Introduction to the Oxford Handbook on Freedom of Speech

Abstract

This is the introduction to the Oxford Handbook on freedom of speech and outlines the central themes of the chapters. The Handbook provides a comprehensive exploration of freedom of speech both as a political idea and as a legal principle. It is arranged in three parts: The chapters in Part I focus on freedom of speech as a political idea and upon the ideas and rationales that underlie it; the chapters in Part II focus on distinctive features of freedom of speech as a legal principle. In the final part of the Handbook, the chapters focus on a range of controversies that have arisen in constitutional systems throughout the world and which illustrate and elaborate upon the general themes of Parts I and II.

Keywords: freedom of speech, freedom of expression, constitutional law, comparative constitutional law

JEL Classification: K00, K39