Scenario #9
Argumentation training and countering hate speech – role play
Aims / objectives
Argumentation training against stereotypes (developed by the political scientist Klaus-Peter Hufer) seeks answers to hate slogans and offensive speech. It is intended to strengthen awareness, sensitivity and competences for counter strategies (Hufer 2012).
Description of the method
Participants collect discriminatory, generalising, catchphrase-like statements and slogans full of prejudice. Then, a host is chosen and six participants simulate a situation in a restaurant or bar among friends. Three persons use the discriminatory hate speech. Three others try to counter this hate speech. The host who brings the fictitious drinks keeps fuelling the discussion and provoking. The rest of the participants are a kind of jury or analysts.
They watch the discussion, pay attention to the arguments, to the mood, and evaluate, from their point of view, what works and what doesn't. Communication strategies are developed through subsequent analysis on an emotional, rhetorical and factual level as well as through the development of accurate arguments. In addition, the political, socio-psychological and social contexts of the slogans are examined together in the training. The course is rounded off by examining the question of which motives motivate us individually in which situation to intervene and counter the slogans.
Overview
| Name of the method | Argumentation training and countering hate speech |
| Target group | All groups |
| Duration | 1.5 to 2 hours or a two-day training, depending on context |
| Spatial requirements | Room, table, seats to imitate a bar / restaurant situation |
| Competences | Rhetorical skills, critical analysis, counterspeech |
| Objectives | Learn how to react against hate speech and stereotypes |
| Method description | Imitation of a meeting in a bar involving role play in which 3 are using stereotypes and hate speech and 3 others try to counter-argue; one person is the host or bartender. The rest of the group analyses. Which counter arguments worked, which didn’t? What were the reactions? How did participants feel? Strategies of counterspeech are discussed |
| Social work context | Suitable for social work context, especially for social workers, but also for youth; can be played out in a youth centre |
| Preparation | Host needs to be prepared; context and analysis with examples should be introduced by facilitator |
| Risks | Stereotypes could hurt participants |
| concept / application | Klaus-Peter Hufer, source: Hufer 2012 |
| References |
See other scenarios
Working with stories 1: The Lonely Duckling
Working with stories 2: Punch or Political puppet theatre
Free associations and prejudice barometer
Deconstruction of Hate Speech
Extremism barometer (What is extreme?)
The District of Legends
Conspiracy video with youth “Le complot nouillles” (The Noodle conspiracy)
Text message to victims of hate speech
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