From the archive: the free speech panic: how the right concocted a crisis
Feb 04, 2026•42 min
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Summary
The author revisits his 2018 article on the "free speech panic," arguing that the narrative of censorship on campuses is largely fabricated by the right to push back against perceived left-wing influence and avoid addressing deeper conservative crises. The episode highlights the hypocrisy of "free speech" advocates who silence opposing views, details how media fabricates stories, and explores how the digital age has transformed communication into an attention economy where claiming censorship is a viral strategy. Ultimately, the panic serves as a substitute ideology for conservatism struggling with economic and demographic shifts.Episode description
We are raiding the Guardian long read archives to bring you some classic pieces from years past, with new introductions from the authors. This week, from 2018: snowflake students have become the target of a new rightwing crusade. But exaggerated claims of censorship reveal a deeper anxiety at the core of modern conservatism By William Davies. Read by Lucy Scott. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod
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