The Fritt Ord Foundation and the Institute for Social Research are hosting a talk on the freedom to be racist onWednesday June 8, 6 p.m.-8 p.m.at the Fritt Ord offices in Uranienborgveien 2, 0258 Oslo.
Political scientistErik Bleich will talk about his bookThe Freedom to be Racist?, in which he explores the ways liberal democracies like France, Germany and the US have sought to balance freedom of expression and racism.
Comments by Mohamed Abdi, columnist for Morgenbladet andAnne Sender, secretary general of The Council for Religious and Life Stance Communities.
The conversation is moderated by Arnfinn H. Midtbøen, researcher at the Institute for Social Research.
Liberal democracies strive to preserve as much freedom as possible for their citizens. They also work hard to combat the racism that has blighted so many of their historical records. But what happens when people use their liberal democratic freedoms to engage in racism? What do societies do when two of their most cherished values collide?
In his wide-ranging and thought-provoking book, The Freedom to Be Racist?(Oxford University Press, 2011), Bleich explores policies that the United States, Britain, France, Germany and other liberal democracies have implemented when forced to choose between preserving freedom and combating racism.
This event is part of the research project"Status of freedom of expression in Norway"which is being headed by the Institute for Social Research on commission for the Fritt Ord Foundation. Read more about the initiative here.
