On Wednesday, 29 April 2026, GCDC member Professor Richard Bellamy delivered a lecture on free speech at the University of National and World Economy, Sofia, Bulgaria.
In his lecture, Professor Bellamy examined whether hate speech should be subject to legal restriction in a democratic society. He considered whether the leading moral justifications for free expression – including democracy (Dworkin), the pursuit of truth (Mill), and individual autonomy (Scanlon) – also protect hate speech. Alongside this, he evaluated the main moral arguments in favour of restricting hate speech, such as the prevention of insult (Feinberg), the protection of equal human dignity and public order (Waldron), and the prevention of incitement to harm (Kramer).
Drawing on comparative legal approaches, Bellamy contrasted the US system – where even highly offensive speech is generally protected unless it directly incites violence – with a number of European systems such as the UK and Germany, where hate speech laws are more restrictive.
He concluded that while no single argument definitively resolves the tension between free expression and its limits, the most compelling justification for regulating hate speech lies in the need to protect citizens’ equal dignity and prevent incitement to harm.
Read the full report on the University of National and World Economy website.
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