Extremist networks and lethality: A mapping of violent white supremacist group networks and an investigation of the relationship between network location and ideologically motivated murder
Item
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Title
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Extremist networks and lethality: A mapping of violent white supremacist group networks and an investigation of the relationship between network location and ideologically motivated murder
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Identifier
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d_2009_2013:5eeb427cea4b:10449
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identifier
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10658
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Creator
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Caspi, David J.,
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Contributor
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Joshua Freilich
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Date
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2010
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Language
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English
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Publisher
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City University of New York.
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Subject
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Social structure | Geography | Criminology | extremists | ideology | social network analysis | terrorism | white supremacist
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Abstract
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Empirical evidence indicates that domestic extremists in the United States pose a greater risk to the American public than international terrorism (Carlson, 1995; Hewitt, 2003; Blewas, Griggs, and Potok, 2005; LaFree, Dugan, Fogg & Scott, 2006). This dissertation attempts to further our understanding of domestic extremists by employing Social Network Analysis (SNA) methodology to investigate the network of white supremacist groups associated with -- via formal members - extreme ideologically motivated violence (homicides). SNA focuses on how actors (i.e. people, organizations) are linked in patterns of interaction and the meaning of those connections. The general hypothesis of SNA is that entities, like people or groups, are interdependent, and therefore more likely to network with those who share common interests, goals, belief systems, etc. Ultimately, choices are influenced by the company one keeps (Wasserman and Faust, 2006).;The data for this study comes from the Extremist Crime Database (ECDB), created by Joshua Freilich of John Jay College and Steven Chermak of Michigan State University. The first objective of the study is to analyze and measure overall network structure (e.g. density, cohesion) as well as actor level characteristics (e.g. centrality, constraint) in an effort to ascertain which groups are most popular and/or important to the flow of information within the network. A second objective of this study is to determine, via regression analysis, whether certain actor level characteristics are significantly related to an increased threat of ideologically motivated homicide. If so, then a white supremacist group's role or location within the network may serve as a predictor of lethality.;While SNA has been used to study international extremist networks (e.g. global jihadists), this research is novel in its approach to the study of domestic extremists and the threat they pose.
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Type
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dissertation
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Source
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2009_2013.csv
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degree
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Ph.D.
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Program
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Criminal Justice
