Public debate is a mode of deliberation that takes place in public spaces and addresses topics of public concern. Its advocates argue that it has deliberative, epistemic and political benefits. Debates can spur citizens to reevaluate their views and engage in public discussion, they can prompt epistemic inquiry into important questions of public interest and they can encourage civic engagement in the form of deliberation or voting. In addition, debates can prompt new forms of imagining that push back against discourses that sustain oppression.

Debate is a complex process that requires preparation, strategy and confidence. The most effective debaters are well informed about the topic, have an analytical approach and use empirical data effectively. They are also able to anticipate the arguments of the other side, using logical reasoning and dismantling fallacious reasoning or exaggerated evidence.

Debates are important social phenomena because they construct the boundaries of the public sphere. When debate organizers stipulate that the sides of a debate are “the two opposing positions on gun control” they are claiming to represent the horizon of publicly accessible opinions, and audience members will situate themselves in light of that horizon. This implication is especially powerful when debates are designed as a form of protest.