Hate Spin as Politics by Other Means
Cherian George · The MIT Press eBooks · 2016
This chapter introduces the original concept of “hate spin,” defined as manufactured vilification or indignation, used as a political strategy that exploits group identities to mobilize supporters and coerce opponents. It explains why the more familiar phenomenon of hate speech should not be conflated with offense-taking. It summarizes the book’s main arguments and provides an overview of relevant literature from communication studies, legal studies, and political science. The concept of hate spin draws mainly from political sociology’s studies of contentious politics. Gamson’s concept of “injustice frames,” for example, has strong resonance with the hate spin strategy of politicizing indignation.