Political Communication Strategies and the Instrumentalization of Hate Speech in Electoral Campaigns

In recent years, hate speech has emerged as a pressing societal challenge that not only undermines social cohesion but also poses a significant threat to democratic institutions. The strategic use of hate speech in political communication intensifies societal divisions and creates a climate of intolerance and distrust, thereby endangering the legitimacy of the political process. When political actors harness hate speech as a communication tool, its impact transcends mere rhetoric, contributing to polarization, the manipulation of public opinion, and the erosion of trust in democratic frameworks.

Hate speech has become an increasingly prevalent tool within political strategies and electoral campaigns, evolving into a complex and multifaceted phenomenon that transcends geographic boundaries and political contexts. In contemporary society, the analysis of hate speech in electoral settings allows us to understand not only its role as an instrument for mobilization and polarization but also its broader implications for citizen trust and the integrity of democratic institutions. It is essential, therefore, to examine the dynamics through which political and media actors exploit this rhetoric to consolidate narratives, manipulate perceptions, and advance specific electoral agendas, often in conjunction with the propagation of misinformation and aggressive communication strategies.

This call for papers aims to deepen our understanding of the instrumentalization of hate speech in political strategies and electoral campaigns, as well as its effects on electoral polarization and the erosion of trust in institutions.

We welcome theoretical and empirical contributions addressing, but not limited to, the following topics:
• Comparative analysis of the political use of hate speech across different geographical and/or political contexts.
• Examination of how candidates and political parties utilize hate speech as a communication strategy during electoral campaigns.
• Identification of the effects of hate speech on the polarization of the electorate and the perception of political candidates.
• Analysis of the impact of hate speech on the undermining of trust in democratic institutions.
• Evaluation of the responses by media outlets and digital platforms to the proliferation of hate speech.
• Exploration of the nexus between misinformation and hate speech within political communication strategies.
• Development of innovative methodological approaches for mapping hate speech in electoral contexts.
• Examination of the impacts of hate speech on voting trends and electoral outcomes.
• Methodological approaches to map hate speech in electoral context.
• Impact of hate speech on voting trends and electoral results.

Frontiers in Political Science seeks to foster academic debate and provide a rigorous forum for reflecting on the implications of hate speech in the political sphere. We aim to contribute to a critical and multidimensional analysis of this phenomenon within contemporary democracies.

We invite researchers, academics, and professionals in the social sciences and communication studies to submit their proposals, ensuring that submissions are grounded in robust methodologies and pertinent theoretical frameworks, thereby enriching this crucial dialogue on current political dynamics.

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Conceptual Analysis
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• FAIR² DATA Direct Submission
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• ... View all formats

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Conceptual Analysis
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• FAIR² DATA Direct Submission
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Policy and Practice Reviews
• Policy Brief
• Registered Report
• Review
• Study Protocol
• Systematic Review
• Technology and Code

Keywords: Hate speech, political communication, electoral campaigns, polarization, democratic institutions, misinformation

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.