Category:Civil Liberties
China’s authoritarian export: the technocratic menace and global ideological battle
June 4, 2023 | Post
The Chinese regime inherently rejects the ideas and values of individual liberty, meaningful economic freedom, transparency and human rights
How gun control might be seen 100 years from now
June 1, 2023 | Post
The book Lies My Teacher Told Me by James Loewen was assigned to me during my senior year of high school. I still reflect on its lessons and have found them applicable not just to the past, but, in some cases, to the future. Here is how hypothetical, sweeping new gun control legislation might be seen 100 years from now…
The right drug policy: legalize and educate
April 26, 2023 | Post
Decriminalization, as we define it today, removes the penalty for simple possession of drugs, but still enforces penalties on individuals found selling or trafficking.This policy is certainly better than prohibition and will undoubtedly save countless lives. However, it does maintain the worst problems created by prohibition. Here’s why the right drug policy is to legalize and educate…
280 years later, here’s how Thomas Jefferson is still shaping our society
April 13, 2023 | Post
As we commemorate Thomas Jefferson’s 273rd birthday (he was born on April 13th, 1743) we could certainly remember him for more than one accomplishment. But one contribution in particular really does stand out.
Political Islam and the violation of individual rights
April 5, 2023 | Post
Can you imagine living in a country where your government can kill you for not following a state-imposed dress code; or jail you for ten years for sharing a video of yourself dancing with your fiance; or kidnap you for daring to speak your mind? Iranians live in such a place.
The COVID-19 pandemic highlights the changing role of government
March 24, 2023 | Post
Alongside economic devastation and a mental health crisis, another legacy of lockdowns will be changed perceptions of the role of government
Should India repeal the Armed Forces Special Powers Act in the North East?
March 15, 2023 | Post
The Armed Forces Special Powers Act gives sweeping powers to members of the Indian armed forces to make arrests without a warrant on the basis of mere suspicion and in some cases even to open fire. New Delhi is keen on a phased, cautious repeal of AFSPA in India’s North East Region, but more can definitely be done.
Born from dissent: social movements and the case of Georgia
March 9, 2023 | Post
In Georgia, social movements have always been a means to democratically express discontent with the status quo. This is true once again in light of the new “foreign agents law”
Georgia’s foreign agent law casts an ominous shadow on its European aspirations
March 8, 2023 | Post
The “foreign agent law” is perilous for all of Georgian society and will derail future progress in many areas, including human rights and anti-corruption. The Georgian people will do everything to make their voices heard and defend the national and European ideals that promise us a better future.
Murray Rothbard’s unwavering commitment to peace
March 2, 2023 | Post
Across his many political coalitions, Murray Rothbard remained steadfast in his opposition to war and to American intervention abroad.
The Misuse of Social Media Act: a threat to freedom of expression in Uganda
February 27, 2023 | Post
The provisions in the Misuse of Social Media Act passed by Uganda’s Parliament are highly restrictive and pose a direct threat to digital freedom. Here’s a quick breakdown of how and why…
The KGB still runs Russia and always has
January 18, 2023 | Post
The KGB still runs Russia. In its structure of power, the same organization that inflicted terror in Soviet times is still calling the shots.
What’s happening in China: is the communist regime in trouble?
December 1, 2022 | Post
At present, whenever the world’s attention is not on the controversial Qatar World Cup, it is firmly on what is happening in China. The authoritarian, communist regime, ruled with an iron fist by Xi Jinping for the past decade, is seeing protests on a scale not seen in generations. As more cracks appear, will China’s illiberal model prove unsustainable?
Why do you need a gun?
September 26, 2022 | Post
On the surface, a sensible person could be forgiven for accepting the idea that making guns hard or impossible to get will produce less violent crime. They could also be forgiven for believing the idea that if you have a room full of children who are throwing rocks at each other, the sensible thing to do is remove the rocks. But this assumes society is made up of children to admonish.
You can be pro-freedom and a royalist
September 9, 2022 | Post
The United Kingdom has been plunged into a period of national heartbreak. Whether it be on social media, in people’s homes, or on the streets, British citizens everywhere have voiced their grief and condolences at the news. And yet outsiders, especially libertarians, seem puzzled by this ostensibly bizarre, sentimental attachment the British have towards their ruler. How can a nation be so enamored with someone above their station?
A free society requires open borders
September 2, 2022 | Post
As long as they do not violate anyone’s rights, immigrants should be able to purchase property, engage in commerce, speak their language, and practice their faith in any manner they choose and within any borders.
Checking in on China: why hard times lie ahead
July 15, 2022 | Post
The past couple of decades may have suggested that China’s competent, authoritarian style of governance may be an alternative model for the world. However, the regime is now faced with the consequences of its actions with a slim off ramp to preserve progress and power at the same time.
People say Putin is pragmatic; here is why they are wrong
June 23, 2022 | Post
Students For Liberty’s Director of Alumni Programs, Jorge Jraissati, gives his thoughts on the ideology of Vladimir Putin, its history, and its ongoing effects.
Boris Johnson and Partygate: when politicians think they’re above the law
June 21, 2022 | Post
There’s a reason why Partygate, involving senior British politicians such as PM Boris Johnson, hits a particularly raw nerve with the public
The U.S. Constitution and the right to privacy
May 17, 2022 | Post
The right to privacy and freedom of contract are not explicitly mentioned in the Constitution but are essential to our personal privacy and dignity
The Prague Spring: planting the seeds of freedom
April 6, 2022 | Post
The Prague Spring of 1968 has a legacy that proved influential in the downfall of the Eastern Bloc a generation later, and continues to inspire to this day.
Just war; unjust conscription
March 24, 2022 | Post
Coercing young and middle-aged men to fight implies that certain people’s rights are not absolute, but disposable in service of the “greater good”
What can Russians do to help Ukraine?
March 16, 2022 | Post
Already oppressed by an authoritarian regime, Russians are now made to fight and die in service to Putin’s brand of tyranny. What are their options?
The realities of war: On the ground in Ukraine
February 26, 2022 | Video
As Vladimir Putin’s Russian troops immorally invade a sovereign nation, and with more bloodshed on the horizon, we spoke to Kevin Flanagan, SFL’s Director of Training & Engagement, currently living in Ukraine, about Putin’s power grab and the Ukranian mindset. We also spoke to Eglė Markevičiūtė, Students For Liberty’s Alumni and Vice-Minister of the Economy […]