Stirring Up Hatred: Myth, Identity and Order in the Regulation of Hate Speech

This book examines the development of "stirring up hatred" offenses in the UK's Public Order Act 1986 through a critical discourse analysis of parliamentary Hansard. It traces the origins of these offenses from fears of fascism in the 1930s to condemnations of homophobia in the early 21st century. The book argues that the offenses are inextricably entwined with myths about law, race, and national identity and raises considerations for developing forms of accountability that are less complicit in the harms they are supposed to redress.

Format: Hardback
Length: 302 pages
Publication date: 04 December 2022
Publisher: Springer International Publishing AG

This book delves into a comprehensive analysis of the evolution of the 'stirring up hatred offenses' within the UK's Public Order Act 1986. Through a rigorous critical discourse analysis of select parliamentary Hansard excerpts, the author constructs a detailed genealogy of these offenses, shedding light on the perspectives that shaped their development. By employing a novel application of theory on myth, the book navigates the intricate arguments and traces the interconnections between ideas about identity and order across parliamentary debates, spanning from the fears of fascism in the 1930s to the condemnations of homophobia in the early 21st century. The narrative of the stirring up hatred offenses presented in this book extends far beyond the traditional dichotomy between regulating hate speech and safeguarding free speech. It is intricately intertwined with myths about law, race, and national identity, and speaks to broader themes of coloniality, neoliberalism, white entitlement, British-Christian exceptionalism, and the innocence of law. Written in a accessible and engaging style, this book challenges a multitude of assumptions about hate speech law and raises important considerations for developing accountability measures that are less complicit in the harms they aim to address.

Weight: 534g
Dimension: 210 x 148 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783031192418
Edition number: 1st ed. 2023