Eric Heinze

Eric Heinze is Professor of Law and Humanities at Queen Mary University of London. He holds degrees from the University of Paris (Maîtrise), Harvard Law School (JD), and Leiden University (PhD). His work intersects law, ethics, and political philosophy, with a focus on free speech, hate speech, human rights, and critical theory.

• Educational Background
  • Maîtrise (University of Paris)
  • JD (Harvard Law School)
  • PhD (Leiden University)

His research explores the foundations of human rights, democratic citizenship, and the legal regulation of historical memory. He has authored or edited 10 books, including The Most Human Right: Why Free Speech is Everything (MIT Press, 2022) and Hate Speech and Democratic Citizenship (OUP, 2016). Recent work includes the 2025 publication Coming Clean: The Rise of Critical Theory and the Future of the Left, which critiques left-wing accountability for authoritarian regimes.

He has held major fellowships including Fulbright, DAAD, Chateaubriand, and HERA grants. His advisory work spans NGOs like Amnesty International and Liberty, as well as intergovernmental bodies such as the International Commission of Jurists and UN Sub-Commission on Human Rights.