D4 Published development or research report or study
Viha vallassa : vihapuheen vaikutukset yhteiskunnalliseen päätöksentekoon (2019)


Knuutila, A., Kosonen, H., Saresma, T., Haara, P., & Pöyhtäri, R. (2019). Viha vallassa : vihapuheen vaikutukset yhteiskunnalliseen päätöksentekoon. Valtioneuvoston kanslia. Valtioneuvoston selvitys- ja tutkimustoiminnan julkaisusarja, 2019:57. http://urn.fi/URN:ISBN:978-952-287-786-4


JYU authors or editors


Publication details

All authors or editors: Knuutila, Aleksi; Kosonen, Heidi; Saresma, Tuija; Haara, Paula; Pöyhtäri, Reeta

eISBN: 978-952-287-786-4

Journal or series: Valtioneuvoston selvitys- ja tutkimustoiminnan julkaisusarja

eISSN: 2342-6799

Publication year: 2019

Number in series: 2019:57

Number of pages in the book: 130

Publisher: Valtioneuvoston kanslia

Place of Publication: Helsinki

Publication country: Finland

Publication language: Finnish

Persistent website address: http://urn.fi/URN:ISBN:978-952-287-786-4

Publication open access: Openly available

Publication channel open access: Open Access channel


Abstract

This research examines the impact of hate speech on public decision-making processes as well as its scale and quality. The research is based on 14 semi-structured interviews, a database of discussions from Twitter and a survey sent to Finn-ish councils and the parliament (n=1393).
According to the survey experience of hate speech is widespread: A third of municipal decision-makers had been targeted by hate speech because of their work. Two thirds of respondents believed that the amount hate speech had increased in the past few years. Hate speech can result from impulsive behaviour, but can also be used deliberately as a means of politi-cal pressuring, to silence individual people or a political view. Increasingly adverserial relations between political groups are one reason for the increase in hate speech.
The research suggests that hate speech reduces the political participation of its victims. Of the municipal decision-makers that had been targeted by hate speech 28 % said their motivation to participate decision-making had decreased. Half of the respondents said that their experiences of hate speech reduced their trust in strangers.
Current policies for preventing hate speech and supporting its victims are insufficient. Especially candidates during elections as well as municipal councillors are often without support when targeted with hate speech. The research suggests trying out other approaches to preventing hate speech in addition to legal measures. We propose more leadership and clear state-ments again hate speech from decision-makers, a clarification on the boundaries of acceptable speech in politics and im-proved accountability of social media platforms.


Keywords: hate speech; democracy; trust; political decision making; political participation; decision-makers; public discussion

Free keywords: hate speech; democracy; labour protection; public discussion; participation; research; research activities


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Ministry reporting: Yes

Reporting Year: 2019


Last updated on 2023-24-08 at 22:06