Time: 6:30 - 9:00pm Venue: Council Chamber, Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, Charles Clore House, 17 Russell Square, London WC1B 5DR
Queen Mary University of London (QMUL) hosts a launch for Eric Heinze's new book 'Hate Speech and Democratic Citizenship', published by Oxford University Press.
The presentation will be chaired by Professor Gavin Phillipson, and followed by an open discussion.
Most democracies punish hate speech, taking the view that less freedom for some guarantees greater freedom for others. Rejecting that approach, this volume asserts that democracies have better ways of combatting violence and discrimination against vulnerable groups without having to censor speakers. After analysing the existing free speech theories, Heinze critiques the rationale for and against bans on hate speech, explaining that democratic public discourse must be safeguarded not just as an individual right, but as an essential attribute of democratic citizenship. The book challenges contemporary state regulation of public discourse by promoting a stronger theory of what democracy is and what it demands. Featuring analysis of both US and European legal approaches to hate speech, this monograph investigates the general status of free speech within Western democracies.
Eric Heinze is Professor of Law and Humanities at Queen Mary University of London.
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For more information on this event, please email lawevents@qmul.ac.uk.
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