Free Speech and Moral Panic: Is Freedom of Expression Under Threat?

Is free speech under threat, or are we witnessing a moral panic about free expression? Debates about censorship, cancel culture and academic freedom have become increasingly prominent in public life, but how much of the conversation is driven by evidence and how much by perception?In this episode, Professor Stephen Coleman explores the growing debate around free speech and asks why concerns about freedom of expression have become such a powerful political issue. What do we mean when we talk about free speech? Are universities becoming less open to controversial ideas? And how should democratic societies balance freedom of expression with the need to protect people from harm?Joining Stephen is Arif Ahmed, philosopher at the University of Cambridge and Director for Freedom of Speech and Academic Freedom at the Office for Students. Together, they examine the politics of free speech, the role of universities in fostering open debate, and why arguments about free expression continue to provoke such strong reactions.Guest: Arif AhmedPresenter: Professor Stephen ColemanProducer: Carl HartleyWe'd love to hear from you. Share your thoughts, suggest topics to cover, or ask questions. Leave a comment below or visit ⁠⁠⁠www.thesoundofpolitics.com⁠⁠⁠. And if you like this podcast then please follow to be the first to hear when a new episode is released.The Sound of Politics is a podcast about political communication, political rhetoric, political leadership, democracy, public opinion and the language of politics. Hosted by Professor Stephen Coleman, each episode explores how politics is communicated and how citizens can better understand it.