Analysis Context

The Speech of Hatred and Nationalism: Causes and Effects

The objective of the analysis is to, through chronologically selected examples of the nationalism, xenophobia, and speech of hatred, indicate the threat these closely related areas pose to the society. Within the majority of selected events at public social and political scene in Serbia, there are verbal and phisical attacks and insulting graffiti. These examples testify that, year after year, the circle of the minorities to whom the intolerance is demonstrated is widened (the Hungarians, Albanians, Croats, Romas, Jews, Slovaks, Ruthanians, Bosniaks...) and that the atmosphere in which such behaviour is tolerated is created in the society.

It is still not easy to notice the nationalism, xenophobia, and the speech of hatred – although they are manifested in various ways on a daily basis. The reason for this is not only in the skill of media spin doctors, who know how to "wrap in", i.e. cover up open speech of hatred or invitations to religious or national intolerance. For example, before and during the wars in the territory of the former Yugoslavia, the nationalism and xenophobia were advocated by centrally coordinated speech of hatred manifested at public political scene. Electronic media – especially TV – had a crucial role in spreading the speech of hatred. They also resulted in people's "getting used to evil". During the ten years of war in the territory of the former Yugoslavia, miserable and horrifying events were continuingly being changed on a daily basis. An average TV viewer was compelled to continuingly delete past events from his memory, and to create space for new ones, usually more tragical. The memory of the people got used to the evil surrounding them in those years was becoming shorter and shorter. The wars made in the territory of the former Yugoslavia were certainly one of the crucial reasons for the occurences of the forms of the hatred and intolerance, including the nationalism, xenophobia, and neo-Nazism. Yet, the isolation, war environment, and instable political situation in the society, may not be excuse for the lack of adequate reaction of general public to the occurences of the nationalism, xenophobia, and speech of hatred. These phenomena are closely related, and the more related they are, the firmer they become – as well as more dangerous.

Nowadays, we are faced with the fact that the majority of people "got used to" various speeches of hatred, nationalistic and fascist conflicts. To become aware of this problem, it is necessary to, above all, through the chronological overview of these occurences, point out the need to recognise all forms of the nationalism, xenophobia, and speech of hatred in daily communication in the society.

The analysis included local, regional, and state owned press and electronic media, above all, TV and local newspapers being the most popular and influential forms of mass communication.
Within chronogically organised lists, the most drastic examples of the nationalism, xenophobia, and speech of hatred were singled out, in the time period 2000-2006.

By specifying the examples of the nationalism, xenophobia, and speech of hatred, we wanted to indicate:

the increase of verbal and physical violence in the society

real consequences of the speech of hatred in politics and public social life

possible causes of the speech of hatred in politics and public social life