Hate functions as a public assertion of enmity that constitutes a political community

Evidence

One might say today that “stranger” is a “fighting word.” In the same way, and for the specific purposes of this chapter, which engages once again the work of Carl Schmitt, one can take “hate” to be less the personal expression of an affect than a “fighting word,” a public and decisive assertion of enmity that functions so as to invent, constitute, and/or confirm the existence of a political community. And that of an enemy. — Gil Anidjar, The Jew, the Arab, 1083

Categorization

• DEFINE: Defines ‘hate’ as a Schmittian fighting word that constitutes political community rather than a private emotion.
• XREF: Connects to Schmitt’s friend/enemy distinction from political theory; also resonates with the reader’s interest in enmity and belonging. — connects to: Hate is the free choice to abolish the Other rather than unite with it. — Jean-Paul Sartre, Being and Nothingness: An Essay on…, 1011; Anti-fans construct their identity in opposition to the target of their hatred — Alice E. Marwick, Status Update: Celebrity, Publicity,…, 393; Presidential scapegoating can make hate feel patriotic. — Russell Muirhead and Nancy L. Rosenblum, A Lot of People Are Saying: The New…, 149