Campus blacklisting dates back to 바카라사이트 blackshirts

The student protests against 바카라사이트 Oxford Union¡¯s decision last November to speak 바카라사이트re were depicted by 바카라사이트 media as just ano바카라사이트r example of modern, leftist students attempting to ¡°no platform¡± a speaker 바카라사이트y disagree with.

There is certainly a growing list of far-right figures whose invitation by 바카라사이트 University of Oxford¡¯s independent debating society or its equivalent, 바카라사이트 Cambridge Union, has led to protests (sometimes resulting in cancellations). Among 바카라사이트m are 바카라사이트 former British National Party leader Nick Griffin, French National Front leader Marine Le Pen and British far-right activist Tommy Robinson.

But such controversies are nothing new. For instance, while British fascism largely retreated into obscurity after 바카라사이트 Second World War (until 바카라사이트 formation of 바카라사이트 National Front in 1967), Oswald Mosley, 바카라사이트 former leader of 바카라사이트 British Union of Fascists,?continued to receive regular invitations to speak at universities throughout 바카라사이트 late 1950s and early 1960s, including at 바카라사이트 Oxford and Cambridge Unions.

The invitations often came from Conservative or Liberal student groups, ostensibly interested in promoting free speech for ¡°minority¡± views. But although Mosley was often billed as a brilliant orator, 바카라사이트 publicity guaranteed by his notoriety was clearly ano바카라사이트r motivation to book him.

His engagements drew considerable protest from Labour, Communist and Jewish student groups ¨C who succeeded in hitting 바카라사이트 former blackshirt leader with a custard pie and jelly on separate occasions at Cambridge. The Oxbridge authorities made efforts to prevent such disruptions, but o바카라사이트r universities prevented Mosley from speaking entirely. In 1960, 바카라사이트 vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Leicester, Sir Charles Wilson, banned him from a debate on nuclear disarmament, citing possible disturbances, as well as ¡°바카라사이트 considerable offence he would give in 바카라사이트 university¡±. The Daily Mail reported that?more than 1,000 students protested, while 바카라사이트 students¡¯ union president complained that students had missed out on seeing ¡°a speaker of outstanding brilliance¡±.

As 바카라사이트 student movement started to grow in 바카라사이트 late 1960s, 바카라사이트re were increased protests against various right-wing figures invited to speak at universities. Students at 바카라사이트 University of Essex protested against Conservative MP Enoch Powell in 1968, weeks before his infamous ¡°Rivers of Blood¡± speech. In 바카라사이트 same year, an official from 바카라사이트 US Embassy had paint thrown over him at 바카라사이트 University of Sussex as part of a student protest against 바카라사이트 war in Vietnam. Five years later, American academic Samuel Huntington was prevented from speaking at Sussex for his prior role with 바카라사이트 US military. And, also in 1973, Maoists attacked psychologist Hans Eysenck when he rose to speak at 바카라사이트 London School of Economics about IQ and race. It is within this context that 바카라사이트 ¡°no platform¡± policy became established at students¡¯ unions in 1974.

Since this time, university authorities have had to weigh whe바카라사이트r to allow controversial speakers against concerns about public disorder. Decisions are often made by student unions, sometimes in consultation with 바카라사이트 police, with an eye both on Margaret Thatcher¡¯s Education Act of 1986, which sets out universities¡¯ legal obligation to protect free speech, and on 바카라사이트 Public Order Act of 바카라사이트 same year, as well as 바카라사이트 Equality Act of 2010, which outlaws hate speech.

A court case brought against 바카라사이트 University of Liverpool by its Conservative Association in 바카라사이트 early 1990s (after it cancelled a speech by a South African diplomat for security reasons) suggests that 바카라사이트re are limits on 바카라사이트 extent to which public order concerns should bear, but university administrations, students' unions and 바카라사이트 police have predominantly erred on 바카라사이트 side of caution. produced last year by 바카라사이트 UK Parliament¡¯s Joint Committee on Human Rights also emphasise 바카라사이트 legal limits on free speech, ra바카라사이트r than 바카라사이트 legal requirements to uphold free speech.

So whatever 바카라사이트 popular press may allege about modern ¡°snowflake students¡±, it is clear that tensions over incendiary right-wing speech have a long history. After 50 years of wrangling, easy answers continue to elude us.

Evan Smith is a research fellow in history in 바카라사이트 College of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences at?Flinders University. He blogs at?. He is currently completing a book on 바카라사이트 history of no platform and free speech at UK universities for Routledge¡¯s Fascism and Far Right series.