‘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.
By:
Anshuman A. Mondal
Imprint: Bloomsbury Academic
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions:
Height: 234mm,
Width: 156mm,
ISBN: 9781350470521
ISBN 10: 135047052X
Pages: 264
Publication Date: 23 January 2025
Audience:
College/higher education
,
Primary
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Active
PREFACE PART ONE: OPENING PART TWO: ‘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 PART THREE: 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? White/write privilege: Whiteness and the transcendental imagination Racism’s gothic imaginary Why anti-racists don’t need ‘free speech’ Empowerment, not ‘freedom’ PART FOUR: SHAPING A one-dimensional freedom Discursive liquidity: the shaping of discourse PART FIVE: RUMINATIONS What can you say? Coconuts Are you kidding me? The case against no platforming is not an open and shut one Safe spaces On harassment and bullying On statues, memorials and monuments On tolerance The paradox of (counter-)hegemony Paul Gilroy in Finsbury Park PART SIX: CLOSING Some final thoughts on liberalism and anti-racism Bibliography Index
Anshuman A. Mondal is Professor of Modern Literature at the University of East Anglia. His research focusses on the construction of modern social and political identities, and the cultural politics attendant upon them. His books include Nationalism and Post-colonial Identity: Culture and Ideology in India and Egypt (2003), Amitav Ghosh (2007), and Young British Muslim Voices (2008). Since 2008, he has published extensively on the politics of ‘free speech’ and is the author of Islam and Controversy: The Politics of Free Speech after Rushdie (2014).
Reviews for Racism and ‘Free Speech’
Essential. A highly engaging read that incisively skewers liberal free speech shibboleths. It is both a primer on liberalism, free speech, racism, philosophy of language and an incisive intervention into contemporary debates. * Dr Anthony Leaker, University of Brighton, UK *
