Dr Jen Neller - Manchester Metropolitan University

What do hate studies scholars mean when they use the term ‘critical’? Is there an academic field of ‘critical hate studies’? Or is all hate studies scholarship critical to some extent? Drawing from Critical Legal Theory and Critical Criminology, this talk will explore different ways in which hate crime scholarship can be identified as ‘critical’ and what we might gain from delineating a distinct field of critical hate studies. The talk will also address the apparent tension between theoretical and practical concerns that could lead some to be wary or weary of ‘critical’ hate studies.

About this discussion group:

This discussion group is part of the BSC Hate Crime Network, and has been designed to create a supportive space for PGRs and ECRs who are researching within the broad area of hate studies. PGRs could include students studying at MA and doctoral level, and ECRs includes those researchers who are within five years of receiving their doctorate. The group brings PGRs and ECRs together to share their research projects, discuss methodological issues, and consider best practices when researching sensitive topics.

The group will touch upon, but are not limited to, the following topics:

• Working with and supporting victims

• Managing the sensitivity of hate studies research

• Ethical issues

• Working with policy-makers and practitioners

• Creative and inclusive research methods

• Our responsibility as researchers

• Working with perpetrators of hate crime

In addition to these discussions, the group will also organise occasional training sessions with more experienced researchers. These training sessions could cover some of the above, but please get in touch if there are any particular areas that you would benefit from. These sessions will be led by an experienced researcher within the area of hate studies, but there will continue to be an emphasis on open discussion and Q&A. All sessions will run online (unless otherwise stated) via Zoom. These will be bi-monthly on a Wednesday afternoon lasting 1 hour (2-3pm). Presenters will speak for approximately 25 minutes, and this will be followed by a discussion.

If you would like to present at one of these discussion groups, please contact Leah Burch (burchl@hope.ac.uk @LeahFBurch) with a short bio and abstract. This does not need to be detailed but should give a broad overview of a potential topic/issue/method that you would like to discuss. Alternatively, if you have a theme/question that you would like discuss or for a training session, please get in touch.

To stay up to date with these events and access joining details, please ensure that you follow the British Society of Criminology Hate Crime Network on Twitter @BscHcn and are subscribed to our JISCmail account https://t.co/E0KNH46fSa?amp=1