The New Politics of Pornography

Fresh empirical evidence of pornography's negative effects and the resurgence of feminist and conservative critiques have caused local, state, and federal officials to reassess the pornography issue. In "The New Politics of Pornography," Donald Alexander Downs explores the contemporary antipornography movement and addresses difficult questions about the limits of free speech. Drawing on official transcripts and extensive interviews, Downs recreates and analyzes landmark cases in Minneapolis and Indianapolis. He argues persuasively that both conservative and liberal camps are often characterized by extreme intolerance which hampers open policy debate and may ultimately threaten our modern doctrine of free speech. Downs concludes with a balanced and nuanced discussion of what First Amendment protections pornography should be afforded. This provocative and interdisciplinary work will interest students of political science, women's studies, civil liberties, and constitutional law.

About the author

Donald Alexander Downs is associate professor of political science at the University of Wisconsin at Madison. He is the author of "Nazis in Skokie: Freedom, Community, and the First Amendment."

Product details

• Authors: Downs, Donald Alexander Downs, Downs Donald Alexander
• Publisher: University Presses
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Released: 28.12.1992
• EAN: 9780226161631
• ISBN: 978-0-226-16163-1
• No. of pages: 290
• Dimensions: 17 mm x 23 mm x 2 mm
• Weight: 454 g
• Subjects: Social sciences, law, business > Political science > Political theories and the history of ideas; USA, POLITICAL SCIENCE / History & Theory, Political science & theory, United States of America, USA, Political science and theory, Sex and sexuality, social aspects, Ethical issues and debates, Ethical Issues: Pornography & Obscenity, SOCIAL SCIENCE / Human Sexuality, Constitutional and administrative law: general