Periodic Reporting for period 1 - NETHATE (Network of Excellence of Training on HATE)
Reporting period: 2020-09-01 to 2022-08-31
The ITN investigates the present-day development and growth of hatred from three critical areas that will advance our understanding in (i) psychology and neuroscience, (ii) technology and social media, and (iii) culture, law, and religion. NETHATE not only focuses on these areas, but also works in an interdisciplinary manner across them. The research projects benefit from the different disciplines and expertise the Beneficiaries and Partners bring to the consortium.
The main goal of the NETHATE Network is to train PhD students to become Europe’s next generation of researchers, teachers, and practitioners in understanding the roots and impacts of hate, as well as mitigation strategies, which will support the development of a sustainable democratic culture across the EU. The goals of the network will be achieved by a unique combination of research training, academic and non-academic placements, summer schools and workshops on research related and transferable skills facilitated by the academic and non-academic composition of the consortium.
Hate of a person or a group is a direct challenge to the common humanity among people. A direct challenge to the equal dignity of people, and a direct threat to the existence of a democratic and prosperous society. The NETHATE Marie Skłodowska Curie Actions European Training Network investigates the impact of hate in our societies by furthering our understanding of the nature of hate and the dynamics of its spread both offline and online fora. The project examines mitigation strategies to prevent hate and its escalation, and the potential conflicts that may arise from various moral codes and the law.
NETHATE has the following six objectives that will address the nature of hate, incitement and growth of hate, peace through reconciliation, mitigation of hate, and impact on victims:
Objective 1: Advance scientific knowledge about what hate is, and the processes that facilitate its’ growth;
Objective 2: Develop mitigation strategies and peace supporting actions;
Objective 3: Advance our understanding of the impact of hate on victims and bystanders;
Objective 4: Advance our understanding of which factors increase risk to hate speech, hate crime and protective factors;
Objective 5: Impact of cyberbullying on consumers’ and companies’ decisions and behaviors and building of trust among the market actors;
Objective 6: Develop an inter-disciplinary and intersectoral training programme to generate the next generation of researchers and practitioners to meet the challenge of the social, political, and economic consequences of hate actions in the 21st century.
The main goal of the NETHATE Network is to train PhD students to become Europe’s next generation of researchers, teachers, and practitioners in understanding the roots and impacts of hate, as well as mitigation strategies, which will support the development of a sustainable democratic culture across the EU. The goals of the network will be achieved by a unique combination of research training, academic and non-academic placements, summer schools and workshops on research related and transferable skills facilitated by the academic and non-academic composition of the consortium.
Hate of a person or a group is a direct challenge to the common humanity among people. A direct challenge to the equal dignity of people, and a direct threat to the existence of a democratic and prosperous society. The NETHATE Marie Skłodowska Curie Actions European Training Network investigates the impact of hate in our societies by furthering our understanding of the nature of hate and the dynamics of its spread both offline and online fora. The project examines mitigation strategies to prevent hate and its escalation, and the potential conflicts that may arise from various moral codes and the law.
NETHATE has the following six objectives that will address the nature of hate, incitement and growth of hate, peace through reconciliation, mitigation of hate, and impact on victims:
Objective 1: Advance scientific knowledge about what hate is, and the processes that facilitate its’ growth;
Objective 2: Develop mitigation strategies and peace supporting actions;
Objective 3: Advance our understanding of the impact of hate on victims and bystanders;
Objective 4: Advance our understanding of which factors increase risk to hate speech, hate crime and protective factors;
Objective 5: Impact of cyberbullying on consumers’ and companies’ decisions and behaviors and building of trust among the market actors;
Objective 6: Develop an inter-disciplinary and intersectoral training programme to generate the next generation of researchers and practitioners to meet the challenge of the social, political, and economic consequences of hate actions in the 21st century.
NETHATE was highly active during the first twenty-four months of the project, despite the effects of COVID-19 and the worldwide pandemic. All Work Packages (WP) made progress.
The project concepts have been pursued through the following work in WP1: (a) development of datasets to be able to study the nature of hatred experimentally, (b) exploration of the psychological and behavioural impact of being a target of hatred, and (c) using literature review and interviews investigating societal factors that impact minority groups’ economic development.
In WP2, the work performed includes: (a) a review of the influences that facilitate spread of online hate, (b) literature review on what constitutes hate speech, (c) report on the prevalence of online sexual harassment behaviours and reporting policies & methods, and a (d) report on social media misogyny.
WP3 includes the following work: (a) literature review on the links between online hate speech and offline hate crime, (b) preliminary report on racial justice and supports available for victims, (c) report on the patterns of hate victimisation and different religious groups, (d) draft documents on religiously motivated hate speech targeting queer persons, (e) review of the policies and academic literature on the exclusion of Roma through harmful acts of hate, (g) draft report on the links between political ideologies and online hate.
