Should You Talk to Nazis? The Political Philosophy of Bruno Latour and the Controversy Surrounding the 2016–2017 Gothenburg Book Fair

Abstract

Through engaging with the political philosophy of Bruno Latour, this paper contributes to the discussion on human rights and the challenge of right-wing extremism. As the paper argues, Latour’s works proceed from a critique of those actors who want to limit or deny the ability of other actors to present their concerns publicly. His political philosophy therefore raises the question of whether all matters of concern should be given public legitimacy. The issue is discussed in relation to the controversy and subsequent debate surrounding the 2016–2017 Gothenburg Book Fair, when the newspaper Nya Tider, which sympathises with right-wing extremist movements, was granted a permit to exhibit at the fair. The paper concludes that freedom of expression, according to Latour’s reasoning, expresses the limit of public engagement by those actors who currently are not part of the public, while also signifying a prerequisite right in any democratic public.