Hate speech in Georgian political field.

Abstract

Hate speech is a growing global problem. It is often used in socio-political discussions and also causes a serious problem in the socio-political life of many countries. On the one hand, because there is no unambiguous understanding of hate speech, on the other, because the issue of regulating hate speech is linked to the issue of freedom of expression. In view of the above, we have considered it important to study the psychological nature of hate speech as one of the major challenges of the 21st century ans  its determinants on the example of Georgia.             The use of hate speech itself contributes to the generation of negative socio-political interdependencies, which has a negative impact on society as well as on the productivity and achievements of politicians themselves. The empirical part of the study was conducted on the basis of a triangulation approach, using qualitative and quantitative methods. Two qualitative components are integrated in the study. The purpose of the first qualitative component was to analyze the use of hate speech in political discourse on the example of Georgian women politicians. This phase of the research was carried out using the discourse analysis method; A total of 489 texts were processed and analyzed. Based on the results of the analysis of discourse, it can be concluded that the use of hate speech by women politicians with pragmatic views is purposeful and focused on the devaluation of the opponent. Consequently, both their text and their context are often confrontational in nature. The aim  of the  second  qualitative  research was  to analyze the motives of  use of hate speech  by the politicions . Participants  were acting politician from both ruling  and opposition parties.   The  depth interview analysis support the assumption that a polarized socio-political field creates an attitude  in which the use of hate speech is perceived by the politician as a tool to demonstrate his own strength and, consequently, the opponent's weakness. According to the respondents, the main factor of such an attitude is the destructive competitive environment, polarized political field. The purpose of the quantitative component was to analyze the use of hate speech in politics and its consequences on the example of the population of the capital of Georgia –Tbilisi.  The method of the survey was a face-to-face interview, a research tool - a structured questionnaire. The sample size was determined by 1000 respondents;  The result showed that population has  negativ attitude toward the  using    hate speech  generally and especilally by the politicians. Based on the main findings of the study, recommendations were developed to use hate speech and to promote the elimination / minimization of its socio-political consequences. The relevant scientific-research sources were searched and analyzed. The main theoretical foundations of the paper  by our point of you may be  the Dimitri Uznadze's psychology of Set. According to Dimitri Uznadze, "conditions of a subjective and objective nature are necessary for the emergence of a Set  in a certain direction: it is necessary to have both - personal  need   and a situation in which it can be satisfied." We have assumed that in modern Georgia, in a highly competitive but often unhealthy, hostile, polarized conflict of interest, political environment-situation  (one of the main conditions for the emergence of  psychological Set   and personal    needs   for self-reliance and vertical mobility makes politicians feel anxious. And the "poisoning" of the competitor is a necessary means of realizing the interests - without their use, the politician himself will appear weak in the eyes of both the competitors and the society; The use of hate speech is considered as a necessary tool and an effective means to achieve this  goal.