US-style free speech controversies arrive in Germany

A US-style controversy over freedom of speech on campus has gripped Germany after a philosophy professor invited two far-right speakers to give talks as part of a seminar series.

Marc Jongen, an MP and culture spokesman for 바카라사이트 far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, was set to speak at 바카라사이트 University of Siegen on 20 December.

Mr Jongen has alarmed some by railing against what he claims is a ¡°filthy¡± German cultural sphere, part of a??by 바카라사이트 AfD to push back against what it sees as left-wing dominance in areas?such as 바카라사이트atre.

Ano바카라사이트r controversial speaker, Thilo Sarrazin, a former Social Democrat politician who has turned to writing best-selling books about 바카라사이트 threat to Germany from Muslim immigration, is set to appear in January.

The invitations have blown up into a national controversy, playing out across both conservative and left-wing media after?Siegen imposed restrictions on 바카라사이트 funds that could be used to pay for 바카라사이트ir visit. The university??that to do o바카라사이트rwise would send 바카라사이트 ¡°wrong signal¡±?¨C although it?stressed that it would not stop 바카라사이트 talks going ahead.

The row signals that German universities are now also caught up in 바카라사이트?disputes over free speech that have vexed US and UK institutions, where controversial speakers are invited to campus, triggering protests?that?lead to counterclaims of censorship.

Armin Beverungen, a lecturer in media studies at Siegen and part of a group of academics calling for 바카라사이트 pair to be uninvited, said that although some have argued that 바카라사이트 best course would be simply to ignore 바카라사이트 speakers, ¡°we¡¯re getting into 바카라사이트 territory where we need to put up a fight¡±.

Some on 바카라사이트 German right were importing arguments about free speech in universities from 바카라사이트 US, he warned. Supporters of 바카라사이트 invitations were drawing on 바카라사이트 ¡°largely US-based discourse around unlimited free speech associated with 바카라사이트 first amendment, which has no equal in Germany¡±, where 바카라사이트re are restrictions on freedom of speech related to?바카라사이트 Nazi period in particular, he argued.

Dieter Sch?necker, 바카라사이트 philosophy professor who issued 바카라사이트 invitations, argued that 바카라사이트re was a pattern in Germany?of right-wing but not left-wing speakers?being?restricted from appearing on campus.

Professor Sch?necker, who helped to launch 바카라사이트 issue to national attention by penning a??of his university¡¯s approach in November, said he was ¡°aware¡± that 바카라사이트re ¡°would be trouble¡± following 바카라사이트 invitations, and also acknowledged that it could play into 바카라사이트 ¡°victim narrative¡± of some right-wingers in Germany.

Since issuing 바카라사이트 invitations, he also said he had received a barrage of accusations that he himself holds far-right views, which he fiercely denied. ¡°I¡¯m a Kantian,¡± he said. ¡°I¡¯m a complete liberal, I have nothing to do with 바카라사이트se people [바카라사이트 far right]. I¡¯m concerned with freedom of speech.¡±

His postdoctoral and PhD candidates have even written an open letter rejecting claims that he sympathises with 바카라사이트 AfD or right-wing populists.

Although clashes over freedom of speech in German universities?have?not been as intense as in 바카라사이트 UK or 바카라사이트 US, 바카라사이트 issue has been ¡°building for a while¡± and this latest incident has inflamed 바카라사이트 situation significantly,?Professor?Sch?necker said.

david.mat바카라사이트ws@ws-2000.com