Hate Studies

  Vituperation is in vogue, everyone is angry and hatred is everywhere. A recent article bore the subtitle "To Stop Hate We Have to Understand It" and just today Paul Krugman asked "Why Such Hatred?" The question was raised in response to the Republicans' suggestion that the unemployment benefits currently in place would be extended "Over our dead bodies." I am not sure why people are so hostile and the animosity palpable. But, to answer the question "Why Such Hatred?" I can at least direct you to the places and sources where you can learn about the subject. If your children are about to go off to a university, perhaps you should suggest that they major in Hate rather than the Humanities. They are already likely to be more interested in studying feelings than thoughts.

One of the places in Ontario offering such a subject is Ontario Tech's Centre on Hate Bias and Extremism. Just today it was announced that the Centre will receive funding, ironically enough, from a major vendor of hate - Facebook. Here is the source and more are provided below.

"Facebook Partners With Ontario University on 'Global Network' to Counter Rise in Online Hate'" Elizabeth Thompson · CBC News · Posted: Jul 28, 2020 Faced with a rising tide of online hate and advertiser boycotts, Facebook Canada will announce today that it is teaming up with Ontario Tech University's Centre on Hate, Bias and Extremism to create what it calls the Global Network Against Hate. The network, which is to receive $500,000 from Facebook over five years, is being tasked with spotting emerging trends in online extremism and developing strategies, policies and tools to counter them. The move comes as experts like Barbara Perry, director of the Centre on Hate, Bias and Extremism, warn that the COVID-19 pandemic and the upcoming U.S. election campaign are likely to drive a wave of online hate postings in Canada and elsewhere over the coming months — hate that could spill over to the offline world.

Places to Major in Hate

International Network for Hate Studies (INHS)

   This is the place to begin. Apart from the useful links, one can learn about "Anti-Hate Initiatives" and the "Online Library" covers subjects ranging from "Age and Hate Crime" to "Weight Bias (?).

The Gonzaga Institute for Hate Studies

Bard Center for the Study of Hate 

Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism

Centre on Hate Bias and Extremism 

We have all witnessed the dramatic increase in hate-motivated crimes across Canada and the multiple forms of extremism on the rise globally. Now is the time to pursue a more inclusive and equitable future for all, and Ontario Tech University is leading the charge.

There are more, for example: Centre for Hate Studies, University of Leicester and the Hate and Hostility Research Group, University of Limerick.

You can also consider majoring in the related field of "Peace and Conflict Studies". For such programs see "Peace and Conflict Studies in Canada."

Sources:

   You will find plenty in the Online Library provided by INHS above. There are Wikipedia entries for Hate Studies and Hatred.

   For an article about Gonzaga see:

"Why Do We Hate? Academics Seek Answer in New Field," Nicholas K. Geranios

This is an AP article and a version is found in “In A World Plagued by Hate, New Field of Study Sets Out to Ask Why,” Nicholas K. Geranios, Globe and Mail, Nov. 19, 2009.

   For a Canadian article see:

"Is the Time Right for a Field of Hate Studies? A single interdisciplinary field would bring new insights and understanding to this very human reality, say proponents, but others aren’t sure it’s necessary," Maggie Ma, University Affairs, Aug. 17, 2011. The article is available here. 

   The question by Krugman was raised in: "The Cult of Selfishness is Killing America, New York Times, July 28, 2020.

For a book: 

In his biting new critique of partisan media, Hate Inc., he puts the progressive cable news channel[MSNBC] in the same dishonorable category as Fox News. Despite their obvious political differences, he argues, both have made the news a consumer product designed “not just to make you mad, but keep you mad, whipped up in a state of devotional anger.”

For Hate Maps see:

the Southern Poverty Law Center or 

the Anti Defamation League

For Hate Symbols: 

The ADL also produces a Hate Symbols Database where you can learn about such things as 14 Words - "14 Words is a reference to the popular white supremacist slogan: "We must secure the existence of our people and a future for white children."

This is the ADL "Pyramid of Hate"

The Pyramid of Hate illustrates the prevalence of bias, hate and oppression in our society. It is organized in escalating levels of attitudes and behavior that grow in complexity from bottom to top. Like a pyramid, the upper levels are supported by the lower levels.