A Kaleidoscope of Ideologically-motivated Extremism: Causes, Consequences & Solutions

Session Submission Type: Pre-arranged Panel

Abstract

In this panel presentation, we present research being undertaken by scholars at both Griffith University in Australia and University of Hamburg in Germany. The research seeks to understand the causes, consequences, and solutions for addressing various forms of violent extremism. We will canvass a number of projects being undertaken that seek to understand: (1) the sovereign citizen movement and policing responses to it; (2) right-wing and conspiracy-fuelled extremism; (3) the link between conspiracy beliefs and political violence; and (4) whether procedural justice can allay conspiracists’ concerns about government over-reach. Drawing on a range of methodologies and data sources we will present findings from recent national surveys conducted in both Australia and Germany exploring nationalism, ethnocentrism, and conspiracy-fuelled violent extremism, and findings from an analysis of police body worn camera footage involving interactions between police and sovereign citizens in Australia. This collective body of research contributes to academic scholarship through its focus on theory testing, but it also provides security and intelligence agencies with potential solutions for combatting these pernicious extremist ideologies and their consequences.

Subtopic

• Topic 2: Types of Offending / Terrorism and Terrorism Financing, Radicalization, Extremism (Radicalization, Extremism, Terrorism WG)

Chair

• Kristina Murphy, Griffith University

Individual Presentations

• De-escalating Defiance: What Police Body-Worn Cameras Reveal About Sovereign Citizen Encounters - Emma Shakespeare, Griffith Criminology Institute, Griffith University; Keiran Hardy, Griffith University; Kristina Murphy, Griffith University

• Linking conspiracy beliefs with violent anti-government extremism: Exploring the mediating role of anger and illegitimacy, and the moderating role of procedural justice - Kristina Murphy, Griffith University

• Conspiracy mentality and the acceptance of political violence among young people in Germany - Diego Farren, University of Hamburg & German Institute for Global and Area Studies (GIGA); Janosch Kleinschnittger, Universität Hamburg; Rebecca Endtricht, German Institute for Global and Area Studies (GIGA)

• Linking conspiracy beliefs to violent extremism: A test of general strain theory - Sabryna Sas, Griffith University; Kristina Murphy, Griffith University