Why Authoritarian Regimes Control Speech

Why Authoritarian Regimes Control Speech

Speech is a powerful tool when utilized successfully. Throughout history, revolution has been inspired by words—for better or worse. Whether it was the United States revolting against the tyrannical Kingdom of Great Britain, or the Bolsheviks overthrowing the tsarist regime in early 1900s Russia—speech laid the foundation for action.

Simply put, language conveys ideas—and that language doesn’t care whether the idea is intentionally malevolent, or carelessly pondered. Because of the fact that ideas are powerful, the tool utilized to successfully articulate those particular ideas is heavily weighted; that tool should be carefully wielded. Some of the most evil men in history were thinkers, along with some of the greatest. What, exactly, differentiates the two? All of man is motivated by a particular provocation. Perhaps by God. Perhaps something sinister—whether beknownst to him or not. The sinister is often what appeals to the core of man—as mankind is a fallen people. Virtue appeals to the man who seeks it.

When bad ideas are inevitably presented, the best weapons of defense are good ideas. Authoritarian regimes understand the power of speech, as they have seen it successfully utilized throughout the course of history. In the end, action is what toppled historical empires…but action is ultimately catalyzed and incited by speech itself. This is precisely why they fight to control speech—it allows them to simultaneously control ideas and either transform man’s way of thinking, or completely cripple man’s ability to do so altogether. Vile ideas don’t appeal to the bridled thinker—the thinker guided by truth.

It is not that speech, itself, is dangerous. It merely possesses the potential to be effective in its intention. The sheer potential of speech alone is enough to support the need for free forms of it. Sometimes the only thing equipped to take on a dragon…is another dragon.