The Rise of Nationalism and Anti-Immigrant Hate Online

• In Event: 2152 - White Nationalism, Racism, and Xenophobia

Abstract

Hate is on the rise in America. The Southern Poverty Law Center reports that the number of hate groups in the U.S. grew for the third straight year in 2017, and 2016 and 2017 were plagued by higher-than-normal rates of hate-based incidents. Potok, senior fellow at the SPLC, principally attributes the recent surge in hate to the revival of white nationalism, with Donald Trump’s presidential campaign shepherding the renaissance. Many allege Trump’s xenophobic campaign bombast emboldened white nationalists, and there are indications that this might be so; America witnessed a spate of hate crimes following the 2016 presidential election, with 437 reported instances of hate crimes between November 8 - 14; in numerous cases the attackers specifically evoked Trump’s name.
Immigrants are frequently – and increasingly - targets of hate in America. Between 2016 and 2017 the number of anti-immigrant hate groups in the U.S. grew from 14 to 22, and hate crimes targeting immigrants are trending upward. Similarly, recent surveys show that anti-immigrant hate rose sharply online over the past several years. The boom of anti-immigrant hate on the Internet is unquestionably troubling; this kind of incendiary material has been linked to intolerance of immigrants and, in extreme instances, crimes against them.
Given the recent rise in anti-immigrant hate online and the danger it poses, we explore correlates of encountering online hate targeting immigrants using recently collected data on online hate. Results show that holding views in line with President Trump’s nationalist ethos, including feeling dissatisfaction with the direction of the U.S. and that the world does not respect America, are positively associated with seeing anti-immigrant hate online. Moreover, those who engage in online behaviors that render them suitable targets of hate or bring them into virtual proximity to hate are also more likely to see anti-immigrant material online.

Authors

• Matthew Costello, Clemson University

• James E. Hawdon, Virginia Tech University

• Salvatore J. Restifo, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley