What Is The Bedrock Principle?

A Note from The Editor

“If there is a bedrock principle underlying the First Amendment, it is that the government may not prohibit the expression of an idea simply because society finds the idea itself offensive or disagreeable.”

— Supreme Court Justice William Brennan Jr.

“No right was deemed by the fathers of the Government more sacred than the right of speech. It was in their eyes, as in the eyes of all thoughtful men, the great moral renovator of society and government.”

— Frederick Douglass

At The Bedrock Principle, we take these sentiments seriously. This new publication is your gateway to the cutting edge of free speech thought in the digital age, where scholarship meets pressing global challenges.

I’m Jacob Mchangama, the Executive Director of The Future of Free Speech, and I’m thrilled to welcome you to this project.

The Future of Free Speech, the independent and non-partisan think tank behind this publication, is located at Vanderbilt University. We are dedicated to restoring a resilient global culture of free speech through research, advocacy, and outreach. Whether it’s examining global attitudes toward free speech, developing counterspeech strategies, or pushing back against overreaching digital regulations, our mission is clear and laser-focused: to protect and promote this bedrock principle of liberty.

We believe the only way to credibly protect and advance free speech is to be principled, consistent, and non-partisan. We have no political allegiances or ideologies to advance and endeavor to be equally critical of ideas and policies that erode the Bedrock Principle, whether emanating from the left, right, or center. While this project is an extension of our mission, it’s also a place to host conversations and essays beyond just our scholars.

This project is born out of necessity as we face a global free speech recession. Around the world, the fundamental right to speak freely faces relentless pressure from authoritarian regimes and, all too often, even democratic governments. In a digital age where a single message can traverse the globe in seconds, we see growing calls to regulate online speech in the name of combating hate, disinformation, and extremism. While some of these challenges are real, history teaches us that curtailing free speech rarely stops with the initial justification—and often leads to unintended and dangerous consequences, especially for the vulnerable groups such censorship is designed to protect.

The Bedrock Principle is dedicated to exploring these tensions, analyzing their implications, and advocating for the robust free speech principles that have fueled progress and innovation for centuries.

Each week, you’ll find a curated round-up of global free speech news, offering not just summaries but thoughtful commentary from our team of scholars. You’ll also encounter original expert commentary from The Future of Free Speech scholars that provide analysis and historical context on today’s debates, drawing lessons from Socrates to Douglass to the digital age.

As someone who has spent years studying and writing about the history of free expression, I firmly believe that historical anchors are crucial in navigating our contemporary challenges. They remind us why free speech matters—not just for democracy but for the future of our shared humanity.

I hope The Bedrock Principle becomes a space that not only informs but inspires—a platform where ideas collide, questions are debated, and free speech is celebrated as the lifeblood of progress. Your thoughts, critiques, and contributions will be as much a part of this journey as the insights we offer.

Free speech isn’t just a principle to uphold—it’s a practice that requires us all to respect both the rights of the speaker and the listener.

Jacob Mchangama
Executive Director, The Future of Free Speech
Editor, The Bedrock Principle