Freedom of Speech: The History of a Dangerous Idea

Is freedom of speech good or bad? Which words and topics are permissible, and which are not? What happens when the political situation changes, and the rules change along with it?
Historian Farah Dabhoiwala explores the remarkable paths of freedom of speech development in different countries around the world: America, Europe, India, Russia. Although this idea has become a fundamental democratic principle, its roots and evolution relate not so much to a noble pursuit of truth as to the personal interests of the rich, greedy, and powerful. Since the term's emergence three centuries ago, freedom of speech has been a weapon and a slogan used by the strong against the weak, and the weak against the strong. The book does not impose specific views on the reader; instead, it encourages reflection on freedom of speech. The author explains the origins of the current state of affairs in modern society and shows how the history of freedom of speech raises new questions and opens up opportunities for the future.