The research question of this paper is: ‘To what extent can the risk indicators of the VERA-2R theoretical framework be applied to the manifestos ’The Great Replacement’ and ‘An Open Letter’ using...Show moreThe research question of this paper is: ‘To what extent can the risk indicators of the VERA-2R theoretical framework be applied to the manifestos ’The Great Replacement’ and ‘An Open Letter’ using thematic analysis?’. The hypothesis for this was: ‘If the risk indicators of the VERA-2R theoretical framework have too little data to work with, then it will be impossible to detect themes in the manifestos ‘The Great Replacement’ and ‘An Open Letter’ by using thematic analysis’. This paper aims to find out to what extent it is possible to analyse manifestos using the VERA-2R theoretical framework. It attempts to do so by conducting a thematic analysis on the manifestos ‘The Great Replacement’ by Brenton Tarrant and ‘An Open Letter’ by John Earnest. It is found in this paper that using the structure of the VERA-2R theoretical framework for examining their manifestos is possible. Even though there are several limitations in applying this theoretical framework. However, by slightly altering this existing framework by excluding additional indicators it was found to have potential. The only risk indicators not found in the manifestos were the ones from the domain ‘Protective and risk mitigating indicators’, as well as the themes HAC. 1, HAC. 2, HAC. 5 and CM. 6 (See Appendix B). The overarching objective of this paper was to add to the recent push forward on pre-offending risk assessment. This was not done by attempting to solve the challenges of pre-offending risk assessment and individuate violent extremist offenders through their manifestos. Instead, it aimed to add to the increasing exploration and body of research exploring the possibility of this option.Show less
Only six weeks apart Brenton Tarrant and John Earnest committed terrorist attacks which were both anteceded by manifesto highlighting their justifications, motivations, and ideologies. The...Show moreOnly six weeks apart Brenton Tarrant and John Earnest committed terrorist attacks which were both anteceded by manifesto highlighting their justifications, motivations, and ideologies. The publication of manifestos has been a rising trend amongst right-wing extremists and urgent attention to this issue is required, however, the research on the content of manifestos has been partly neglected in academia. The Significance Quest Theory can offer a valuable angle in the understanding of possible motives for resorting to violent extremism. By conducting a thematic analysis of two manifestos, this research aims to add to the existing literature by identifying whether the Significance Quest Theory could provide insights into the possible motivations of Brenton Tarrant and John Earnest for turning to violent extremism. From the analysis of the manifestos it can be withdrawn that the quest for significance was a potential motivator for the right-wing extremists to turn to violent extremism.Show less
