Institute for Strategic Dialogue (2024) Investigation: Political violence, harassment, intimidation & threats during Ireland’s 2024 general election campaign, 30 November 2024.

Country

Ireland

Title

Institute for Strategic Dialogue (2024) Investigation: Political violence, harassment, intimidation & threats during Ireland’s 2024 general election campaign, 30 November 2024.

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Year

2024

Publication type

Research evidence/report

Geographical coverage

National

Area/location of interest

Not applicable - national level

Type of Institution

Academic/research institution

Institution

UK, Institute for Strategic Dialogue

Thematic focus

Hate speech: Public incitement to hatred or violence

Groups

Other

Key findings

A joint investigation by the Institute for Strategic Dialogue (ISD) and Hope and Courage Collective (H&CC) documented 55 incidents encompassing politically motivated violence, threats, harassment, targeting and smears across a spectrum of activity in the five weeks leading up to the Irish General Election on 29 November. The nature and scale of violence, harassment and other forms of intimidation during the General Election was markedly different to the local/European elections. In general, there was less on-the-ground targeting and more efforts concentrated online. Explicit racist, misogynistic and anti-Muslim slurs were used in targeted acts of hate and harassment against women and candidates with a migrant background, including Muslims. 20 candidates used threatening rhetoric against other elected politicians on online platforms. A combined 90% of all incidents featured social media, illustrating the central role that online platforms occupy in the hate, harassment and targeting of candidates. X and TikTok were the platforms on which most hate and harassment was witnessed, featuring in 65% of all incidents.

Methodology (Qualitative/Quantitative and exact type used, questionnaires etc)

The analysis is based on monitoring for such incidents on social media and in online news reports. Acts of violence, harassment or threats made against candidate offices and posters were recorded though general acts of vandalism against posters were not. Online incidents involving explicit threats, harassment and verbal abuse were recorded, as were the prolonged use of threatening rhetoric and smear campaigns against candidates. General criticism or condemnation expressed against candidates or campaigns online was not recorded. The incidents were documented in the 5 weeks leading up to 29 November 2024.

Sample details and representativeness

The 55 documented incidents against political candidates included an assault on a Muslim candidate and damage to several Muslim candidates' posters.

DISCLAIMERThe information presented here is collected under contract by the FRA's research network FRANET. The information and views contained do not necessarily reflect the views or the official position of the FRA.