https://courier.unesco.org/en/articles/third-places-true-citizen-spaces.