War on Hate: How to Stop Genocide, Fight Terrorism, and Defend Freedom

The UN outlawed genocide in 1948, and the US launched a war on terror in 2001, but neither genocide nor terrorism shows any signs of abating. This book explains why these efforts have fallen short and identifies policies that can prevent such carnage. The key is getting the causation analysis right, which emphasizes the inciting power of mass, ideological hate propaganda and illiberal, dualistic political culture. A two-tiered policy response is needed, with targeted interventions to curtail outbreaks of such incitement and support for indigenous agents of liberalization.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 474 pages
Publication date: 15 March 2023
Publisher: Lexington Books

The United Nations declared genocide illegal in 1948, and the United States initiated a war on terror in 2001. Despite these efforts, genocide and terrorism continue to persist worldwide. This book explores the reasons behind these failures and proposes policies to prevent such carnage. The key to preventing mass violence lies in understanding the root causes. Conventional wisdom suggests that ancient hatreds, poverty, and Western colonialism are the primary drivers of mass violence. However, the inciting power of mass, ideological hate propaganda is far more significant. This propaganda activates the drive to commit mass atrocities and creates the multitude of perpetrators required for genocide or sustained terror campaigns.

A secondary causal factor is the illiberal, dualistic political culture that breeds extremist ideologies and perpetuates episodes of mass hate incitement. A two-tiered policy response is necessary to address this issue. In the short term, targeted interventions should be implemented to curtail outbreaks of such incitement. This may include measures such as censorship, surveillance, and education programs to counter extremist ideologies. In the long term, support should be provided to indigenous agents of liberalization in regions most at risk for ideologically-driven violence. This may involve promoting democratic institutions, human rights, and economic development to create a more inclusive and tolerant political environment.

In conclusion, the persistence of genocide and terrorism highlights the need for effective policies to address the root causes of mass violence. By understanding the inciting power of hate propaganda and the role of illiberal political culture, policymakers can develop targeted interventions to prevent outbreaks of such incitement and support indigenous agents of liberalization in regions most at risk. This two-tiered approach is essential to building a more peaceful and secure world.

Weight: 753g
Dimension: 229 x 152 x 27 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781793627629