Intolerance

Intolerance is an unwillingness to accept or respect beliefs, practices, or identities that differ from one's own. It often involves prejudice, contempt, or hostility toward individuals or groups and can manifest as discrimination, exclusion, or coercion. Intolerance may be directed toward religion, ethnicity, nationality, gender or sexual orientation, political opinion, or social status, and can occur in personal interactions as well as institutions.

Forms include personal prejudice, social exclusion, institutional discrimination, censorship, and violence. Intolerance can be reinforced by stereotypes, fear of difference, perceived threat, and socialization within a dominant culture. It can operate through selective enforcement of laws, biased media representation, or harassment and hate speech online.

Historically, intolerance has contributed to persecution, wars, and oppression, such as religious conflicts, antisemitism, anti-Romani sentiment, caste-based discrimination, and apartheid. In contemporary societies, intolerance can express itself in hate crimes, political polarization, or restrictions on minority rights, even when laws protect equality.

Philosophically, debates about tolerance involve balancing freedom of expression with protection from harm. The paradox of tolerance, proposed by Karl Popper, argues that a tolerant society should not tolerate the intolerant to prevent domination by intolerant ideologies.

Responses emphasize education, dialogue, and pluralism; anti-discrimination laws and human rights protections; media literacy; and inclusive public policies. Encouraging critical thinking and exposure to diverse perspectives is commonly cited as a means to reduce intolerance while preserving individual rights.