New ABA book analyzes hardline rhetoric, free speech in context of international law

CHICAGO, Sept. 26, 2019 —“Populist and Islamist Challenges for International Law,” newly released by the American Bar Association, explores the rising popularity of populist and Islamist movements in contemporary society, with a particular emphasis on the United States, Israel and the Netherlands.

The book, written by law professors Paul Cliteur and Amos N. Guiora, examines the impact of free speech and its possible limits with attention to the use of rhetoric in the context of right-wing movements. It specifically looks at language, rhetoric and racism in contemporary U.S. and Israeli domestic politics. The book examines how a democracy protects itself from internal threats and explores topics of multiculturalism, immigration, nationalism, nationalist-racist rhetoric, the limits of free speech and Islamism.

The authors each contributed different chapters from their unique perspectives. Cliteur is a professor of jurisprudence at the University of Leiden (the Netherlands) and a member of the Dutch Senate. Guiora is a professor of law at the S.J. Quinney College of Law at the University of Utah and actively involved in bystander legislation efforts in Utah and other states.

“Populist and Islamist Challenges for International Law” reflects the authors’ beliefs and attitudes regarding extreme right-wing movements, and focuses on distinct aspects of speech — written, spoken or illustrative — as well as the role of social media in discussions surrounding free speech and its limits. It also analyzes the effects of verbiage used by world leaders.

This book was published in conjunction with the ABA Section of International Law.  

Author interviews and review copies of this book are available by emailing Francine Bennett at [email protected]. If you publish a review of this book, please send tear sheets or a copy for our files to Francine Bennett, ABA Book Publishing, 1050 Connecticut Ave N.W., Suite 400, Washington, D.C. 20036.

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