#37 When Hate Becomes Atmosphere: Croatia’s Democratic Warning Signs

What happens when hate speech no longer stays online, but becomes part of the atmosphere?

In this episode of Zooming in on Hate, Lydia El-Khouri speaks with Cvijeta Senta from Human Rights House Zagreb about the current situation in Croatia, where online hate is increasingly shaping public space, cultural life, and even physical safety.

From the normalization of extremist symbols at mass events to the intimidation of peace festivals and a rise in homophobic violence, this conversation explores how harmful narratives travel from the digital sphere into everyday life. We also look at the growing pressure on civil society, the emotional toll of monitoring hate, and the stalled implementation of the Digital Services Act in Croatia.

This episode is a reminder that hate speech is never just about content, it’s about the kind of society we create around it.