While the electoral campaign in Italy focuses on national-populists, anti-migrants and xenofobic themes instead of speaking about the real problems of the country (public debt, unprodctivity of the productive sector, population ageing and problem of sustaining the welfare system, insufficent research investments, young people disoccupation, mafia, corruption, ecc.) in the Nordic countries infuriates a democratic debate, linked to freedom of expression. That is to say : is it pertinent to debate with extreme right citizens and affront their rhetoric in democratic and well informed debates, instead of trying to ban them and their media? A sane debate that should be done in every democratic country. The debate during the French presidential campaign, betwwen Emmanuel macron and Marine Le Pen has shown that such a debate can be the best way to fight stinking ideas and arguments.

This debate is the theme of a Swedish book, of which we would like to have the translation :
“Should one talk to Nazis?”
The debate around the book fair and “Nya Tider” (New Times)
By Mikael Löfgren ed., Nätverkstan publishers, 2018

This Swedish book Shall One Talk to Nazis? records the debate about the participation of the right-wing magazine Nya Tider (New Times) at the Gothenburg Book Fair in 2017. In a contribution entitled “Three Magazines, Three Book Fairs, Two Cultures“, Carl Henrik Fredriksson, member of the LIBREXPRESSION Scientific council,  compares the debate in Sweden to the discussion about similar issues in Germany. While the participation of right-wing magazines at the two big book fairs in Germany – in Leipzig and Frankfurt – has led to some protests, the calls for censorship and exclusion have not received the same broad support as in Sweden. However, concludes Fredriksson, the controversial elements of free speech will not become any less difficult to handle in the future, neither in Sweden nor in Germany – or anywhere else in Europe. Freedom of expression is a “higher good” – and it should come as no surprise that there’s a price to pay for it.

The facts : the 2017 Swedish Bookfair in Göteborg

The theme of the 2017 Swedish annual Bookfair in Göteborg 2017 (which was from the 28th of september to the 1rst of october) was “freedom of speech” to honor the 250-year anniversary of the Swedish Freedom of the Press Regulation. This bookfair is the Scandinavian’s largest one, drawing more than 100,000 visitors. In 2016 as in 2017 the Nya Tider (New Times) newpaper – a right-wing extremist newspaper with 7,000 subscribers – asked to participate. After a strong debate it was not allowed to participate in 2016, but was accepted in 2017 , as the theme of that year was the celebration of the 250 years anniversary of the Swedish Law on freedom of expression.
On 21 April 2017, more than 200 Swedish authors signed an article in the « Dagens Nyheter » newspaper saying they would boycott the book fair if Nya Tider was represented. Additionally, 12 European national institutes of culture – from Germany, France, Romania, Spain and Portugal among others – sent an email to organisers on Tuesday expressing their concern about Nya Tider’s attendance and urging it to ban the publication, which has received state press subsidies since 2012.
Laurent Clavel, head of the French Institute in Sweden, commented: “The purpose of the email, for me, was to ask where to draw the line between freedom of speech and providing hatred with a free platform”. Fair organisers have, however, refused to budge on the issue declaring :“We believe that an open dialogue is the best way to beat forces involving intolerance, racism and xenophobia”. And, Maria Kaällsson, the Book Fair Director, added : “The book fair is an open arena for free association and freedom of expression, and it does not forbid opinions. That principle comes with a price : even detestable opinions can appear at a book fair.”

The Swedish Law on freedom of expression (December 1766)

The Swedish Act is the world’s first constitution protecting freedom of the press and access to information. It was adopted by Swedish parliament in december 1766. At the time of its adoption it revolutionized society by ensuring the free flow of information, opinions and ideas without censorship. The debate and bold decisions stemming from 1766 have, to a large extent, shaped the way we think about transparency, accountability and openness today.

Interview of Carl Henrik Fredrikssen and Thierry Vissol on the Gothenborg Bookfair
and freedom of expression

On RAI Radio 3 (20 September 2017 – the interview starts after 11 minutes and 30 seconds) interview by Nello Del Gatto and Marina Lalovic.

Both interviewees agree that freedom of expression cannot be limited to what can be considered as « good thinking ». As long as the arguments developed do not infringe the internationally recognised Human Rights, that media reporting them are legally recognised, freedom of expression must also include information or ideas “that offend, shock or disturb the State or any sector of the population” (See the 1976 Handyside Judgment by the ECHR, following Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights). Education and informed debates are the only democratic and civil way to affront those stinking ideas. This require courage by politicians, educators and media to counter wrong arguments, false statistics and lies too often used by the national-populists. It also implies the implementation of economic and social policies in order to avoid the despair of a part of the population as well as relevant policies of integration and of inclusion of impoverished populations whether indigenous or immigrant

http://www.raiplayradio.it/audio/2017/09/La-Svezia-spaccata-sulla-liberta-despressione-bfef8002-9490-48d6-a616-df9d7dd3f1f3.html