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A Conceptual Framework to Map Responses to Hate Crime, Hate Incidents and Hate Speech: The Case of Australia

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  08 November 2021

Matteo Vergani Open the ORCID record for Matteo Vergani [Opens in a new window]  and
Rouven Link
Matteo Vergani
Affiliation:
Alfred Deakin Institute for Citizenship and Globalisation, Deakin University, Victoria, Australia Email: matteo.vergani@deakin.edu.au
Rouven Link
Affiliation:
Alfred Deakin Institute for Citizenship and Globalisation, Deakin University, Victoria, Australia Email: rlink@deakin.edu.au
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Abstract

Responses to hate crimes, hate incidents and hate speech are characterised by an exceptional fragmentation in terminology and lack of coordination among governmental and non-governmental organisations. This article proposes a new conceptual framework to map the diversity of responses to hate crime, hate incidents and hate speech, with the aim of assessing gaps and needs in this important policy area. Using Australia as a case study, we create and analyse a database of 222 organisations running activities focusing on tackling hate against different target groups. The results highlight an uneven distribution of efforts across different geographical areas, types of activities and target groups. The majority of anti-hate efforts, especially by government organisations, focus on awareness raising and education rather than victim support and data collection. Racial and religious hate are the main foci of anti-hate efforts, compared to other forms of hate, such as anti-LGBTIQ+ and disablist hate.

Keywords

Hate crimehate speechanti-hatetackling hatehate incidents
Type
Article
Information
Social Policy and Society , Volume 22 , Issue 3: THEMED SECTION: Social Policy Responses and Institutional Reforms in the Pandemic , July 2023 , pp. 441 - 458
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2021. Published by Cambridge University Press

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