Exploring Patterns in White Extremists' Ideologies: A Preliminary Mixed Methods Approach to Analyzing Manifestos Shared via ICTs

Duque, Marilu F.; Hernandez Teran, Miriam; Cach, Jackelyn V.; Eikey, Elizabeth V.; Booth, Kayla

Permalink

https://hdl.handle.net/2142/109708 Copy

Description

Title

Exploring Patterns in White Extremists' Ideologies: A Preliminary Mixed Methods Approach to Analyzing Manifestos Shared via ICTs

Author(s)

• Duque, Marilu F.
• Hernandez Teran, Miriam
• Cach, Jackelyn V.
• Eikey, Elizabeth V.
• Booth, Kayla

Contributor(s)

iSchool Inclusion Institute (i3)

Issue Date

2021-03-17

Keyword(s)

• White Extremists
• Manifestos
• ICTs
• Qualitative Thematic Analysis
• Latent Semantic Analysis
• Mixed-Methods

Abstract

In recent years, the threat of white extremists has been growing rapidly within the United States (U.S.). White extremists have been exploiting Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) to spread their rhetoric to wider audiences through the publication of manifestos. However, U.S.-based extremism literature has mainly focused on Islamist extremism due to the September 11, 2001 (9/11) attacks. As such, there is a gap in extant academic research to understand current ideologies of white extremists and their usage of ICTs, particularly in regard to online manifestos, which are frequently linked to violent acts. To address this gap, our preliminary, exploratory analysis examines three white extremists' manifestos by utilizing a mixed-methods approach to uncover themes in their narratives. Results from a qualitative deductive thematic analysis and a Latent Semantic Analysis (LSA) suggest that U.S. white extremists' ideologies may be shifting. Further research into these shifts in ideology could aid in the development of counter-narratives to combat the proliferation of extremist behavior online.

Publisher

iSchools

Type of Resource

text

Language

eng

Permalink

http://hdl.handle.net/2142/109708

Sponsor(s)/Grant Number(s)

the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation

Copyright and License Information

Copyright 2021 is held by Marilu F. Duque, Miriam Hernandez Teran, Jackelyn V. Cach, Elizabeth V. Eikey, and Kayla Booth. Copyright permissions, when appropriate, must be obtained directly from the authors.

Owning Collections