Mechanisms of online radicalisation: how the internet affects the radicalisation of extreme-right lone actor terrorists

Mølmen, Guri Nordtorp; Ravndal, Jacob Aasland

doi:10.1080/19434472.2021.1993302

Cited by 21 publications

(19 citation statements)

References 36 publications

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“…The term online radicalization is even more contested because radicalization dynamics are rooted in, or at least linked to, offline developments and grievances (Odağ et al, 2019). However, it is generally agreed that in today’s media environment, radicalization is a complex reciprocal process that unfolds from a mixture of online and offline communication and interactions (Gaudette et al, 2020; Mølmen and Ravndal, 2021). These dynamics are highly complex and, thus, difficult to address based on empirical research.…”

Section: Radicalization (Online)mentioning

confidence: 99%

Far-right conspiracy groups on fringe platforms: a longitudinal analysis of radicalization dynamics on Telegram

Schulze

Hohner

Greipl

et al. 2022

Convergence: The International Journal of Research into New Med

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Societal crises, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, produce societal instability and create a fertile ground for radicalization. Extremists exploit such crises by distributing disinformation to amplify uncertainty and distrust among the public. Based on these developments, this study presents a longitudinal analysis of far-right communication on fringe platforms, demonstrating radicalization dynamics. Public Telegram communication of three movements active in Germany (QAnon, Identitarian Movement, Querdenken) was analyzed through a quantitative content analysis of 4500 messages posted to nine channels between March 2020 and February 2021. We study the movements' discourse using several indicators of radicalization dynamics. The increasing prevalence of conspiracy narratives, anti-elitism, political activism, and support for violence indicate radicalization dynamics in these movements’ online communication. However, these dynamics varied within the movements. It can be concluded that, when studying radicalization dynamics online, it is crucial to not just focus on one single indicator, but consider longitudinal changes across several indicators, ideally comparing different movements.

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Section: Radicalization (Online)mentioning

confidence: 99%

Far-right conspiracy groups on fringe platforms: a longitudinal analysis of radicalization dynamics on Telegram

Schulze

Hohner

Greipl

et al. 2022

Convergence: The International Journal of Research into New Med

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“…This is another relevant aspect that differentiates Traini from several lone-actor terrorists in our times. In fact, many recent works have highlighted an increasingly prominent role of the internet for lone actors, in relation to different functions and mechanisms (Mølmen and Ravndal 2021). Finally, unlike other recent far-right lone actors, Traini did not engage in the preparation and dissemination of manifestos or other extremist documents (Ware 2020).…”

Section: The Dynamics Of the Attackmentioning

confidence: 98%

Right-wing extremism and lone-actor violence in Italy: the case of the 2018 Macerata shooting

Marone

2022

Mod. Italy

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On 3 February 2018, in the town of Macerata, an Italian citizen with far-right sympathies deliberately fired several shots from his car at nine African immigrants, injuring six. The article argues that this shooting can be considered an act of lone-actor terrorism, an anomaly in the Italian context. Based on the social science literature on this subject, the paper analyses the profile of the shooter and the dynamics of the attack. Moreover, adopting a relational perspective to radicalisation, it examines the attacker's interactions: on the one hand, he was in contact with different political organisations that could represent ‘echo chambers’ for the tacit validation or even the justification and amplification of radical beliefs, including on the relation between immigration and security; on the other hand, he was not subject to their discipline and social control. This peripheral social position helps explain this case of lone-actor terrorism, in a national context where far-right mobilisation and violence have historically assumed collective forms.

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“…The empirical evidence to date has been integrated in several theoretical analyses and frameworks. For example, Mølmen and Ravndal (2021) derive a total if six factors of theoretical importance to the process of radicalization from a review of the literature, three of which carry particular relevance in an online context. These are facilitation, acceleration, and echoing.…”

Section: Online Radicalization and Terrorismmentioning

confidence: 99%

Terrorism and the internet: How dangerous is online radicalization?

Binder

Kenyon

2022

Front. Psychol.

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This work is concerned with the extent and magnitude of threat related to online radicalization in the context of terrorist acts and related offending. Online influences have been depicted as major drivers for the propagation and adoption of extremist ideologies, which often contain an element of collective grievance, and subsequent acts of violence. This is most pronounced in the discussion of so-called lone actor terrorism, but extends to all forms of extremist offending, and beyond. The present work situates online radicalization leading to terrorist acts within the wider context of grievance-based beliefs and attitudes. Further, it addresses current positions and debates surrounding the relevance and mechanisms of online radicalization in terrorist offending. Recent evidence from quantitative studies is reviewed to estimate prevalence of online radicalization and the level of threat that results from it. This is followed by a discussion of plausible, but opposing, interpretations of the estimates presented. While online radicalization does occur, with and without reference to offline processes, the resulting threat is not overly high. This assessment, however, refers to the present only and is unlikely to hold for the future, given the general growth and acceleration of online activity among terrorist actors.

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Mechanisms of online radicalisation: how the internet affects the radicalisation of extreme-right lone actor terrorists

Cited by 21 publications

References 36 publications

Far-right conspiracy groups on fringe platforms: a longitudinal analysis of radicalization dynamics on Telegram

Far-right conspiracy groups on fringe platforms: a longitudinal analysis of radicalization dynamics on Telegram

Right-wing extremism and lone-actor violence in Italy: the case of the 2018 Macerata shooting

Terrorism and the internet: How dangerous is online radicalization?

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