While concern about antisemitism is growing, especially online, agreement about what exactly constitutes antisemitism is declining, especially when it appears in contexts other than those associated with Nazism. In her dissertation, Birgitte Prangerød Haanshuus explores expressions of antisemitic hate speech and how the boundaries of what can and cannot be said about Jews are perceived, dealt with, and experienced by different actors in the Norwegian digital public sphere.
The dissertation shows how the neo-Nazi organisation Nordic Resistance Movement and onlinedebaters in various comment sections push boundaries by producing and promoting antisemitic content in both explicit and implicit ways. It also shows how far-right alternative media and left-wing political organisations draw boundaries through comment moderation on their digital platforms. A key finding is that antisemitic hate speech is a diverse and complex phenomenon that can be difficult to identify, as the boundaries between hate speech and free speech can often be blurred. Finally, the dissertation sheds light on the experiences of antisemitic hate speech among members of the small and historically vulnerable Jewish minority.
Haanshuus argues that the concepts of boundaries and boundary-making are useful to understand key dimensions and dynamics of the digital public sphere, in particular, how hate speech is communicated and countered, and the consequences for those targeted.
Trial lecture
The designated topic: "The case of antisemitism in the context of online extremism: research traditions, shifts and challenges"
Time and place: Wednesday 28 August, 11:00 a.m., Eilert Sundts Hus, auditorium 2
The trial lecture is open to the public.
Evaluation committee
- Professor Kaarina Nikunen, Tampere University (first opponent)
- Professor Tina Askanius, Malmö University (second opponent)
- Professor Gunnar Liestøl, University of Oslo (committee administrator)
- Professor Ove Solum, University of Oslo (deputy committee administrator)
Chair of the defence
- Pro-Dean Mathilde Skoie
Supervisors
- Professor Karoline Andrea Ihlebæk, Oslo Metropolitan University
- Professor Eli Skogerbø, University of Oslo
- Professor emeritus Christhard Hoffmann, University of Bergen / HL-Senteret