After a series of right-wing terrorist acts in Germany, the role of far-right rhetoric in inciting violence is much debated. Forms of hate speech in particular have caught a lot of attention in this debate. Drawing on the concept of dangerous speech, this article illuminates why narratives of imperilment are more critical for understanding far-right violence than open hatred. By constructing myths of victimhood, they make violent action seem necessary – even if violence is not proposed explicitly.
Author: Janina Pawelz
Janina Pawelz is a political scientist, researching political, collective and urban violence, with a focus on youth. As a research associate at IFSH she works on far-right campaigns of mobilisation in the virtual and real world. | Twitter: @JaninaPawelz
