Hate Spin

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In the United States, elements of the religiousright fuel fears of anexistential Islamic threat, spreading anti-Muslimrhetoric into mainstreampolitics. In Indonesia, Muslim absolutists urge suppressionof churches andminority sects, fostering a climate of rising intolerance. InIndia, NarendraModi's radical supporters instigate communal riots and academiccensorshipin pursuit of their Hindu nationalist vision. Outbreaks of religiousintoleranceare usually assumed to be visceral and spontaneous. But inHateSpin,Cherian George shows that they often involve sophisticated campaignsmanufacturedby political opportunists to mobilize supporters andmarginalize opponents. Right-wing networks orchestrate the giving of offenseandthetaking ofoffenseasinstruments of identity politics,exploiting democratic space to promote agendasthat undermine democraticvalues.