*Call for chapter proposals for the edited volume (Handbook of Chilling Effect) “Chilling effect and freedom of expression – “frozen” speech in transdisciplinary perspectives”*

What is a chilling effect? Censorship or self-censorship? Discouragement by authorities to stray away from possibly illegitimate speech? Who is affected the most by chilling effect? Journalists, judges, politicians – or their critics? Is chilling effect even an existing, empirically provable concept or just a myth (Bedi 2021)?

Dr. Gergely Gosztonyi (Eötvös Loránd University, Hungary) and Dr. Gergely Ferenc Lendvai (PPCU Budapest, Hungary – ISLC, University of Milan – University of Richmond) invite abstracts for the proposal of a comprehensive book on chilling effect, a phenomenon associated with actions taken by states which adversely impacts individuals or entities, possibly and allegedly discouraging them from exercising their rights or fulfilling their professional duties (Pech 2021), aims to discuss, analyse and raise awareness of a myriad of legal polemics related to free speech, access to information, digital technologies and freedom of expression and the politics of speech restriction (Baumbach 2018, Penney 2021). Where can we draw the line between self-censorship (Gosztonyi 2023) and legitimate aims? How can states abuse their power of restricting speech and how does it affect media (or the trust therein), journalistic duties and jurisdiction? Though existing literature has documented the European Court of Human Rights’ practice (Fajdiga & Zagorc 2023, Townend 2017), the book proposes a holistic viewpoint – one that encompasses the expertise of legal scholars outside of the traditionally known Global North (Demeter 2020). To achieve this, we invite scholars in the fields of law, communication and media studies, rhetoric, journalistic and mass media studies, psychology and sociology to propose chapters for the book on the following topics (the list is not exhaustive):

* The conceptualisation of chilling effect
* Key cases and principles before international courts
* Cultural and regional variations in chilling effects
* Chilling effect and social/digital media
* Journalists and the dilemma of chilling effect
* Intersectionality and chilling effect and the examination of
differential impact on marginalised communities
* Chilling effect in non-democratic/authoritarian/hybrid regimes
* Psychological dimensions of chilling effect, especially in the case
of journalists, judges and media workers
* Corporate censorship vs. state censorship – who are the new actors
in speech restriction?
* Academic freedom and chilling effect – in particular, case studies
and practices in the US and the Global South
* Cancel culture and chilling effect – the current and future legal
frameworks
* Chilling effect and sports – beyond the cases of Kaepernick, Özil
and Semenya
* Surveillance as a form of chilling effect and other “sophisticated”
intimidation-tactics
* Artistic expression and chilling effect (including satire, comics,
political parodies)
* Whistleblowing and speech in the workplace
* Chilling effect on LGBTQ+ rights advocacy ­– challenges and
strategies for resistance
* The right to protest and its relation to chilling effect
* The legitimate “chilling” – examination of legitimate state tactics
in speech restriction
* Terrorism and counterterrorism – dilemmas in speech restriction
* Chilling effect and judicial proceedings
* Ethical considerations of chilling effect
* Transnational justice and case law of the IACHR, ACHPR, UNHRC and ECtHR
* National laws and comparative analysis of national laws on speech
restriction and chilling effect
* The role of international organizations and NGOs in challenging
authoritative, “chilling” state practices
* Academic knowledge production and scholarly trends in the research
on chilling effect

We warmly invite all interested scholars of all levels (R1-R4 scholars) to send us proposals. The deadline and the technicalities are listed below.

* *Deadline for abstracts: 20 July 2024*
* Decision on acceptance: 20 August 2024
* Sending of the abstract compilation and final proposal to the
publisher: 15 September 2024
* Deadline for the first draft: 15 March 2025
* Planned publication: 2025 Autumn/Winter


Abstracts should not exceed 600 words without references, and all proposals should include a brief bio for every author (max. 250 words with titles, affiliations and contacts) in one (1) single document. The proposals should be sent by e-mail to Dr. Gergely Gosztonyi ((gosztonyi@ajk.elte.hu) (mailto:(gosztonyi /at/ ajk.elte.hu))) with the title “Abstract proposal for the Handbook of Chilling Effect”.