Cherian George Knihy

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.

"This graphic narrative tells the stories of political cartoonists around the world whose work has been censored"-- Provided by publisher

The book explores how the Internet has transformed public discourse in Malaysia and Singapore, acting as a tool for democratization in a political landscape that straddles liberal democracy and authoritarianism. It highlights the rise of alternative websites that adopt a confrontational approach to journalism, effectively challenging the prevailing narratives of mainstream media and fostering a more contentious political dialogue.

This collection of articles analyzes and responds to asymmetries of power in a diversity of contexts. They are drawn from presentations at the 2016 Annual Conference of the International Communication Association, held in Fukuoka, Japan.

"As the government lays the ground for a transition to a fourth generation of leaders after the death of Lee Kuan Yew and its 2015 general election triumph, Cherian George considers the unfinished business of political liberalisation and multicultural integration. Singapore, Incomplete is a collection of personal reflections about the country's underdeveloped political culture and structure. "Ours is a middle-aged country with a maturing economy--but a political system that treats us like children," he argues. George calls for more open "rules of engagement" that will protect and celebrate a diversity of ideas and beliefs. He critiques Singapore's culture of fear, the lack of political transparency, and governmental groupthink." -- from publisher web site.