Liberty under duel assault - US philosopher, Judith Butler

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American philosopher Judith Butler, who
laments the further militarisation of
the police after recent Paris attacks.

hat impact will the attacks have on the Paris Climate Change Conference scheduled to begin in 12 days? While already complicated, the talks will now take place within a state of emergency that is threatening to limit public participation.

Events in Paris continue to unfold at a dizzying pace. But in the coming days we will learn a lot by paying attention to how parties use (and abuse) the language of freedom and liberty.

American philosopher Judith Butler underlined this point in a note from Paris written the night after the attacks:

“One version of liberty is attacked by the enemy, another version is restricted by the state. The state defends the version of liberty attacked as the very heart of France, and yet suspends freedom of assembly ("the right to demonstrate”) in the midst of its mourning and prepares for an even more thorough militarization of the police."

Read the Scroll.in story - “The state of emergency could thwart public demonstrations at the Paris climate talks.”