Freedom of speech is one of the essential foundations of democratic constitutional orders. At the same time, it is increasingly contested in an era marked by political polarization, digital publics, and shifting societal expectations.

Against this backdrop, the University of Vienna and the Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Fundamental and Human Rights invite you to the lecture “Freedom of Speech in a Polarized Era” by Prof. Carson Holloway (Department of Political Science, University of Nebraska Omaha). The event takes place within the framework of the Conversatorium on Fundamental and Human Rights at the Juridicum and is designed and moderated by Prof. Michael Lysander Fremuth, Scientific Director of the LBI-GMR and Professor at the University of Vienna.

VENUE: Room U21, Faculty of Law, University of Vienna, Schottenbastei 10–16, 1010 Vienna (Juridicum)
TIME: Tuesday, 16 December, 2:15 pm

Carson Holloway is a political scientist specialising in American political philosophy, constitutional history, and the development of democratic theory in the United States. His work focuses on the intellectual foundations of the U.S. Constitution, the ideas of the American Founders, and contemporary tensions shaping democratic decision-making. He has been associated with the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights and has published widely on political theory, the role of institutions, and the normative principles underpinning liberal democracies. In his lecture, he will outline the constitutional and theoretical foundations of freedom of speech in the United States and examine its relevance within a polarized society.

The lecture will be followed by a conversation between Carson Holloway and Michael Lysander Fremuth, revisiting key aspects of the lecture and placing them within a broader academic context. Different constitutional and political perspectives will be juxtaposed and discussed. The conversation will lead into an open discussion to which all participants are warmly invited.

The full invitation including the detailed programme can be found in the PDF available for download on the right.
The event will be held in English.
The venue is fully accessible.

As space is limited, registration via the link below is required.