What is political freedom and what should restrict it and why?

Political freedom is the capacity of individuals to participate in their society’s governance and political processes without unreasonable external constraints. It is often categorized into negative freedom (the absence of interference from the state) and positive freedom (the actual capacity to exercise one’s rights).

Core Components of Political Freedom

• Political Participation: The right to vote, run for office, and hold governments accountable.
• Freedom of Expression: The ability to hold, receive, and share opinions and ideas—including unpopular or shocking ones—without state censorship.
• Freedom of Assembly and Association: The right to form political parties, unions, or groups and to conduct peaceful protests and demonstrations.
• Rule of Law: A system where governmental power is constrained by fixed, public laws applied equally to all, preventing arbitrary abuse of power. 

Political freedom does not entail absolute, unrestricted liberty; it comes with limitations designed to protect public order, national security, and the rights and reputations of others. Actions that abuse or undermine the freedom of others are generally excluded from the scope of political freedom. 

Specific actions and behaviours that do not entail political freedom (and are often restricted by law) include:

• Incitement to violence or hatred: Political freedom does not protect speech that encourages or incites violence, hatred, or discrimination against individuals or groups based on their religion, ethnicity, race, gender, or sexual orientation.
• Defamation and slander: The right to freedom of expression does not extend to damaging the reputation or rights of others through libel or slander.
• Rebellion and unlawful conduct: Using the right to freedom to incite people to rebel against the government or engage in other unlawful conduct is not protected.
• Disorderly conduct and carrying weapons: While peaceful assembly is a key political right, this right does not extend to carrying weapons during a meeting or procession, or engaging in behaviour likely to cause a breach of the peace.
• Online abuse and harassment: Forcing others off communication platforms through abuse or online mobbing is not considered a valid exercise of freedom of expression.
• Actions that violate others’ rights: Political freedom does not grant a “freedom to pollute” or deforest, as such activities create negative consequences that violate other groups’ liberty to not be exposed to harm.

Treason or sedition: Actions that undermine the state or national security can be subject to legal restrictions. 

In essence, the limits of political freedom are generally drawn where its exercise infringes upon the fundamental rights and safety of other members of society. Laws define what people must not do, while individual responsibility and morality guide what people ought to do beyond legal constraints. 

Aretha Franklin – Think