Religious offence, political opportunism and rising intolerance

Combating Hate Campaigns: Lessons from America and Asia

Hate propaganda has emerged as a key instrument of political contestation . Cherian George’s research examines religious hate campaigns in the world’s three largest democracies—India, the United States, and Indonesia. He sees them as case studies of “hate spin”, a strategy that combines incitement with manufactured indignation and outrage. He considers how secular democracies can respond to these threats, including through law and the media. The presentation draws on George’s new book, Hate Spin: The Manufacture of Religious Offense and its Threat to Democracy, which Publishers Weekly named to list of Best Books 2016.

Referent: Willem Schinkel