Reviews

“A fascinating book ... Dr. Melkonian finds convincing validation for the role sociology plays in the evolution of free expression through, for example, a fascinating analysis of the demise of criminal libel laws in the United Kingdom and United States––correctly noting that, as countries like the United Kingdom and United States have moved from their agrarian past to complex industrial societies (in which communication of views is essential to societal cohesion), criminal libel has been replaced by the tort of civil libel as the appropriate remedy to balance speech and reputational interests ... not unlike an archeologist, Dr. Melkonian seeks to reinterpret the shards of free expression development using the tools of sociology—and in the process offers a fresh perspective that challenges long-held orthodoxies. A truly rewarding and original discussion of freedom of expression theory.” – Robert Balin, Partner and Media Practice Chair, Davis Wright Tremaine LLP,and Adjunct Professor, Columbia Law School