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Steven Chermak Michigan State University The Organizational Dynamics of Far-Right Hate Groups in the United States: Comparing Violent to Non-Violent Organizations
Lecture Outline
Research Study Major Findings Conclusion: Implications of Findings Resources
Data Collection
Research Design
Variables
Dependent Variables 1. Group Violence (0/1)
20% of the groups committed at least one violent act
Research Design
Organizational Capacity
(Independent Variables)
Most terrorist organizations/hate groups survive less than 1 year
Groups need to mobilize sufficient resources to survive/thrive
Control Variables
Had members in military Scope (local, state, national, international agenda) Area (rural, suburban, urban) Region (South, West, Midwest, Northeast)
Results
When Comparing Violent/Non Violent Groups
Those who recruited youth tended to be more violent Groups who used or advocated for leaderless resistance tactics were more likely to be involved in violence Groups who distributed ideological literature were less likely to be involved in violence Two regions were significant: West and North-East were more likely to be involved in violence compared to those in the South
Results
When comparing Extremely Violent and Non Violent groups
Older or larger groups were more likely to be involved in extreme violence Groups that distributed ideological literature were less likely to be involved in extreme violence Groups that had conflicts with other farright groups were more likely to be involved in extreme violence Groups that participated in or advocated for leaderless resistance tactics more likely to be involved in extreme violence Groups in North-East and West were more likely to be involved in extreme violence over those in the South
Summary Thoughts
Variables related to groups propensity for violence:
- Organizational Capacity Variables: The importance of organizational age & size
Recommended Readings:
Asal, Victor and R. Karl Rethemeyer. 2008. The Nature of the Beast: Organizational Structures and the Lethality of Terrorist Attacks. The Journal of Politics 70:437-449. Chermak, Steven, Joshua Freilich and Michael Suttmoeller. (2013). The Organizational Dynamics of Far-Right Hate Groups in the United States: Comparing Violent to Non-Violent Organizations. Studies in Conflict and Terrorism, 36 (3): 193-218. Freilich, J.D., S.M. Chermak & D. Caspi. 2009. Critical events in the life trajectories of domestic extremist white supremacist groups: A case study analysis of four violent organizations. Criminology and Public Policy 8(3): 497- 530
Recommended Readings:
Jones, Seth G. and Martin C. Libicki. 2008. How Terrorist Groups End: Lessons for Countering Al Qaeda. Santa Monica: Rand Corporation. Ligon, Gina. 2013. The Organization and Leadership of Violence. START Research Brief, available from the WWW at: http://www.start.umd.edu/start/publications/research_briefs /START_OrganizationandLeadershipofViolence_ResearchBrief _Aug2013.pdf