Background and Preparatory Behaviours of Right-Wing Extremist Lone Actors: A Comparative Study
Date
2018
Authors
Bouhana, NoƩmie
Corner, Emily
Gill, Paul
Schuurman, Bart
Journal Title
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Volume Title
Publisher
Terrorism Research Initiative in collaboration with the Institute of Security and Global Affairs
Abstract
The threat posed by lone actors ranks high on the list of terrorism-related security concerns. In recent years especially, discussions about these perpetrators have focused primarily on those associated with, or inspired by, Islamic State and other jihadist entities. However, a significant portion of lone actors actually hail from right-wing extremist milieus. This article serves to draw attention to this subcategory of lone-actor terrorists, with a particular focus on their backgrounds and pre-attack behaviours. To that end, two datasets are presented that allow a comparison to be made between right-wing extremist lone actors and other ideologically-motivated lone actors. While several differences are noted, perhaps the most surprising finding is the degree of similarity between right-wing extremist lone actors and those adhering to different ideological currents. The results contribute to a knowledge-base that can inform discussion about whether risk assessment tools and protocols should differentiate between ideological categories of lone actor terrorists.
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Keywords
Lone-actor terrorism, right-wing extremism, pre-attack behaviour, background characteristics, comparative, risk analysis
Citation
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Source
Perspectives on Terrorism
Type
Journal article
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Access Statement
Open Access
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DOI
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