Hate Speech

Name: Hate Speech
Brand: University of California Press
Price: 41.46 AUD
Availability: PreOrder

The Legal and Cultural History of an American Dilemma

By: Samantha Barbas

Write A Review

eBook | 15 September 2026

At a Glance

Format
ePUB

eBook

RRP $46.02

$41.46

10%OFF

or 4 interest-free payments of $10.37 with

Available: 15th September 2026

Preorder. Download available after release.

A history of the battles over regulation of hate speech in the United States.

The United States has no hate speech laws; hate speech is generally considered to be free speech under the First Amendment. In this crisp guided history, acclaimed legal historian Samantha Barbas chronicles the country's legal and cultural battles over the regulation of hate speech in the last hundred years. Charting the historical context for current debates, she ultimately argues that, however emotionally appealing they may seem, hate speech laws undermine civil rights and democracy.

The American policy on hate speech evolved from influences such as the civil rights movement, which contended that the most effective way to combat hate speech wasn't through proposed laws. Rather than imposing restrictions, the US has developed an array of mechanisms other than law, including counterspeech and public education, that have been relatively effective at dealing with hate speakers and hate groups. Though not perfect, our method of addressing hate is less dangerous than government censorship and less likely to be weaponized against the powerless.