The 300-year battle over free speech

From the French Revolution to the social media age, Fara Dabhoiwala charts the surprising history of the idea that people should be able to say what they like

Published: July 30, 2025 at 11:47 AM

Save

From America's founding fathers via John Stuart Mill to today's social media giants, humanity has long wrestled with the idea of free speech. What does it mean? Can it really apply to everyone? And is too much of it dangerous? Here, in conversation with Spencer Mizen, historian and author Fara Dabhoiwala discusses a concept that has divided the world's great thinkers for 300 years.

Ad

Fara Dabhoiwala is the author of What Is Free Speech?: The History of a Dangerous Idea (Allen Lane, 2025).

Ad

Authors

Spencer MizenSenior production editor

Spencer is senior production editor of HistoryExtra magazine

Ad

Ad

Loading...

Ad

Loading...