Debate Night: Third Spaces

Where do we go when we simply want to hang out and create communities?

Throughout history, humans have gathered in spaces that were separate from both home and work: places where people could meet, talk, learn, play, worship, and simply spend time together. These “third spaces” have taken many forms, from religious institutions and public squares to cafés, clubs, libraries, and community centres. They gave people opportunities to form relationships, develop a sense of belonging, and find strength and identity in a community.

Many of these traditional spaces, however, have declined. As religion has taken a less central role in many Western societies, churches and other religious institutions have lost some of their role as places of communal life. At the same time, technology has made it increasingly easy to replace shared experiences with individual ones: watching films at home, consuming content on YouTube, playing video games, or socialising through a screen. As these changes have taken place, concerns about loneliness and social isolation have grown.

Modern cities still have places that can function as third spaces, but they come with their own limitations. Businesses such as cafés, restaurants and shops can provide opportunities for people to meet, but they ultimately exist to make a profit, and staying there often requires spending money. The places that remain open late and provide opportunities to socialise are frequently bars and nightclubs, which come with their own problems, from alcohol consumption and noise to exclusion and safety concerns. Meanwhile, genuinely public and accessible spaces are often unavailable, poorly maintained, or simply not designed around social interaction.

This raises a question about what a healthy community actually needs. If people need spaces outside their homes and workplaces to build relationships and participate in communal life, should society actively provide and protect them? Could governments, municipalities, or civil society recreate some of the social functions once provided by religious and traditional institutions? Or is the decline of the third space simply a natural consequence of changing lifestyles and greater individual freedom?

In this debate, we will explore the role of third spaces in an increasingly individualised and digital society, and whether creating places where people can simply be together should be treated as a social necessity rather than a luxury.

Join us as we ask how modern society ought to gather.

This debate will follow a British Parliamentary format with eight debaters split into four teams of two.

Participants who wish to speak are highly encouraged to bring a paper and pen. You are welcome to participate even if you have no prior debating experience.

We aim for debates that are respectful, constructive, and welcoming:

• Respect ideas and people Listen actively, stay quiet while others speak, and debate arguments, not identities or beliefs. • Be concise and civil Keep questions short and relevant; avoid hostility, hate speech, or discrimination. • Respect boundaries and time No unwanted advances or suggestive behavior; arrive on time to avoid disrupting the debate. • Follow moderators They guide the discussion and ensure fairness.