Hate, Euroscepticism, Citizenship: The Youth Connection
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RESEARCH OBJECTS
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TOPICS
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PUBLISHER
Latvian Centre for Human Rights -
YEAR OF PUBLICATION
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ISBN
978-9934-8542-8-6 -
PROJECT:
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FUNDING
European Commission, Europe for Citizens Programme -
SUMMARY
The research objectives focus on the analysis of hate discourses and practices in terms of definitions, European and national standards, targets, actors, anti-discrimination policies, and good practices. It studies the emergence and manifestations of Euroscepticism in countries with predominantly Eurooptimistic and Eurorealistic sentiments. The study also examines civic activism as a key factor in countering hate discourses and practices and in promoting the European values of respect for difference, liberty, equality, and human dignity.
These objectives were common to the whole project’s "Active European Citizens Against Hate Speech" study and they were implemented in all national reports. This consolidated report also introduces a comparative perspective that will highlight the general trends as well as the specificities and differences regarding hate, Euroscepticism, and citizenship in two geopolitical regions and six countries, namely three Baltic states – Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania – and three Balkan states – Bulgaria, Croatia, and Romania.
The project deals with polarised issues and identities, such as hate, on the one hand, and civic activism countering hate, on the other. Research has demonstrated polarised images: civic activists consider their opponents extremists and hate-actors, while the latter consider themselves nationalists and/or patriots. The communicative dialogical approach facilitates the understanding and explanation of such divergent images.
The study ends with recommendations for the EU and its member states on combating hate speech, decreasing Euroscepticism and enhancing civic participation.