The network training, as described in WP4, has been completed – the initial workshops were held online because of COVID related restrictions, and the training held in the last 6 months has been in-person. Additional training was provided based on ESRs (Early-Stage Researchers) feedback.
The Dissemination, Communication and Outreach activities, as described in WP5, have centered around the consortium’s website and social media channels. The COVID pandemic has restricted opportunities for in-person activities and there will be increasing focus on these aspects in the near future.
The Management-related deliverables (WP6) have been completed. These include ESR recruitment, formalizing management committees including ESR representatives, regular supervision of ESRs and development of their Personal Career Development Plan, development of Data Management Plan, further development of health-related supports for ESRs, and policy documents in regards Code of Conduct for researchers.
The Ethics related activities, in WP7, have included establishing an External Ethics Advisory Board, deliverables in regards data protection and ethical approvals for projects (if applicable) and working closely with External Ethics Advisory Board when issues may develop.
All milestones in the first 24 months have been met on time.
The project concepts have been pursued through the following work in WP1: (a) development of datasets to be able to study the nature of hatred experimentally, (b) exploration of the psychological and behavioural impact of being a target of hatred, and (c) using literature review and interviews investigating societal factors that impact minority groups’ economic development.
In WP2, the work performed includes: (a) a review of the influences that facilitate spread of online hate, (b) literature review on what constitutes hate speech, (c) report on the prevalence of online sexual harassment behaviours and reporting policies & methods, and a (d) report on social media misogyny.
WP3 includes the following work: (a) literature review on the links between online hate speech and offline hate crime, (b) preliminary report on racial justice and supports available for victims, (c) report on the patterns of hate victimisation and different religious groups, (d) draft documents on religiously motivated hate speech targeting queer persons, (e) review of the policies and academic literature on the exclusion of Roma through harmful acts of hate, (g) draft report on the links between political ideologies and online hate.
The network training, as described in WP4, has been completed – the initial workshops were held online because of COVID related restrictions, and the training held in the last 6 months has been in-person. Additional training was provided based on ESRs (Early-Stage Researchers) feedback.
The Dissemination, Communication and Outreach activities, as described in WP5, have centered around the consortium’s website and social media channels. The COVID pandemic has restricted opportunities for in-person activities and there will be increasing focus on these aspects in the near future.
The Management-related deliverables (WP6) have been completed. These include ESR recruitment, formalizing management committees including ESR representatives, regular supervision of ESRs and development of their Personal Career Development Plan, development of Data Management Plan, further development of health-related supports for ESRs, and policy documents in regards Code of Conduct for researchers.
The Ethics related activities, in WP7, have included establishing an External Ethics Advisory Board, deliverables in regards data protection and ethical approvals for projects (if applicable) and working closely with External Ethics Advisory Board when issues may develop.
All milestones in the first 24 months have been met on time.
The consortium has a wide range of disciplines working on different aspects of hatred. The expected results will be: (a) understanding of the neurological underpinning of hatred, its’ growth and how mitigation strategies may module the growth of hatred, (b) the short- and long- term economic consequences of hatred directed towards minoritized populations, (c) insight into risks of hate perpetration against Roma within economic context, (d) analysis of how multiple identities impact the experience of hate, (e) greater understanding for development of prevention and treatment of sexual crimes, (f) technological-based prototypes for prevention of online hate speech or to counter online hate speech, (g) knowledge about best ways to counter online sexual harassment, (i) the roles that media play in development of online misogyny and mitigation strategies, (j) a fundamental rights approach to what constitutes harmful speech, (k) development of theories on identifying and preventing speech that increases risk of hate & violence, (l) relationship between online hate speech and offline hate crimes, (m) insight into how religious identities are linked to hate-crime victimisation, and (n) relationship between online hate speech development and political polarisation.
The research and training programme will deliver doctoral training of 15 ESRs and high-impact research outputs. The complementary research skills and training expertise within this inter-sectoral consortium will ensure that the ESRs trained will become Europe’s next generation of researchers, teachers and practitioners in understanding the roots and impacts of hate, as well as mitigation strategies, which will support the development of a sustainable democratic culture across the EU. The participation of 11 Beneficiaries and 14 Partner organisations all deeply involved in this area will ensure that the ESRs acquire a broad and deep multi-disciplinary and inter-sectoral training and experience that will make them highly marketable and sought-after graduates.
The research and training programme will deliver doctoral training of 15 ESRs and high-impact research outputs. The complementary research skills and training expertise within this inter-sectoral consortium will ensure that the ESRs trained will become Europe’s next generation of researchers, teachers and practitioners in understanding the roots and impacts of hate, as well as mitigation strategies, which will support the development of a sustainable democratic culture across the EU. The participation of 11 Beneficiaries and 14 Partner organisations all deeply involved in this area will ensure that the ESRs acquire a broad and deep multi-disciplinary and inter-sectoral training and experience that will make them highly marketable and sought-after graduates.