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Free Speech, Sustainable Democracy and Academic Freedom: Moving Beyond Lip Service
https://mercury.smu.edu.sg/PrjgWKW/Summary/programme_detailedview.aspx?vPROG_ID=WKWLTT143
Synopsis
This talk adopts a normative and empirical approach in interrogating the rationale and scope of free speech in Singapore, with reference to the legal framework and informal rules (OB markers). A theory of free speech and its role in promoting democracy, and the associated role of academic freedom in this respect, will determine whether politics is viewed as a contest amongst interest groups with no concern for wider society or a sustained discourse about the common good.
Particular attention will be given to the importance of political speech and its role in 'managing' democratic society cast along 'communitarian' lines, the associated role of the media and 'responsible journalism' as well as academic freedom in furthering the cause of democracy. It asks whether speech is a "primary right", whether the idea of the rational speaker and hearer is mythical and considers the competing rights, interests and goods it may bump up against. How do courts handle the balancing process within the Singapore context which rejeccts a laissez faire approach towards regulating speech? How 'free' is speech when there is a 'cost' to speaking (the curse of political correctness or tactics of intimidation which causes 'horizontal chilling') or when the speaker cannot be heard (the lack of an even playing field, preferential espousal of views by influential vendors)? Free speech does not encompass a right to misinformation which is distortive and harms democratic discourse; attempts to gag certain views also undermines the centrality of viewpoint diversity in public debate. When then are the conditions necessary for sustainable, participatory democracy, particularly in the face of increasingly fractious issues which polarise society and in respect of which there is no overlapping consensus? What is the role of rationality, civility and morality in shaping the contours of political speech and debate? As universities are incubators of thought leadership, should professors be agnostic or advocates within the classroom? How is critical thinking best cultivated and how impaired? Could something be learnt from the latin maxim, audi alteram partem (hear the other side)?
Speaker
Dr Thio Li-ann is Professor of Law at the National University of Singapore where she teaches and has published widely in the fields of public international law, human rights law, constitutional and administrative law. Formerly Chief Editor, Singapore Journal of International & Comparative Law (2000-2003), she is currently General Editor, Asian Yearbook of International Law, on the editorial board of the International Journal of Constitutional Law, Journal of East Asia and International Law, National Taiwan University Law Review, on the Advisory Board of the New Zealand Yearbook of International Law, Australian Journal of Asian Law, City University of Hong Kong Law Review and International Law & Human Rights Discourse. She is a contributor (Constitutional and Administrative Law) to the Singapore Academy of Law Annual Review. She has taught courses at the law faculties of Hong Kong University and the University of Melbourne. A leading Singapore constitutional scholar, she co-authored Constitutional Law in Malaysia and Singapore (Butterworths, 1997) and co-edited Evolution of a Revolution: 40 Years of the Singapore Constitution (Routledge-Cavendish, 2009), both with Kevin YL Tan. She was engaged as an expert witness before the Australian Federal Court and consultant on academic freedom to the University of Warwick. She was twice ranked an NUS Excellent Teacher and received the NUS Young Researcher Award in 2004 in recognition of her scholarship. From Jan 2007-July 2009, Professor Thio was a Nominated Member of Parliament (Eleventh Session).
Closing date for registration:
14 October 2009, Wednesday)
Date: 14 October 2009, Wednesday
Time: 12:30pm to 2:00pm
Venue: Lee Kong Chian School of Business
Seminar Room 1.2
Level 1
We will order a lunchbox for all who register online. If you should decide on attending at the last minute, just turn up. But you will not get a lunch box. Please note that the venue listed MAY change and a penalty of S$10 will be imposed for no-shows. A notice will be posted at the lobby of the School of Business on the talk date to inform you of the change.
For enquiries, please contact us at [email protected]
https://mercury.smu.edu.sg/PrjgWKW/Summary/programme_detailedview.aspx?vPROG_ID=WKWLTT143
Synopsis
This talk adopts a normative and empirical approach in interrogating the rationale and scope of free speech in Singapore, with reference to the legal framework and informal rules (OB markers). A theory of free speech and its role in promoting democracy, and the associated role of academic freedom in this respect, will determine whether politics is viewed as a contest amongst interest groups with no concern for wider society or a sustained discourse about the common good.
Particular attention will be given to the importance of political speech and its role in 'managing' democratic society cast along 'communitarian' lines, the associated role of the media and 'responsible journalism' as well as academic freedom in furthering the cause of democracy. It asks whether speech is a "primary right", whether the idea of the rational speaker and hearer is mythical and considers the competing rights, interests and goods it may bump up against. How do courts handle the balancing process within the Singapore context which rejeccts a laissez faire approach towards regulating speech? How 'free' is speech when there is a 'cost' to speaking (the curse of political correctness or tactics of intimidation which causes 'horizontal chilling') or when the speaker cannot be heard (the lack of an even playing field, preferential espousal of views by influential vendors)? Free speech does not encompass a right to misinformation which is distortive and harms democratic discourse; attempts to gag certain views also undermines the centrality of viewpoint diversity in public debate. When then are the conditions necessary for sustainable, participatory democracy, particularly in the face of increasingly fractious issues which polarise society and in respect of which there is no overlapping consensus? What is the role of rationality, civility and morality in shaping the contours of political speech and debate? As universities are incubators of thought leadership, should professors be agnostic or advocates within the classroom? How is critical thinking best cultivated and how impaired? Could something be learnt from the latin maxim, audi alteram partem (hear the other side)?
Speaker
Dr Thio Li-ann is Professor of Law at the National University of Singapore where she teaches and has published widely in the fields of public international law, human rights law, constitutional and administrative law. Formerly Chief Editor, Singapore Journal of International & Comparative Law (2000-2003), she is currently General Editor, Asian Yearbook of International Law, on the editorial board of the International Journal of Constitutional Law, Journal of East Asia and International Law, National Taiwan University Law Review, on the Advisory Board of the New Zealand Yearbook of International Law, Australian Journal of Asian Law, City University of Hong Kong Law Review and International Law & Human Rights Discourse. She is a contributor (Constitutional and Administrative Law) to the Singapore Academy of Law Annual Review. She has taught courses at the law faculties of Hong Kong University and the University of Melbourne. A leading Singapore constitutional scholar, she co-authored Constitutional Law in Malaysia and Singapore (Butterworths, 1997) and co-edited Evolution of a Revolution: 40 Years of the Singapore Constitution (Routledge-Cavendish, 2009), both with Kevin YL Tan. She was engaged as an expert witness before the Australian Federal Court and consultant on academic freedom to the University of Warwick. She was twice ranked an NUS Excellent Teacher and received the NUS Young Researcher Award in 2004 in recognition of her scholarship. From Jan 2007-July 2009, Professor Thio was a Nominated Member of Parliament (Eleventh Session).
Closing date for registration:
14 October 2009, Wednesday)
Date: 14 October 2009, Wednesday
Time: 12:30pm to 2:00pm
Venue: Lee Kong Chian School of Business
Seminar Room 1.2
Level 1
We will order a lunchbox for all who register online. If you should decide on attending at the last minute, just turn up. But you will not get a lunch box. Please note that the venue listed MAY change and a penalty of S$10 will be imposed for no-shows. A notice will be posted at the lobby of the School of Business on the talk date to inform you of the change.
For enquiries, please contact us at [email protected]
