Abstract
Hate Speech and Polarization in Participatory Society is a comprehensive volume featuring 31 contributors that delve into the consequences of polarization and hate speech in international contexts. The objective is the ‘restoration of the human dimension as an antidote against polarization and hate speech’ (p. xix) and the collection of work as a union to ‘rescue the human condition from the clutches of hatred’ (p. xix) and to ‘be human and enthrone humanity’ (p. xix). The book is divided into three sections, each section according to a hate-speech and ideological polarization perspective. The editors highlight the importance of adopting what they call a ‘cyber-realistic perspective’ (p. 3) when discussing the influence of participatory society on changing the current landscape. The first section explores broad aspects of participatory society with particular focus on connections between ideological polarization, disinformation and hate speech through contexts of Spain. It explains how lying increases the ‘diversification of polarization’ (chapter 2), and social and political polarization in Axel Bruns’ metaphors of ‘echo chambers’ and ‘filter bubbles’ (chapter 3) that stop us from addressing issues as they arise. Liriam Sponholz provides a theoretical framework that assesses hate speech and the weakening of deliberation in participatory societies. The second section is focused on political and ideological polarization and considers the tensions among political aims, decision-making, political fragmentation and in opposition, social consequences. The third section explores hate speech in social, traditional and community media in international spheres. The volume has curated an ensemble of multi-national and broad perspectives and makes for a comprehensive read.