Hate Speech and Political Violence - by Robert Shapiro & Brigitte L Nacos & Yaeli Bloch-Elkon

About the Book

This timely book identifies how the Tea Party and its extremist narratives laid the groundwork for the rise of Donald Trump, his MAGA movement, and the January 6, 2021, assault on the Capitol.

Book Synopsis

How did the United States descend into crisis, with institutions frayed, political violence mounting, and democracy itself in peril? This timely book identifies how the Tea Party and its extremist narratives laid the groundwork for the rise of Donald Trump, his MAGA movement, and the January 6, 2021, assault on the Capitol.

Brigitte L. Nacos, Yaeli Bloch-Elkon, and Robert Y. Shapiro trace the escalation of a strain of extremist rhetoric in right-wing political discourse after the inauguration of Barack Obama. Drawing on extensive and in-depth analysis of political communication in both traditional media and online spaces, they demonstrate how the dominant rhetorical styles of the Trump era were pioneered by the Tea Party. A backlash to the election of the first Black president, this reactionary social movement deployed violent language and spread anti-Obama paranoia, with the assistance of media insiders, GOP leaders, and conservative advocacy groups. Donald Trump rose to political prominence by hitching himself to the "birther" racist conspiracy theory, espoused by many Tea Partiers, and drew from their aggressive and hyperpartisan repertoire. Ultimately, this book shows, the increasingly violent rhetoric of right-wing extremists spilled over into real-world political violence. Revealing the path the Tea Party blazed to Trump and the insurrectionists, Hate Speech and Political Violence provides timely new insights into the threats facing American democracy.

Review Quotes

An invaluable resource for those interested in the intricacies of party politics, media influence, and societal dynamics. Its textual analysis of social media speech and in-depth mining of public opinion data provide a solid empirical foundation for understanding the link between political rhetoric and political violence.-- "Party Politics"

Offers a thought-provoking examination of the potentially dangerous consequences of violent political communication on- and offline.-- "Mass Communication and Society"

Builds a convincing narrative of the escalating partisan conflict and upticks in violent events up to and during the Trump era.-- "Political Science Quarterly"

An eye-opening explication of a consequential period in recent history.--Kathleen Hall Jamieson, coauthor of Cyberwar: How Russian Hackers and Trolls Helped Elect a President What We Don't, Can't, and Do Know

Beyond an insightful analysis of the Tea Party's influence on Trump-era politics, this book illuminates the powerful new media dynamic--the nexus between mass communication, mass self-communication, and interpersonal communication. A must-read for anyone interested in politics or media.--Thomas E. Patterson, author of Is the Republican Party Destroying Itself?

This groundbreaking book pinpoints the role of the Tea Party in paving the way for the rise of Donald Trump, his MAGA movement, and the January 6 insurrection. Hate Speech and Political Violence provides brilliant insight into the ever-growing threats facing American democracy.--Thomas B. Edsall, columnist for the New York Times

This is a terrific book. The authors present a keen and persuasive analysis of the dangers of weaponized words during a volatile time in contemporary history. Everyone should heed their dire warnings about the dangers to American democracy.--Darrell West, author of Power Politics: Trump and the Assault on American Democracy

About the Author

Brigitte L. Nacos is a political scientist who taught for three decades at Columbia University and the author of several books on terrorism and counterterrorism. She is also a journalist who worked for many years as U.S. correspondent for newspapers in Germany.

Yaeli Bloch-Elkon is a senior lecturer/associate professor of communications and political science and head of the International Communication program at Bar Ilan University, as well as an associate research scholar at Columbia University's Institute for Social and Economic Research and Policy.

Robert Y. Shapiro is the Wallace S. Sayre Professor of Government in the Department of Political Science and the School of International and Public Affairs at Columbia University. The author of many books and academic articles, he received the 2022 Award for Exceptionally Distinguished Achievement from the American Association for Public Opinion Research.

Nacos, Bloch-Elkon, and Shapiro previously coauthored Selling Fear: Counterterrorism, the Media, and Public Opinion (2011).