Consider This from NPR

Is this fictitious civil war closer to reality than we think?

Apr 19, 2024

Amy Cooter, director of research at the Center on Terrorism, Extremism, and Counterterrorism, shares her insights on the disturbing possibility of a civil war in the U.S., inspired by the new film from Alex Garland. She discusses the polarization in American society and the motivations behind extremist movements seeking a return to a glorified past. Cooter also addresses the challenges in identifying factions and evaluates the government's preparedness to tackle the threats posed by fringe groups amidst rising political tensions.

11:03

Creator website

Episode guests

Amy Cooter

AI Summary

AI Chapters

Episode notes

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

Polarization in the US intensifies over issues like climate change and immigration, echoing themes from the dystopian film 'Civil War'.

Extremist factions in the US pose a serious threat, with concerns over government readiness to address potential violence.

Deep dives

The United States Faces Growing Divides and Potential Civil Conflict

The podcast discusses the increasing polarization and division within the United States, with sharp divides over topics like climate change, immigration, and the 2020 election, culminating in the violent events of January 6, 2021. The dystopian film 'Civil War' envisions a future where the country plunges into a full-blown civil war, depicting a fragmented US with various factions in conflict. While the movie avoids direct political references, it mirrors contemporary societal polarization and raises questions about the possibility of real-life civil unrest. Despite concerns raised by the film, experts like Amy Kooter suggest that while civil war may not be imminent, there are fringe groups advocating for disruptive actions that could exacerbate existing political tensions.

Intro

2min

Exploring the Reality of a Modern Civil War Through Film

2min

Exploring Fictional Civil War and Real-World Polarization

2min

Understanding Political Divisiveness and Extremism

2min

Examining the Threat of Fringe Extremist Groups and Government Preparedness

3min

Civil War, the new A24 film from British director Alex Garland, imagines a scenario that might not seem so far-fetched to some; a contemporary civil war breaking out in the United States.

And while the film has taken heat for little mention of politics, the question of an actual civil war has everything to do with it.

Amy Cooter is a director of research at the Center on Terrorism, Extremism, and Counterterrorism at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies. Her work has led her to the question that Garland's movie has put in the minds of both moviegoers and political pundits: Could a second civil war really happen here?

Cooter joins host Andrew Limbong to discuss the actual threat of current political movements in the U.S., outside of the movie theaters.

For sponsor-free episodes of Consider This, sign up for Consider This+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org.

Email us at considerthis@npr.org.

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy

Remember Everything You Learn from Podcasts

Save insights instantly, chat with episodes, and build lasting knowledge - all powered by AI.

Consider This from NPR

Is this fictitious civil war closer to reality than we think?

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

Deep dives

The United States Faces Growing Divides and Potential Civil Conflict

Examining Extremist Groups and the Threat of Violence

Remember Everything You Learn from Podcasts