Mapping White Identity Terrorism and Racially or Ethnically Motivated Violent Extremism: A Social Network Analysis of Online Activity
This RAND report analyzes the racially or ethnically motivated violent extremism (REMVE) landscape—also known as the White identity terrorist movement—through a literature review, a global digital network map built from six social platforms (Twitter, Reddit, Gab, Ruqqus, Telegram, Stormfront), and case studies of ten countries. The central finding is that the global REMVE network online is largely created and fueled by U.S. users, driven by domestic factors, which means the primary need is a robust national counter-REMVE strategy here at home. Because REMVE is post-organizational—most adherents radicalize outside any formal group, and the groups that exist are loosely structured—an organization- or actor-focused approach will not work, and the scale and ideological depth of the movement makes targeting or ostracizing sympathizers similarly unproductive. Europe's parliamentary systems give far-right adherents a nonviolent political outlet and many European states have active intervention programs in place, structural differences that the U.S. approach cannot simply copy.