From ‘Freedom After Speech’ to ‘Freedom of Speech’

How Does a Spoiled Child Undermine Democracy on a Global Scale

Abstract

In the aftermath of October 7, the world has intensified its focus on Israel's genocidal policies in Palestine. With this issue gaining urgency, legal experts, scholars, and academics are rightly scrutinising whether Israel can be held accountable for war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide in international courts. However, the implications of this matter are far more overarching. In this paper, I will examine the impact of the unconditional support that Israel receives—particularly from Western countries, led by the United States— on democracy and the fundamental principle of freedom of speech. In this context, I will argue that the IHRA's definition of anti-Semitism and its so-called illustrative examples are wielded like a Sword of Damocles over those who criticise Israeli governments, demonstrating how this corrupted version of anti-Semitism poses a threat as dangerous as bullets. By analysing real-world cases, I will explore how the concept of Chosen Trauma, introduced by political psychologist Vamik Volkan, is manipulated by Israeli government officials to exploit the Holocaust—one of the greatest tragedies in history—for political purposes. Finally, using real-world examples, I will reveal how specific forms of freedom of speech, such as media and academic freedom, are undermined through censorship, self-censorship, intimidation, and coercion. In an environment where even writing about such a topic is challenging, the aim of this study remains modest: to stand against pressures and threats with the most valuable weapon we possess in the 21st century—freedom of speech—and to encourage colleagues who share similar concerns to do the same.