Hardcover
America’s fight against hate speech: law, civil rights, and democracy.

Hate Speech

The Legal and Cultural History of an American Dilemma

$88.99

  • Hardcover

    312 pages

  • Release Date

    15 September 2026

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Summary

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, how…

Book Details

ISBN-13:9780520401969
ISBN-10:0520401964
Author:Samantha Barbas
Publisher:University of California Press
Imprint:University of California Press
Format:Hardcover
Number of Pages:312
Release Date:15 September 2026
Dimensions:152mm x 229mm
A-Format
B-Format
Hate Speech by Samantha Barbas - ISBN: 9780520401969
152 × 229 mm
C-Format
A4
mm / in
What They're Saying

Critics Review

“An impressive tour of American history… .Barbas’ robust closing argument is spot on: ‘Legally banning hate speech is an illusory solution that will generate more difficulties than it resolves.’”

* The Progressive *

About The Author

Samantha Barbas

Samantha Barbas is Professor of Law and Aliber Family Chair at the University of Iowa College of Law and the author of seven previous books on mass media and free speech history, including Actual Malice: Civil Rights and Freedom of the Press in New York Times v. Sullivan.

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