Organised by: KNAW and the John Adams Institute
“We have always held to the hope, the belief, the conviction that there is a better life, a better world, beyond the horizon.”
— Franklin D. Roosevelt
“Land of the free, home of the brave.” The closing lines of the U.S. national anthem have become a national refrain—invoked by presidents, citizens, critics, and admirers alike. What does freedom actually mean in the American context both historically and in the present? Who gets to claim it?
Loosely inspired by the "Four Freedoms" articulated by Franklin D. Roosevelt in his 1941 State of the Union address—freedom of speech, freedom of worship, freedom from want, and freedom from fear—our speakers will explore the historical roots and contemporary realities of these ideals. Each freedom asks urgent questions about justice, belonging, power and vulnerability.
What does freedom really mean—beyond slogans and symbolism? Not just in the U.S., but in Europe too. In America, for example, freedom of speech faces fewer restrictions than it does here. Does that make European governments overly controlling or paternalistic? And what about freedom of religion? Are we limiting it too much in Europe—or perhaps not enough? In the U.S., religious groups are gaining increasing influence in politics. Does that infringe on the freedoms of others? And how does a government ban on certain words for American scientists square with the First Amendment? Is academic freedom under pressure?
Join the John Adams Institute and the KNAW for this free public event, marking the conclusion of the Month of Freedom. Full program and speaker details to follow. Please register via the blue button ath the top of this page.
The fourth speaker will be announced shortly.
Philip Gorski
Philip Gorski is a sociologist at Yale University known for his work on civil religion and democracy, including The Flag and the Cross, which explores Christian nationalism in America. His research examines how religious narratives shape conceptions of freedom and national identity. He is a current fellow at the Netherlands Institute for Advanced Studies in the Humanities and Social Sciences (NIAS), an institute of the KNAW.
Kim Wehle
Kim Wehle is a law professor at the University of Baltimore, former U.S. attorney, and author of How to Read the Constitution—and Why. Wehle is a prominent voice on constitutional literacy and how legal structures protect—or endanger—freedom in democratic societies. She is a visiting US Fulbright Scholar and Thinker-in-Residence at the John Adams Institute.
Clarice Gargard
Clarice Gargard is a Dutch journalist, documentary filmmaker, and founder of feminist platform Lilith, known for her advocacy on digital freedom and social justice. She served as the Netherlands' UN Women Representative in 2019, emphasizing inclusive freedom and the protection of marginalized voices. She is the author of the forthcoming book, From Resistance to (R)evolution.
