America, America: John Keane’s contribution to an ABC Radio National debate about the dangers of despotism in the US and its declining empire
ABC Big Ideas – The state of America, broadcasted on Tue 11 Apr 2023 at 8:00pm
The rise of far-right extremism, conflicts over gun law reform, widening economic gaps, and former President Donald Trump’s continued push for influence. Are polarising polemics putting the reputation of the United States as leader of the free world at risk? And where does another great world power, China fit?
Free speech is one of the main pillars of a democratic society. But what if it is hurting others, is hate speech, or is targeted at minority communities? Should there be limits to free speech?
America, America, Recorded at Adelaide Writers Week, March 7, 2023
Speakers
Shalom Auslander, American author, essayist
James Curran, Professor University of Sydney, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
John Keane, Professor of Politics at the University of Sydney and at the Wissenschaftszentrum Berlin (WZB).
Fintan O’Toole, Columnist Irish Times, Professor of Irish letters at Princeton University
Host: Bob Carr, Former NSW Premier, Adjunct Professor, Institute for Sustainable Futures, UTS