Abstract
Free speech is a central pillar of democracy. Despite constitutional protections, citizens in some liberal democracies increasingly feel the “bulwark of liberty” under pressure. Whether these changing perceptions stem from factual developments or are largely influenced by political communication strategies, or general (affective) polarization remains unanswered. Furthermore, it is unclear what citizens envision when assessing the status of 'freedom of speech’. Clarifying this is essential for interpreting survey data, understanding underlying causes, and developing effective strategies to counter this trend. Drawing on a quota sample of German citizens, our findings reveal, (1) that most respondents perceive free speech in both legal and social terms. Additionally, (2) a notable portion perceives freedom of speech as too restricted, driven by both dimensions, with a slight emphasis on the legal aspect. Lastly, (3) perceptions of the overall status quo and both dimensions of free speech correlate with a consistent set of individual-level predictors.
| Item Type: | Conference or Workshop Item (Speech) |
|---|---|
| Keywords: | Freedom of speech; Populism; Cancel Culture; Political Correctness; Self-Censorship; Spiral of Silence; Konferenz ICA 2025 |
| Faculties: | Social Sciences > Department of Communications and Media (IfKW) |
| Subjects: | 300 Social sciences > 380 Commerce, communications and transportation |
| Language: | English |
| Item ID: | 131702 |
| Date Deposited: | 28. Jan 2026 11:44 |
| Last Modified: | 29. Jan 2026 06:21 |
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