The IEA Book Club is delighted to invite you to an upcoming webinar with Professor Donald Downs, the Alexander Meiklejohn Professor of Political Science Emeritus at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, who will be discussing his latest book “Free Speech and Liberal Education: A Plea for Intellectual Diversity and Tolerance”. Joining Professor Downs as a panellist will be Dr Stephen Davies, IEA Head of Education, and chairing the event will be Professor Syed Kamall, IEA Academic and Research Director.

This webinar will be taking place on Tuesday 8th September, at 18:00 BST

“Free Speech and Liberal Education: A Plea for Intellectual Diversity and Tolerance” dissects the nature, extent, and causes of the speech suppression that exists, emphasizing the need for intellectual diversity, why robust free speech and academic freedom are so important to the prospects of liberal democracy.

Drawing on his extensive research, teaching, and practical experience as a free speech and academic freedom leader at the University of Wisconsin‐Madison and across the US, Professor Downs portrays the university as an “intellectual polis” in which free and honest academic discourse should pervade the campus. His unique approach addresses the experiential, empirical, strategic, and philosophical dimensions at stake

Dr Stephen Davies will join the discussion to compare the state of free speech and academic freedom in the US with that seen here in the UK. Is the UK seeing the same thing? Are there differences? And why he thinks free-thinking in academia is vital for the intellectual and financial health of societies everywhere.

Please note, this event is strictly for IEA Book Club members. If you wish to find out more about the IEA Book Club, please contact us at bookclub@iea.org.uk or call 020 7799 8906