We live in a dangerous world where politics of hate has become a dominant force; threatening to spread across the globe and will certainly undermine peace and stall development. In some countries, including the United States, this politics of hate is even intertwined with religion, invoking the Christian faith in ways that cause anxiety, uncertainty and fear. Yet, the Gospel of Christ is contrary to what the so-called Christian nationalists promote. Jesus’ key message was about love. In fact, he was prompted by love of mankind to take the form of a human, in order to save humanity from eternal condemnation. Jesus once said: “I have come that they may have life and have it abundantly”. Hence, he loved the downtrodden and rejected, including lepers, tax collectors and embraced strangers.
The last United States elections that brought the Make America Great Again (MAGA) movement to power was the most divisive campaign in the United States of America. Unfortunately, the toxicity did not end on election day, but has continued to define President Trump and MAGA, as a whole.
The Democrats, during campaigns, were painted as enemies from within, immigrants were viewed as a serious threat and punitive measures have become the order of the day. For example, migrants have been deported, paraded in chains and sent to foreign jails – their futures clouded by injustice. Some, who may have never even heard of Eswatini, now languish in its prisons despite committing no crime there.
Globally, the world has also witnessed, in horror, as cycles of hate have defined war in Gaza, that has been described as ethnic cleansing. The Hamas attack on October 7, which saw over 1 000 innocent Israel civilians’ lives lost, was rightly condemned as barbaric.
Yet, the Israeli government’ response resulting in collective punishment of Palestinians has shocked many. Homes and cities have been reduced to rubble, millions displaced and basic necessities like food, medicine and water cut off. Starvation has become a weapon of war. Unless the two-State solution and reconciliation are realised, the cycle of hatred will persist; poisoning relations of Israelis and Palestinians future generations.
Why politics of hate is a threat
Hate-based politics erodes our recognition of shared humanity – breeding prejudice and discrimination along lines of race, religion, gender or political affiliation. It fuels fear, fractures families and communities and undermines the very foundations of democracy. It often escalates into violence – wars, vigilantism and the marginalisation of opposition voices.
A recent example is the assassination of US Conservative Activist Charlie Kirk. Though divisive and controversial – he belittled women, questioned civil rights gains and vilified Martin Luther King Jr. – his death was a tragedy. Some celebrated him as a martyr, while others condemned his rhetoric as racist.
Yet, regardless of one’s view of his politics, Kirk did not deserve to die for his opinions. His killing illustrates how hate politics poisons the atmosphere – normalising violence as a solution to differences. It is a stark reminder that when society embraces hate, it chips away at its own freedoms and moral core.
Despite this bleak picture, I remain cautiously optimistic. Humanity should not be doomed by the politics of hate, but it faces a serious threat to social cohesion and progress. Hate thrives on fear and division, yet humans also possess the remarkable ability to transcend tribalism, to recognise shared humanity and to choose empathy over enmity. To this end, the survival of humanity in this age of polarisation depends on our collective willingness to foster unity, compassion and justice. It is encouraging that, across the world, there are still voices of reason -leaders, activists, faith communities -and citizens – who stand for brotherhood, sisterhood and human rights.
What needs to be done
- Reject tribalism: Politics of hate exploits humanity’s instinct for tribal division. We must consciously resist these tendencies, emphasising unity and shared interests above fear and suspicion.
- Cultivate empathy and love: Love, as the Bible reminds us, never fails. Practising empathy towards those different from us is not weakness but strength – it builds resilient communities.
- Promote unity in society: Politicians must stop weaponising division for power. Polarisation only breeds violence and weakens nations from within.
- Call for the church to be the salt of world: Faith institutions must serve as society’s conscience, not as political tools. When churches align with divisive politicians, they risk fuelling hate instead of healing it.
The politics of hate is one of the gravest dangers of our time. Yet, humanity has survived wars, pandemics and divisions before – not through hatred, but through the stubborn insistence on our shared humanity. Whether we survive the current wave of hate depends on whether enough people, institutions and nations choose empathy, justice and peace over fear and division.
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