No Platform: A History of Anti-Fascism, Universities and the Limits of Free Speech

Routledge Studies in Fascism and the Far Right

by Evan Smith

This book is the first to outline the history of the tactic of ‘no platforming’ at British universities since the 1970s, looking at more than four decades of student protest against racist and fascist figures on campus. The tactic of ‘no platforming’ has been used at British universities and colleges since the National Union of Students adopted the policy in the mid-1970s. The author traces the origins of the tactic from the militant anti-fascism of the 1930s–1940s and looks at how it has developed since the 1970s, being applied to various targets over the last 40 years, including sexists, homophobes, right-wing politicians and Islamic fundamentalists. This book provides a historical intervention in the current debates over the alleged free speech ‘crisis’ perceived to be plaguing universities in Britain, as well as North America and Australasia. No A History of Anti-Fascism, Universities and the Limits of Free Speech is for academics and students, as well as the general reader, interested in modern British history, politics and higher education. Readers interested in contemporary debates over freedom of speech and academic freedom will also have much to discover in this book.

Genres: Politics, History, Nonfiction

230 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2020

About the author

Dr. Evan Smith is a Research Fellow in History in the College of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences at Flinders University.

Reviews

[Avril · Rating 4 out of 5]

History repeats. The culture wars of the 2020s are imitations of the controversies of the 1930s and 40s and 50s ... you get the picture. Smith tells the story of the anti-fascist actions that led up to the No Platforming of fascists of the UK National Union of Sudents (NUS) and its aftermath up to the present discussion of whether or not transphobes like Germiane Greer and Julie Bindel should be 'no platformed' by student unions today. The action has always been controversial; there have always been people who have seen it as an unwarranted attack on free speech, and there have always been accusations that student unions who use it are going 'too far'. The current controversy over whether a tactic initiated against the leaders of organised fascist groups can also legitimately be used against transphobes today echoes the controversy over whether it could be used against sexists and homophobes in the 1980s. Smith points out that not only are the debates not new, 'no platforming' has never been the only action undertaken by those using it; it has always gone hand-in-hand with other measures to protect minority students and to enable them to study safely. Throughout this history the point has been repeatedly made; students should not have to listen to or 'debate' those who would deny them the right to exist.

[Jack Stewart · Rating 5 out of 5]

Evan Smith's new book details the historical development of the concept of 'No-Platforming'. Initially used exclusively by anti-fascist activists to curtail fascist groups organising, the tactic has expanded to challenge sexism, homophobia and transphobia in recent years. This is a very topical and timely history - and Smith goes to great length to contextualise current debates about freedom of speech in a nuanced and informed manner.

Beginning with the conflict between the British Union of Fascists and various antifascist activists, Smith tracks the development of No-Platforming as a political phenomenon within the left. This follows the trajectory of antifascist activists heckling and disrupting fascist meetings, into a formal denial of racist and fascist platforming through the National Union of Students. From then on, Smith is concerned with the various expansions of the policy within higher education institutions and the controversies it incurred - particularly with regards to the concept of freedom of speech.

This book enriches the history of left-wing activism in the UK for it's attention to detail. A broad range of primary source material has been consulted, notably a great amount of student newspapers and internal documents from various unions. The focus on these internal sources adds greater nuance to an area of history which often suffers from a 'one-note' representation by authoritative primary sources that portrayed activists through a conservative lens. The synergy between traditional authoritative sources and those with a close proximity to the radical movements themselves provide a much more detailed and enlightened representation.

In his concluding chapters, Smith explores the legacy of No Platform and freedom of speech in contemporary discourse - highlighting the current debates around free speech absolutism and the platforming of 'dangerous ideas'. This contemporary focus is a welcome addition to the discussion, and the overall accessible nature of the book makes it required reading for anyone interested in the topic. Whilst some may disagree with Smith's conclusions, the historical contextualisation he has provided makes 'No Platform' an absolutely vital addition to a fascinating topic.

[Jan Kjellin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book mainly for it's take on the debate on free speech. Not that it really answers any questions - rather it poses them for the reader to reflect upon:

-Do the proponents of absolute free speech really propose absolute free speech, or is it just a counterargument to throw the discussion off balance?
-Can we as a society allow the right of free speech to those who intend to use it to limit that same right?

Of course, Smith also argues that the whole debate on free speech is a smokescreen of sorts. That the issue at hand really is about ideas and expressions of hate (in the form of for example racism, homophobia, transphobia, misogyny) and that there is a growing vocal opinion against those ideas and expressions. And that the tactic of "no platform" is a concrete example of how to counter this.

An interesting read that might have been rated higher, had I red this from a british perspective instead of a swedish.

(Another review (of sorts) in swedish will be posted on motargument.se shortly.)

[Ben · Rating 4 out of 5]

A thorough and in-depth review of primary source material on this interesting and (sadly) still highly relevant topic as it relates to UK student politics.