Since the end of World War II, the balance between freedom of expression and the desire to deter racist speech has gradually tipped toward the latter throughout much of the Western world. This text focuses on the tension between combating racism and protecting freedom of speech in the US, France, Britain, and Germany.
Since the end of World War II, the balance between freedom of expression and the desire to deter racist speech has gradually tipped toward the latter throughout much of the Western world. This text focuses on the tension between combating racism and protecting freedom of speech in the US, France, Britain, and Germany.
In this wide-ranging book, Erik Bleich explores policies that the US, Britain, France, Germany, and other liberal democracies have implemented when forced to choose between preserving freedom and combating racism. Bleich's comparative historical approach reveals that while most countries have increased restrictions on racist speech, groups and actions since the end of World War II, this trend has resembled a slow creep more than a slippery slope. Building on these observations, Bleich argues that we should pay close attention to the specific context and to the likely effects of any policy we implement, and that any response should be proportionate to the level of harm the racism inflicts.
Since the end of World War II, the balance between freedom of expression and the desire to deter racist speech has gradually tipped toward the latter throughout much of the Western world. This text focuses on the tension between combating racism and protecting freedom of speech in the US, France, Britain, and Germany
Oxford University Press
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