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Course Listing
Freedom of Speech: Critical & Comparative Perspectives
Last Updated Date: 19 November 2024
4 Units, Semester 2
Course Description:
Freedom of speech is a widely agreed upon principle in free democratic societies. But, at the same time, it is at the centre of fierce and wide-ranging disputes. In this course, we will examine the rationales for protection of freedom of speech and key controversies about freedom of speech.
The course will be in three parts that will correspond to one third of the course:
1. Ideas: This part of the course will examine the key ideas that animate freedom of speech as a legal principle. It will cover traditional arguments from truth, democracy, autonomy and mistrust of government as well as more modern versions relying on dignity and equality.
2. Forms: This part of the course will examine the forms of protection for freedom of speech found in constitutional law traversing explicit constitutional provisions, derived constitutional norms and interpretive mechanisms.
3. Key Controversies: This part of the course will examine selected free speech controversies such as defamation law, electoral funding, racial and religious vilification, freedom of speech in universities and political protest. (The precise list will be finalised closer to the date of teaching).
The course will be comparative. Jurisdictions of particular focus will be Singapore, Taiwan, Australia, the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and Germany.
Course Convenor: Visiting Prof Adrienne Stone
Co-teacher(s): NA
Course Codes: LL4190 / LL5190 / LL6190 / LLJ5190
Contact Hours: 9 sessions over 3 weeks: Three, 3-hrs continuous weekly seminars
Workload: Intensive: Week 4-6: 3 - 21 Feb 2025
[Mon, Wed: 6.30 - 9.30pm; & Fri: 3pm - 6pm]
Mode of Assessment: [To be confirm] 6-hr Take Home Exam - 100% [Release: Wed, 26 March 2025 (3pm); Due: Wed, 26 March 2025 (9pm)]
Preclusions: Students who have done, First Amendment: Freedom of Speech & Association [Module code: L50.2004] under the NYU@NUS Summer Session are precluded.
Prerequisites: NUS Compulsory Core Law Curriculum or common law equivalent.
Examination Date: Different Mode of Examination
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