People don’t commit violence against other groups - or even condone it - spontaneously. First they must be taught to see other people as pests, vermin, aliens, or threats. Malicious leaders often use the same types of rhetoric to do this, in myriad cultures, languages, countries, and historical periods. We call this Dangerous Speech. Violence might be prevented by making it less abundant or less convincing. We work to find the best ways to do this – while protecting freedom of expression.
In this important new book, Gregory Gordon provides a historical overview of speech and atrocity, including the Holocaust and the Rwandan Genocide, as well as the modern treatment of hate speech in international human rights and domestic law.
This report on Internet hate speech, hate speech law, and efforts to diminish it synthesizes research and case studies from four countries. It was published by the European project BRICkS Against Hate Speech.
Social norms can be powerful bulwarks against Dangerous Speech, but new evidence indicates social norms can change suddenly during elections.
In the wake of the Virginia shooting, Peter Beinart usefully considers how Americans - especially progressives - can express even the strongest political outrage without dehumanizing their opponents. (Published in The Atlantic magazine)
