Combating Hate Speech at the Local Level: A Comparison of East Asian and European Approaches

Abstract

ABSTRACTAlthough existing research on hate speech law and policy has focused on the national level, there have been relatively few studies of local government approaches to the issue. This paper takes a step toward filling this gap by comparing hate speech policies in three European cities (Graz, Barcelona and London) with those developed in four East Asian cities (Osaka, Kawasaki, Seoul and Bucheon). These cities were chosen for study because in each case local governments have explicitly engaged with the issue of anti-hate speech policy. For each city, I focus on the type of anti-hate speech policy that has been developed, the motivations behind it, the challenges and opposition faced, and where relevant the diffusion of local anti-hate speech policy to and from other jurisdictions. This research is the product of a review of primary documents and media commentary, supplemented in one case by an email interview. I then analyse the common elements and notable differences between local anti-hate speech policies in the two regions and conclude with observations on the different forms that local anti-hate speech policy has taken and suggestions for further research.