PS270 Week 2 Extremism, In Groups

Extremism

The belief that an in-group’s success or survival can never be separated from the need for hostile action against an out-group.

Violent Extremism

The belief that an in-group’s success or survival can never be separated from the need for violence against an out-group.

Terrorism

Violence committed against noncombatants (civilians) to coerce, intimidate, or convey a message to a larger audience to achieve a political goal.

Sovereignty

The authority to run a government and conduct affairs without external interference.

Recognition (in context of states)

The acceptance of a government's authority by other governments.

Target of violence

Innocent victims in an attack.

Target of attention

Groups or individuals that the perpetrators aim to influence or send messages to.

Social Revolutionary Terrorism (Left)

Terrorist organizations aiming to overthrow the capitalist order.

Right Wing Terrorism

Terrorism associated with racist, typically anti-Semitic groups that often espouse survivalist ideologies.

Nationalist/Separatist Terrorism

Organizations fighting for the establishment of a separate nation for their group.

Religious Extremism

Organizations dedicated to extreme interpretations of their faith and seeking to remove secular influences.

Single-Issue Terrorists

Groups focused on one specific political issue such as environmentalism or animal rights.

Collective Identity

A group of people defined by their shared identity.

Identity Salience

The concept that an identity is considered a person's core or most important identity within specific contexts.

Mobilization

The conscious use of identity as a justification or call for political action.

In-Group Legitimacy

The belief that an identity collective has a right to exist and should be maintained and protected.

Identity Exercise

An activity encouraging individuals to reflect on their key identity characteristics and how they fit into different social groups.

Radicalization into Extremism Process

The progression where in-group views become increasingly negative towards out-groups, leading to hostility or violence.

Criminal Terrorism

Acts of terrorism committed by criminal organizations to further their organizational goals.

Racial/Ethnic Extremism

Extremism that targets other racial or ethnic groups outside one’s own.

Anti-Government Terrorism

Terrorism that targets the government of the perpetrators' own country.

Anarchists

Groups or individuals that reject all forms of government.

Gender/Sexual Orientation/Sexual Identity Extremists

Extremism targeting specific identities, such as anti-woman or anti-LGBTQA+.

In-Group

A social group with which an individual identifies as belonging, defined by shared beliefs, traits, and practices.

Out-Group

A social group outside of an individual's in-group, often viewed negatively and used to create an identity narrative.

Identity Narrative

A story or explanation that defines the in-group's identity and influences how members view themselves and out-groups.

Beliefs (in context of in-groups)

The shared values held by the members of the in-group.

Traits (in context of in-groups)

Descriptive characteristics of members of the in-group that may include physical, mental, social, or spiritual attributes.

Practices (in context of in-groups)

Actions and behaviors that members of the in-group are expected to follow, influenced by history and anticipated outcomes.

Extremism

A narrative that frames conflict with the out-group as essential for the survival or identity of the in-group.

Crisis-Solution Construct

The framing of a conflict as a crisis that requires a solution, often involving hostile or violent actions against the out-group.

Common Crisis Narratives

Commonly used narratives by extremists to justify hostility, including impurity, conspiracy, dystopia, existential threats, and apocalypse.

Extremist Solutions

Proposed actions to address crises perceived by extremist movements, ranging from harassment to genocide.

Crises/Solutions

The belief that the crisis perceived by an extremist movement shapes their proposed solution to that crisis.

Impurity Narrative

The idea held by some racial or nationalist extremists that the in-group’s traits and beliefs are being corrupted by out-group influence.

Extremist Solutions

Extreme measures proposed by groups to address perceived crises, ranging from discrimination to extermination of out-groups.

End White Genocide Narrative

A conspiracy theory claiming a systematic effort to destroy white people, often linking it to various social and political changes.

Conspiracy Theories in Extremism

Narrative frameworks that extremists use to explain perceived societal challenges, often implying a powerful antagonist working against the in-group.

Pizzagate

A conspiracy theory from the 2016 election alleging a child sex ring linked to high-ranking Democrats, culminating in a violent incident at a pizza shop

QAnon

A broad pro-Trump conspiracy theory asserting that a 'deep state' conspires against Trump, involving various dramatic claims, including child torture.

Boogaloo Movement

Criminal acts committed by members of the Boogaloo movement, including organized plans for kidnapping and violent protests.

NFAC (Not Fing Around Coalition)

A black militia group led by Grandmaster Jay, advocating for black rights and community empowerment.

Radicalization

The gradual process in which individuals change beliefs and behaviors, leading them to accept violence as a means to political goals.

Radicalization Pyramid

• Base: The base of the pyramid represents people who may sympathize with a cause.

• Apex: The apex of the pyramid represents the small number of active terrorists.

• Levels: The higher levels of the pyramid represent increased radicalization of beliefs, feelings, and behaviors.