Social Identity and Radicalisation: How Extremist Far-Right Organisations Manipulate Social Identity to Facilitate Radicalisation Trajectories

This research explored how social identity can influence radicalisation trajectories, and how social identity was manipulated by extremist far-right organisations to influence this. The research design consisted of case studies, where the radicalisation process of five former members of extremist far-right organisations in Germany and the United States were evaluated. The evaluation was carried out with Johnson’s (2014) modification of Carabine’s (2011) eleven steps of ‘genealogical’ discourse analysis. Based on the analysis, the findings suggested that extremist organisations manipulate social identity through ingroup favoritism and outgroup derogation. Furthermore, the analysis showcased that the portrayal of outgroups as a threat further elevated radicalisation trajectories. In regard to future research, as an exploratory research, this paper serves as the basis for future descriptive research concerning the relationship between social identity and radicalisation trajectories....Show moreThis research explored how social identity can influence radicalisation trajectories, and how social identity was manipulated by extremist far-right organisations to influence this. The research design consisted of case studies, where the radicalisation process of five former members of extremist far-right organisations in Germany and the United States were evaluated. The evaluation was carried out with Johnson’s (2014) modification of Carabine’s (2011) eleven steps of ‘genealogical’ discourse analysis. Based on the analysis, the findings suggested that extremist organisations manipulate social identity through ingroup favoritism and outgroup derogation. Furthermore, the analysis showcased that the portrayal of outgroups as a threat further elevated radicalisation trajectories. In regard to future research, as an exploratory research, this paper serves as the basis for future descriptive research concerning the relationship between social identity and radicalisation trajectories. Key Words: radicalisation, social identity theory, far-right extremismShow less

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Social Identity and Radicalisation: How Extremist Far-Right Organisations Manipulate Social Identity to Facilitate Radicalisation Trajectories