Discourses Of Hate Research Articles

Radical pluralism and free speech in online public spaces

• Progressive political movements and activists are not the only ones appropriating Web 2.0 as a way to construct independent public spaces and voice counter-hegemonic discourses. By studying (post-) fascist movements, it will be shown that the internet also gives rise to anti-public spaces, voicing hatred and essentialist discourses. In this article, discourses of hate produced by North Belgian (post-)fascist movements and activists will be analysed. Theoretically the analysis is informed by radical pluralism and the limits of freedom of speech in a strong democracy. The cases presented challenge the limits of freedom of speech and of radical pluralism, and bring us to question whether being a racist is a democratic right, whether freedom of speech includes opinions and views that challenge basic democratic values. •

Civility: The Right Thing to Teach in Contentious Times

Drawing attention to widespread instances of discourteous speech and hate discourse that permeate US and world culture, Alleen Pace Nilsen maintains that our imperative as educators is to teach “students the benefits of being civil to each other.” She proposes some avenues for enriching students’ understanding of the power of civil language.

Origins of Rwandan genocide

By some estimates more than a million and a half people were killed in Rwanda during just two weeks in April 1994. In this penetrating analysis, Canadian scholar Josias Semujanga, a Rwandan by birth, examines the social mechanisms, the historical factors, and the 'discourse of hate' that culminated in this mind-boggling act of genocide. Semujanga's brilliant analysis offers many insights into not only the Rwandan tragedy but also the mechanisms of ideology, language, and political system that can contribute to genocide anywhere.