Marxist Origins of Hate‐​Speech Legislation and Political Correctness

Throughout much of the Western world, free speech is under assault. From the Muhammad cartoon controversy in Denmark to student protests against speakers with unorthodox views on U.S. campuses, journalists, academics, and public figures must moderate their views or find themselves being prevented from speaking out. Yet freedom of speech is central to the emergence and continued survival of a liberal society. How did we come to this? According to our speakers, the spread of Marxist ideas, facilitated by the communist regimes during the Cold War and by postmodern scholarship, deserve at least part of the blame. Please join us for a discussion of some of the lasting effects of Marxism on the world today.