[New publication] The global debate on hate speech and its criminalisation

A new publication entitled ‘Criminalising Hate Speech: A Comparative Study’ (Asser Press), edited by Eric Heinze, focuses on the complex and urgent issue of hate speech. This is the world’s first publication to offer detailed, country-by-country studies from international experts in free speech and human rights.  

The criminalisation of hate speech has long been a contentious issue. But never in history before have crises surrounding free speech raged with greater ferocity than we are witnessing today. In a time when social polarisation and extremism are on the rise, and new online platforms have brought hate speech to the forefront of legal, political and media studies, making this publication more timely than ever. 

As global societies work to balance freedom of expression with the need to protect vulnerable communities from harmful, discriminatory speech, this book provides a comprehensive examination of how twenty-three countries respond to hate speech.  

The chapters explore national legislation, case law and the challenges raised by media, offering analyses from the authors to the questions originally put to each of the United Nation’s Special Rapporteurs. Including real-world case studies in each chapter helps illustrate the ongoing controversies surrounding hateful expression, making the book relevant across borders and beyond the context of a single country. 

One of the main topics is the growing role of online platforms, which have moved hate speech from the background to the forefront of legal, political and media discussions. The authors also affiliate these national developments with international human rights norms, such as those set by the UN Committee on Racial Discrimination and the European Court of Human Rights. 

About the editor
Eric Heinze is a leading scholar in law and human rights and a Professor of Law and Humanities at Queen Mary University of London, where he directs the Centre for Law, Democracy, and Society. His most recent books include The Most Human Right: Why Free Speech Is Everything (2022) and Hate Speech and Democratic Citizenship (2016). Heinze’s extensive work covers multiple jurisdictions and languages, with publications on free speech, constitutional law, and democratic theory, making this a valuable resource for researchers, students and professionals in the fields of law, human rights, comparative law and media studies. 

Order or download your copy here.  

Foreword
The foreword has been written by Nadine Strossen, a leading expert in the field. She is a Professor Emerita at New York Law School and Senior Fellow at FIRE (the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression). She served as national President of the American Civil Liberties Union from 1991 to 2008. Her most recent books are Free Speech: What Everyone Needs to Know (2023); and HATE: Why We Should Resist It with Free Speech, Not Censorship (2018).  

You can find the Frontmatter and Table of Contents of the book here.