Racism and 'Free Speech' / Anshuman A. Mondal.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Mondal, Anshuman A., author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Freedom of speech--History--21st century.

Freedom of speech.

Hate speech.

Racism--History--21st century.

Racism.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (264 pages)

Edition:

1st ed.

Distribution:

London : Bloomsbury Publishing (UK), 2024.

Place of Publication:

London : Bloomsbury Academic, 2025.

System Details:

text file HTML

Summary:

'Free speech' has become central to discussions about racism, and is increasingly weaponised against anti-racist movements. This book argues that the weaponization of 'free speech' across the political spectrum, particularly by the far-right/alt-right, has been central to the resurgence, rehabilitation and normalisation of racism within the mainstream politics of western liberal democracies in the last decade. The dilemma then, for anti-racist movements, is how to respond to such a challenge - for if 'free speech' allows racism, then it follows that the elimination of racism is not possible. Anshuman A. Mondal argues that liberalism has made it look as if there is something called 'free speech' when, in fact, speech is enabled by the structures of power within which we are all embedded. These structures determine who gets to say what, and whose voices are heard. They create and sustain racism, and anti-racism should look beyond the mythology of 'free speech' and focus instead on creating expressive regimes that foster racial and social justice by reshaping social discourse and transforming racialized structures of power.

Contents:

Acknowledgements Preface A note on form and structure 1 What can you say? 2 Are you kidding me? 3 What the hell is going on? Part 1 Opening Part 2 'Free Speech' The paradoxes of liberty The rhetorical foundations of liberalism The trope of infinite and perpetual openness On persuasion What do they know of freedom who only freedom know? The indistinction of liberty Freedom and foreclosure 4 On tolerance 5 Cancel culture Part 3 Anti-/Racism Speech/silence/ing Speech and silence: an anti-racist dialectic Racism is/not ... How racism does its thing Racism is what racism does What did you say? Whiteness and the transcendental imagination Racism's gothic imaginary Why anti-racists don't need 'free speech' Empowerment, not 'freedom' 6 Coconuts 7 On statues, memorials and monuments 8 The paradox of (counter-)hegemony ... Part 4 Shapes A one-dimensional freedom Discursive liquidity: the shaping of discourse 9 The case against no platforming is not an open and shut one 10 Safe spaces 11 On harassment and bullying 12 Paul Gilroy in Finsbury Park Part 5 Closing Some final thoughts on liberalism and anti-racism 216 References Index

ISBN:

9781350470569

1350470562

OCLC:

1477221618