The Free Speech Wars

How Did We Get Here and Why Does it Matter?

Charlotte Lydia Riley editor

Format:Hardback

Publisher:Manchester University Press

Published:20th Nov '20

Currently unavailable, and unfortunately no date known when it will be back

The Free Speech Wars cover

This insightful book examines the complex issues surrounding free speech, exploring its historical context and the ongoing debates in society. The Free Speech Wars invites critical reflection.

In The Free Speech Wars, the author presents a timely exploration of the escalating culture wars surrounding free speech as both a political and social issue. The discussions unfold across various platforms, including university campuses, social media, and mainstream media, highlighting the contentious nature of these debates. The book delves into the weaponization of free speech, providing a comprehensive historical and comparative context that sheds light on the complexities of this phenomenon.

The text assembles a diverse array of commentators, activists, and academics who contribute to understanding the contemporary landscape of free speech. It raises critical questions about who gets to exercise this right, and the implications when powerful voices perceive themselves as silenced. By examining the environments where speech occurs—such as mass media, lecture halls, public events, political rallies, and the internet—the book invites readers to consider how these contexts shape the ongoing discourse.

The Free Speech Wars does not shy away from exploring the opposing sides of the debate. It begins with a defense of speech freedoms, then addresses how speech has been restricted. The narrative also critiques the misuse of free speech as a weapon by those with harmful intentions. By focusing on key battlegrounds like university campuses and the internet, the book encourages readers to critically assess how media framing influences the understanding of free speech today, offering context and insight into this multifaceted conflict.

'If you’d like to understand what on earth is really going on when politicians and commentators these days pontificate about “censorship”, “cancel culture”, “no-platforming”, “safe spaces” and the rest, it’s an excellent place to start.'
The Guardian

'
This collection of essays by an eclectic group of mostly European scholars is not a legalistic examination of free speech court cases and legislation. Instead, it examines free speech issues from philosophical, historical, and sociological perspectives. There are no references to legal scholars but rather to such thinkers as Jürgen Habermas, Socrates, and Voltaire, among others. The book is neatly organized into four sections dealing with threats to free speech, the use of free speech as a weapon, the role of universities in the free speech debate, and the internet as the Wild West of free speech. Readers will find that many of the essays can serve as conversation starters for contemporary topics, such as free speech’s relationship to racism, trigger warnings, and marginalized groups. A recurring theme across many essays is the use of free speech by the powerful as a tool of oppression. This book provides useful criticism through a European perspective unfamiliar to most American students.
Summing Up: Recommended. Advanced undergraduates and graduate students.'
D. Caristi, Ball State University, CHOICE 60.1 (September 2022)

ISBN: 9781526152541

Dimensions: 216mm x 138mm x 17mm

Weight: unknown

296 pages