Framing the boundaries of hate crime 1
Neil Chakraborti · 2014
Hate crime has become an increasingly familiar term as the harms associated with acts of bigotry and prejudice continue to pose complex challenges for societies across the world. Whilst hate crimes afforded greater recognition throughout all levels of society – from law-makers, law-enforcers, academics, students, activists and from ‘ordinary’ members of the public – some significant challenges remain. Hate crime is a politically and socially significant term that cuts across disciplines, across communities and across borders. It is a social construct which has multiple meanings to different actors and which is subject to a myriad of interpretations. Activists and campaigners have undoubtedly played a key role in pushing hate crime to the forefront of political and social agendas. Everyone has the capacity to express hate towards others, irrespective of their own background or identity.