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27 - The Politics of Hate

Derogatory Language in Politics and Intergroup Relations

from Part III - Contemporary Challenges to Democracy

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  17 February 2022

By
Michał Bilewicz  and
Wiktor Soral
Edited by
Danny Osborne  and
Chris G. Sibley
Danny Osborne
Affiliation:
University of Auckland
Chris G. Sibley
Affiliation:
University of Auckland
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Summary

Hate speech is a form of communication that targets disadvantaged social groups in a harmful way. It can be seen as a driving force behind the successes of numerous populist politicians and extremist movements. In this chapter, we argue that studying hate speech can be crucial for a better understanding of political mobilisation, intergroup relations, and social media. We describe the role of hate speech in mobilising electoral support and violence, in the promotion of racism and prejudice, as well as in shaping attitudes towards government policies. We uncover how political ideology and hate speech are interconnected, and that the left-right political beliefs do not always explain why individuals turn to use hate speech. We also outline the dilemma between the protection against hate speech and the freedom of expression principles, that are at the core of current debates on derogatory language.

Keywords

Hate speechPopulismExtremismPolitical violencePropaganda
Type
Chapter
Information
The Cambridge Handbook of Political Psychology , pp. 429 - 441
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2022

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