Characterizing and Preventing Domestic Terrorism: A Mixed-Methods Study of Five Far-Right Terrorist Groups

The proposed research project, led by Development Services Group, Inc. (DSG) and its subgrantee, the University of Massachusetts at Lowell (UML), aims to build upon their current grant from the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) to address the critical issue of far-right violent extremism. With a focus on enhancing understanding and countering this growing threat, the project seeks to leverage extensive datasets, training modules, and rigorous analysis developed under the existing grant (2020-ZA-CX-0003).

Under the current grant, the research team has meticulously compiled datasets documenting far-right incidents, perpetrators, and extremist discourse from 1990-2022. These datasets, comprising over 9,000 incidents, 3,000 perpetrators, and 30,000 extremist communications, serve as invaluable resources for practitioners, policymakers, and scholars. They have been used to inform various stakeholders, including government agencies, law enforcement, and the public, through briefings, practitioner trainings, and media contributions.

Recognizing the pressing need for accurate and reliable data on hate crimes and terrorism, the project proposes to maintain and update these datasets through 2023. These resources play a critical role in identifying emerging trends, informing evidence-based interventions, and enhancing overall understanding of far-right extremism.

The proposed project outlines a comprehensive approach to analyzing far-right violence, encompassing incident analysis, perpetrator analysis, and discourse analysis. Using advanced statistical techniques and machine learning, the research will uncover hidden patterns, operational characteristics, and radicalization pathways within different far-right groups.

Expected contributions of the research include providing the data necessary to support the development of improved identification tools, risk assessment frameworks, and enhanced online monitoring strategies tailored to address the unique challenges posed by far-right extremism.

Dissemination efforts will include the delivery of evidence-based training modules, targeted outreach campaigns, and scholarly publications to empower stakeholders with actionable insights and promote effective counter-extremism strategies.

By leveraging their expertise, network, and robust datasets, the project team endeavors to advance knowledge, inform policy, and ultimately contribute to the creation of a safer society resilient to the threat of far-right violent extremism. CA/NCF