When the State Speaks, What Should It Say?

How Democracies Can Protect Expression and Promote Equality

Nonfiction, Religion & Spirituality, Philosophy, Political, Social & Cultural Studies, Political Science
Cover of the book When the State Speaks, What Should It Say? by Corey Brettschneider, Princeton University Press
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Corey Brettschneider ISBN: 9781400842377
Publisher: Princeton University Press Publication: July 22, 2012
Imprint: Princeton University Press Language: English
Author: Corey Brettschneider
ISBN: 9781400842377
Publisher: Princeton University Press
Publication: July 22, 2012
Imprint: Princeton University Press
Language: English

How should a liberal democracy respond to hate groups and others that oppose the ideal of free and equal citizenship? The democratic state faces the hard choice of either protecting the rights of hate groups and allowing their views to spread, or banning their views and violating citizens' rights to freedoms of expression, association, and religion. Avoiding the familiar yet problematic responses to these issues, political theorist Corey Brettschneider proposes a new approach called value democracy. The theory of value democracy argues that the state should protect the right to express illiberal beliefs, but the state should also engage in democratic persuasion when it speaks through its various expressive capacities: publicly criticizing, and giving reasons to reject, hate-based or other discriminatory viewpoints.

Distinguishing between two kinds of state action--expressive and coercive--Brettschneider contends that public criticism of viewpoints advocating discrimination based on race, gender, or sexual orientation should be pursued through the state's expressive capacities as speaker, educator, and spender. When the state uses its expressive capacities to promote the values of free and equal citizenship, it engages in democratic persuasion. By using democratic persuasion, the state can both respect rights and counter hateful or discriminatory viewpoints. Brettschneider extends this analysis from freedom of expression to the freedoms of religion and association, and he shows that value democracy can uphold the protection of these freedoms while promoting equality for all citizens.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

How should a liberal democracy respond to hate groups and others that oppose the ideal of free and equal citizenship? The democratic state faces the hard choice of either protecting the rights of hate groups and allowing their views to spread, or banning their views and violating citizens' rights to freedoms of expression, association, and religion. Avoiding the familiar yet problematic responses to these issues, political theorist Corey Brettschneider proposes a new approach called value democracy. The theory of value democracy argues that the state should protect the right to express illiberal beliefs, but the state should also engage in democratic persuasion when it speaks through its various expressive capacities: publicly criticizing, and giving reasons to reject, hate-based or other discriminatory viewpoints.

Distinguishing between two kinds of state action--expressive and coercive--Brettschneider contends that public criticism of viewpoints advocating discrimination based on race, gender, or sexual orientation should be pursued through the state's expressive capacities as speaker, educator, and spender. When the state uses its expressive capacities to promote the values of free and equal citizenship, it engages in democratic persuasion. By using democratic persuasion, the state can both respect rights and counter hateful or discriminatory viewpoints. Brettschneider extends this analysis from freedom of expression to the freedoms of religion and association, and he shows that value democracy can uphold the protection of these freedoms while promoting equality for all citizens.

More books from Princeton University Press

Cover of the book Trees of Panama and Costa Rica by Corey Brettschneider
Cover of the book Hitler's American Model by Corey Brettschneider
Cover of the book Child Migration and Human Rights in a Global Age by Corey Brettschneider
Cover of the book Strategic Investment by Corey Brettschneider
Cover of the book The Federal Reserve and the Financial Crisis by Corey Brettschneider
Cover of the book Philosophical Analysis in the Twentieth Century, Volume 2 by Corey Brettschneider
Cover of the book The Book of "Genesis" by Corey Brettschneider
Cover of the book Protestants Abroad by Corey Brettschneider
Cover of the book A Written Republic by Corey Brettschneider
Cover of the book A Natural History of Families by Corey Brettschneider
Cover of the book The Great Contraction, 1929-1933 by Corey Brettschneider
Cover of the book Graph Theoretic Methods in Multiagent Networks by Corey Brettschneider
Cover of the book Game Theory Evolving by Corey Brettschneider
Cover of the book The Children of Abraham by Corey Brettschneider
Cover of the book Romantics at War by Corey Brettschneider
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy