Speech and Society in Turbulent Times
Freedom of Expression in Comparative Perspective

This book explores the underlying philosophies and values that inform the speech rules that a government or community institutes.

Monroe Price (Edited by), Nicole Stremlau (Edited by)

9781107190122, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 7 December 2017

350 pages, 1 b/w illus.
23.5 x 15.7 x 2.3 cm, 0.61 kg

This volume explores how societies are addressing challenging questions about the relationship between expression, traditional and societal values, and the transformations introduced by new information communications technologies. It seeks to identify alternative approaches to the role of speech and expression in the organization of societies as well as efforts to shape the broader global information society. How have different societies or communities drawn on the ideas of philosophers, religious leaders or politicians, both historical and contemporary, that addressed questions of speech, government, order or freedoms and applied them, with particular attention to applications in the digital age? The essays include a wide variety of cultural and geographic contexts to identify different modes of thinking. The goal is to both unpack the 'normative' internet and free expression debate and to deepen understanding about why certain internet policies and models are being pursued in very different local or national contexts as well as on a global level.

Foreword András Sajó
Introduction: 1. Speech and society in comparative perspective Monroe Price and Nicole Stremlau
Part I. Revisiting International Norms: 2. Islam, human rights and the new information technologies Ali Allawi
3. Closure, strategic communications and international norms Monroe Price
Part II. Dewesternizing Tendencies: 4. Confucian speech and its challenge to the Western theory of deliberative democracy Baogang He
5. From Gandhi to Modi: institutions and technologies of speech and symbolism in India William Gould
6. The making of a media system in Uganda: a new vision and a revolutionary origin Nicole Stremlau
7. Neoliberal 'good governance' in Lieu of rights: Lee Kuan Yew's Singapore experiment Cherian George
8. Atatürk and contemporary speech lessons from the Late Ottoman and Early Republican Era Altug Akin
9. Jewish law and ethics in the digital era Yoel Cohen
Part III. The West as Progenitor and Modifier of Concepts of Free Expression: 10. Where should speech be free? Placing liberal theories of free speech in a wider context Richard Danbury
11. The history, philosophy and law of free expression in the United States: implications for the digital age Stephen M. Feldman
12. The evolution of a Russian concept of free speech Elena Sherstoboeva
Part IV. Technology and Ideologies in Turbulent Times: 13. Free speech, traditional values and Hinduism in the internet age Rohit Chopra
14. Cyber-Leninism: the political culture of the Chinese internet Rogier Creemers
15. French national values, paternalism and the evolution of digital media Julien Mailland
16. Strategies and tactics: re-shaping the internet in Ethiopia Iginio Gagliardone
Part V. Conclusion: 17. Philosophies and principles in turbulent times Monroe Price and Nicole Stremlau
Index.

Subject Areas: IT & Communications law [LNQ], Law & society [LAQ], Comparative law [LAM], Jurisprudence & general issues [LA], Law [L]