Donald Trump’s second term as US President coincides with increasingly visible right-wing populism across the West and attendant political, legal, and cultural controversies. As democratic institutions face intensified pressure, and public discourse grows increasingly polarized, we invite philosophical engagement with the complex normative questions surrounding free speech, including academic freedom, and the normative, epistemic and pragmatic aspects of public disagreement at this time.
This conference seeks contributions in political philosophy that critically examine and respond to recent developments across the world particularly in relation to:
Academic Freedom and Free Speech: Normative assessments of the role and limits of academic freedom. For example: how should universities respond to federal threats to withdraw funding from institutions that do not comply with anti-DEI mandates or that are perceived as fostering critical discourse on gender, race, or social justice?
The Role and Limits of Free Speech: Philosophical discussions of the boundaries of free speech in light of policies targeting what is labelled as “hate speech”, “anti-Semitism” etc. How should we understand and respond to the tension between protecting vulnerable groups and preserving open discourse?
The Press, Internet, and Public Reason: Analyses of recent attacks on sections of the press and media and their implications for a functioning public sphere. What normative role should independent media play in a democratic society under siege?
Resistance and Contestation: Should we continue to prioritize deliberation and persuasion, or does the current political climate call for a more “militant democracy” approach—one that actively excludes those seen as enemies of democratic values? What are the responsibilities of citizens and politicians when faced with authoritarian tendencies and illiberal movements?
DAY 1 (SV- og HUM-bygget, Auditorium E 0101):
9:00 – 9:15
Welcome and introduction
9:15 – 10:45
André Bächtiger (key-note): Deliberating with Diablo – How to Confront the Crisis of Political Communication and Help Save Democracy
10:45 – 11:00
Break
11:00 – 12:30
1: Meri Baghdasaryan and Bilyana Petkova: The European Court of Human Rights Online: Focus on Online Hate Speech
2: Michael Barnes: Behavioural Authenticity in an era of Decaying Digital Platforms
12:30-13:30
Lunch break
13:30-15:00
3: Christiano Leone: Offence and the Limits of Free Speech (online).
4: Jonas Jakobsen: Deliberating with MAGA? The Idea of Deliberative Populism and the Case of The Young Turks
15:00-15:30
Break
15:30-17:00
5: Marion Kathe Godman: Why the burning of religious symbols is not free speech
6: Magnus Hoel: A Proportionality Assessment of hate Speech Targeting Religious Adherents.
18:00
Dinner at Bazinga, UiT
DAY 2 (SV- og HUM-bygget, Auditorium E 0101):
9:00-10:30
7: Michael Balmer: Weaponizing social media
8: Andrei Bespalov: Fake News, Conspiracy Theories, and Epistemic Disobedience: A Public Reason Perspective
10:30-10:45
Break
10:45-12.15
9: Ali Emre: Civility, Coercion and Resistance to Injustice
10: Samat Kozhobaev: Dinner or Democracy?
12:15 – 13:15
Lunch
13:15-14:45
11: Johannes Servan & Fabricio Pontin: Playing with fire? The limits for tolerance and inclusion in a digitalized market of ideas
12: Philippe Stamenkovic: Academic freedom and academic boycott”