The Dark Power of Words: Stratagems of Hate in the 2016 Presidential Campaign

Abstract

The election of 2016 stands out for its volume of hate-filled messages. The election changed the climate for discourse throughout society. In this chapter, the authors identify the hate stratagems used by both the Trump and Clinton campaigns as well as how they functioned in the course of the election. Kirk and Martin argue that the use of hate stratagems prevented discussion of policy issues during the general election campaign. They conclude by evaluating the impact of hate speech on civil discourse, the media, and self-governance.