Overview

Provides a critical and contentious overview of the fundamental relationship between writing and political dissent from early Greek democracy to post-Enlightenment forms of totalitarianism, such as Communism, Fascism and Nazism and through to modern forms of liberal democracy based upon universal human rights encapsulated by the UNs Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Complementing such historical contexts, this book explores the range of predominantly theological and religious, civil and political, social and cultural rationales for contemporary repression, contending that in the modern age at least freedom of expression issues are deeply affected not only by national law but that factors of a transnational (ideological or theological) nature. Finally -- through a review key inter-governmental and non-governmental (NGO) agencies -- the book examines current geo-political trends in the denial of freedom of expression, highlighting post-Cold War and post-September 11 shifts in political and religious repression, a movement in the locale of freedom of expression issues (especially towards electronic forms and Internet) and a heightening of global and transnational dimensions in freedom of expression. The book provides also a substantial series of appendices for scholars, researchers and activists interested in furthering investigation of issues in writing and human rights. A companion volume to ""Human Rights & Religion"", the book provides appendices for all those activists interested in furthering investigation of issues in writing and human rights.

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9781845191580

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Reviews

I write this Foreword as the current President of English PEN. As Dr. Gearon notes, this organisation has played a significant role in campaigning in the UK against the Government's proposals to make the incitement of religious hatred an offence...Would that we had had this book to help us, with its calm and assured discussion of the history that lies behind our prevailing anxiety today. --Alastair Niven

Author Information

Liam Gearon holds a University Lectureship in Religious Education at the Oxford University Department of Education and a Senior Research Fellowship at Harris Manchester College. He has published widely in the fields of religion and literature, including the critically acclaimed edited work, English Literature, Theology and the Curriculum.

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