From Cancellation to Incarceration: Collin May on the Future of Cancel Culture

Collin May (University of Calgary) joins Runnymede Radio to discuss his new book, From Cancel Culture to Incarceration Culture: Prosecutorial Democracy and the Future of Cancellation. Drawing on philosophy, psychology, sociology, law, and his own experience being "cancelled" following his brief tenure as Chief of the Alberta Human Rights Commission in 2022, May examines the distinction between cancel culture and accountability, the institutional dynamics of cancellation, and the importance of "free speech culture." The discussion explores the psychology of cancellation, the role of professional regulators and administrative bodies, and May's concept of "prosecutorial democracy." Reflecting on the experience that led him to write the book, May explains why he believes cancel culture is evolving into something more institutional, culminating in what he describes as "incarceration culture." Throughout the conversation, May considers what these changes may mean for liberal democracy, free expression, and the future of public debate, arguing that informal social pressures are increasingly being supplemented by institutional and legal mechanisms.