Introduction

In this chapter I argue that “the marketplace of ideas” metaphor for free speech perpetuates deep and built-in structural societal imbalances. I argue that substantive, or real, equality demands the prohibition of hate speech that targets historically nondominant and oppressed minority groups to enable these groups to renegotiate their status and power in society. An attempt to prohibit hate speech against all ethnic groups without regard to the ethnic dynamics in the country, however, tends to shut off a large amount of much-needed political debate. I will explore the cross-cutting issues of regulating hate speech and protecting minorities in richly diverse and deeply divided societies, in particular Ethiopia. I will show the difficulty of regulating speech that relates to ethnicity when ethnicity itself is a prime vehicle for political organization and mobilization. Finally, I will explore how hate speech regulation has been utilized in Ethiopia and other African countries as a pretext and tool to suppress opposition to the government and perpetuate the subordination of historically oppressed minorities.