Lecture 10: Lone Wolfs Flashcards
What is Spaaij’s definition of lone wolfs
Lone wolves:
1. Operate individually
2. Do not belong to a group
3. Do not receive command or fit in a hierarchy
Why aren’t lone wolfs part of a group?
While they sympathise with larger movements or ideologies, they do not take part in them. Its origins can be found with the anarchists and it is prevalent in the US. Lone wolves combine a broader ideology with their own personal grievances, thus creating a us v. them narrative. Furthermore, they are more prone to be disturbed psychologically. The main targets are civilians and they mainly use firearms, explosives and armed hijackings
Why do Lone Wolfs not exist according to Schuurman , Lindekilde, Malthaner and O’connor 2019
Lone wolves do not exist, as they always operate within a larger movement. Socialisation is one of the leading cause of involvement in terrorism. While many believe that lone actors are undetectable, they are not. Their social ties and incapability of leading secure operations lead to them being caught. Loneness is not an inherent characteristic, it’s a result of their socialisation issues. Their only ties are often with radical milieus that legitimate their use of violence.
What is the Identity and Characteristics of RWEX?
- Identity
o Xenophobia, racism as basis of out-group victimization
- As opposed to economic status, religious views, etc
o Historical revisionism
Holocaust denial
o Belief in conspiracies (Jews, Communists, UN, Illuminati, MSM, etc.)
o State as pawn or accomplice in globalist plot to eradicate the white race through immigration - Characteristics
o Often single-issue in orientation - Anti-abortion, anti-Islam, anti-foreigners, etc. - Against a lot of things, but in favor of?
o Reactionary in nature
Follows societal changes (concerns over immigration, Islam, etc.)
Shaped by (lack of) government repression (lone actors)
o Nationalism and patriotism
Shift from nation to race/people Anti-abortion terrorist Clayton Waagner
Where did RWEX evolve from?
- Developments RWEX (in US) crucial to emergence lone actors
- In general, 20th century Western right-wing extremism:
o Evolved from pro-strong state to anti government
From death squads to vigilantism
Freikorps, Black shirts -> RWEX as foundation of state
Post WW2: State increasingly seen as enemy
Decline of authoritarian governments
What are the differences between RWEX and LWEX
What is Leaderless Resistance according to Bart Schuurman?
According to Bart Schuurman, “Leaderless Resistance” is a social resistance strategy in which small, independent groups or individuals challenge an established institution such as a law, economic system, social order, or government . The concept was first introduced by Louis Beam, a Texas Klansman, in his 1992 article “Leaderless Resistance” in The Seditionist . The idea behind this strategy is to make it difficult for authorities to identify and dismantle the organization by avoiding centralized leadership and communication.
What were the reasons for leaderless resistance?
- William Pierce, Turner Diaries (1978)
o highly influential book in RWEX milieu
o terrorism by mysterious ‘Organization’ and small cells
o Coincided with small-cell agitation by American neo-Nazi movement - Louis Beam & ‘Leaderless Resistance’
o Ruby Ridge, Waco, Oklahoma: state had proven to powerful
o Movement too vulnerable to infiltration, arrests
o From cells to loners
Are Lone actors conceptually distinctive?
- McVeigh, Breivik, Merah as exponents of extremist movements
o Inspired by and often socially embedded in extremist milieus - What is unique about their alone-ness?
o Social?
o Ideological?
o Operational?
o All of the above? - Unabomber & Breivik as archetypes or outliers?
How alone are lone actors really?
How alone are lone actors?
* Easy availability ‘how-to’ manuals
* Explicit calls for ‘lone-wolf style attacks’
* Many attacks are claimed by organizations
* ‘Functionally alone’ in attack planning & execution?
What is the Minimalist and Maximalist definition?
Minimalist position - Spaaij: ‘Terrorist attacks carried out by persons why (a) operate individually (b) do not belong to an organized terrorist group or network and (c) whose modi operandi are conceived and directed by the individual without any direct outside command or hierarchy’
Maximalist position - Pantucci / CLAT-project ‘The threat or use of violence by a single perpetrator (or small cell), not acting out of purely personal material reasons, with the aim of influencing a wider audience, and who acts without any direct support in the planning, preparation and execution of the attack, and whose decision to act is not directed by any group or other individuals (although possibly inspired by others)
What is the role of inspiration in Lone Wolf terrorism?
- Leaders direct efforts of followers
o Organize for violence
o Protect the group’s social cohesion
o Socialize new members - Role models inspire at a distance
o Legitimize and motivate violence
o Their status invites emulation
o Greatly facilitated by the Internet
Example: Breivik inspiring Brenton Harrison Tarrant
What are the main characteristics of lone wolfs
- Lone actors are poor at operational security
- Lone actors engage in leakage behavior that betrays intentions & convictions
- Most maintain social ties that provide avenues for detection/infiltration
- Plan/prep starts months and years ahead of the planned attack
Why are lone actors super terrorists?
Lone actors as ‘super terrorists’?
* Isolation makes them impossible to detect / infiltrate / wiretap
* Exceptionally capable – e.g. Breivik/Unabomber/McVeigh/Tarrant
Incorrect portrayals of a threat can hamper ability to prevent or respond
Is ‘lone actor’ conceptually valid
