Political Polarization: Academicians and Hate Discourse on Campus among Students

Abstract

This study set forth to understand the role of academicians in shaping hate speech among students on campus. This paper focused on how intolerance prevails on campus which accentuates tolerance and acceptance. This paper investigates the common factors which make academicians and students hostile towards each other and loyal towards their political ideologies. The study used a semi-structured interview framework to help the interviewer to follow certain topics and to explore the factors of political polarization. Because of cultural sensitivities, questions were analyzed and reviewed by some scholars to avoid conflicts. Various questions were asked to elicit participants’ opinions political polarization and electoral violence. All questions were worded open ended. The majority of the participants highlighted that politics of differences solely not creates hate speech or outrage in society. The key factor in shaping hate speech is lack of patience and less acceptances to opposite perspective against differences. Students are being discriminated on the basis of language, cultural identities and political affiliations. However, interaction with teacher on social media and debates on different political interests and affiliations prevail politically polarized attitude. Similarly, ideological spectrum plays an important role to assert homogenous ideas among students. Academicians and students need to understand the difference between freedom of expression and moderation of views.