‘God, Guns, and Sedition’ with Bruce Hoffman and Jacob Ware
Feb 13, 2024
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Bruce Hoffman and Jacob Ware discuss their book on far-right terrorism, covering topics such as the historical trajectory of extremist violence, the influence of Donald Trump, and the threat of far-right terrorism in the 2024 election. They also explore accelerationism and its role in promoting violent revolution, the use of technology for radicalization and recruitment, the impact of social media on far-right terrorism, and the need for unity and open-mindedness to counter these threats.
Immediate actions to strengthen regulations include enacting domestic terrorism legislation and reforming Section 230 to hold social media platforms accountable.
Efforts should focus on rebuilding civil society, strengthening resilience, and promoting civic education to challenge hatred and intolerance.
Countering far-right extremism requires investing in inclusivity, tolerance, and understanding among young people through civic education, media literacy, and critical thinking skills.
Deep dives
Immediate policy recommendations
Immediate actions to strengthen the regulatory environment include enacting domestic terrorism legislation to ensure equity in sentencing and deter recidivism, and reforming Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act to hold social media platforms more accountable. Additionally, efforts to improve digital and media literacy should be intensified to help people distinguish reliable sources of information. Extending broadband access throughout the country is also crucial to combat misinformation.
Building civil society and resilience
In the medium term, efforts should focus on rebuilding civil society and strengthening resilience. This includes implementing comprehensive digital and media literacy programs to educate young people about reliable sources of information. Greater investment in broadband infrastructure is needed to provide equal access to information for all communities. Additionally, promoting civic education in schools and fostering social cohesion can help challenge hatred and intolerance.
Generational change and countering extremism
In the long term, countering extremism requires a generational change. Stronger efforts should be made to promote inclusivity, tolerance, and understanding among young people. This includes challenging extremist narratives and promoting positive values. It is crucial to invest in civic education, media literacy, and critical thinking skills to shape a new generation that rejects hatred and embraces diversity.
The appeal of far-right groups to veterans
The book explores how far-right groups attract veterans. It identifies post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and grievances against the government as factors contributing to this attraction. Some individuals may experience difficulties readapting to civilian life and find solace in extremist ideologies. The military mindset of an 'us vs. them' mentality can also play a role. Addressing mental health challenges faced by veterans and enhancing support systems is crucial to prevent them from being vulnerable to extremist movements.
Main takeaways and message
The biggest takeaway from the book is the urgent need to address the rise of far-right terrorism and extremism in the United States. It underscores the importance of understanding the historical trajectory of these movements, recognizing the dangerous impact of conspiracy theories, and countering hate speech on social media platforms. The message for readers is the critical role they play in fostering unity, combating division, and embracing love and acceptance of diverse perspectives. By doing so, we can protect democracy and build a stronger society for future generations.
Unfortunately, Americans are certainly not strangers to far-right terrorism. From the 2015 mass murder at a historic Black church in Charleston, to the 2017 Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, to the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol, these horrific incidents are only the latest in a decades-long process, in which harmful conspiracy theories, radical ideologies, and hostility toward government come together to form a grave and increasing threat to democracy. In their book, “God, Guns, and Sedition: Far-Right Terrorism in America,” Bruce Hoffman and Jacob Ware tell the story of the rise of far-right terrorism—and explain how to counter it.
Lawfare Associate Editor Katherine Pompilio sat down with Hoffman and Ware to unpack their book. They discussed the historical trajectory of violent right-wing extremism, Donald Trump’s effect on these groups and the threat of far-right terrorism heading into the 2024 election, how to address the issue, and more.