In the United States, we've seen a disturbing trend of fatal shootings, such as the one in Buffalo, happening more frequently. Sadly, this is a story all too familiar in America.
In 2015, a white nationalist murdered nine people in a black church in Charleston, South Carolina. In 2018, an anti-Semitic attack in a synagogue near Pittsburgh resulted in the deaths of eleven people. The shooter blamed Jews for the migrant caravan moving towards Mexico.
The following year, a 21-year-old white man supposedly killed 23 people in a Walmart in El Paso, Texas, after publishing a manifesto about the "Hispanic invasion."
Terrorists learn from other terrorists, and mass shooters are no exception. In the manifesto released by the Buffalo shooters, several other racist terrorists were reportedly named and praised.
Just like school shooters learn from other school shooters, these terrorists are inspired by each other. And these white supremacist attackers share a common belief – that white people are being "replaced" by others.
This racist "replacement theory" has influenced many white nationalists, including those who rallied in Charlottesville, Virginia, in 2017, shouting, "Jews will not replace us!"
Since 9/11, right-wing extremists have been responsible for the deadliest terrorist attacks in the United States. If we include the ten people killed in Buffalo, right-wing extremists have claimed 122 lives in the U.S. since 9/11, while Islamic terrorists, according to a research institute, have taken 107 lives.
The trend has been accelerating in recent years. In 2019, the FBI's deputy director of counterterrorism told a Congressional committee that "persons who adhere to racially motivated violent extremist ideologies are now primarily responsible for most lethal extremist-related incidents in the U.S."
In the last 16 to 18 months, the number of FBI investigations into domestic terrorism has more than doubled, from approximately 1,000 cases to around 2,700.
The FBI has stepped up its investigations into domestic terrorism, but what else can be done?
Let's start with something simple: stop glorifying terrorists. When a terrorist is charged, it's unavoidable to mention their name, but news stories can function well without naming the terrorists. These misguided individuals are often seeking attention – so let's not give it to them.
Secondly, social media continues to be a vital source of radicalization for many terrorists. It's clear that social media companies aren't able to regulate themselves effectively, and the need for government regulation is growing, with some legislators even suggesting the creation of a federal regulatory agency for social media.
Social media companies claim they're doing their best to control themselves, but there's a growing sense in Congress that they're not doing enough. Some legislators have even proposed the creation of a federal regulatory agency for social media.
A federal regulatory agency could help the government grapple with the complex technological and First Amendment issues that arise when regulating content that could incite violence, as long as it has sufficient resources and bipartisan support.
Thirdly, how can we identify potential militants before they commit acts of violence? It's not easy, but the growing field of "threat assessment" is trying to find solutions.
Threat assessment focuses not on a particular ideology like Islamism or white nationalism, but on the behavior of potential threat actors. These individuals often follow a predictable path to violence, beginning with the cultivation of grievances, such as the belief in the conspiracy theory of "Great Replacement," which can ultimately lead to violent actions by activists.
It's not a crime to promote radical ideas in the United States, so it's important to remember that.
Fourthly, law enforcement needs to better understand the concept of "narrative," which was considered a predictor of future school shootings. Students who plan acts of violence often exhibit warning signs, whether intentionally or unintentionally.
A government study on dozens of terrorism cases found that the terrorists in more than 80% of the cases gave "indicators," or "overtures," which the FBI referred to as "passive indicators." These indicators often came from friends, family members, teachers, clergy, or strangers. Teenagers were often the most likely to provide relevant information, although they were the least likely to share it with authorities.
The discovery has significant implications for investigating potential terrorist attacks, as the focus should be on those most likely to have relevant information. Interestingly, the Buffalo suspect had made a "general threat" a year ago and was investigated by state police.
Sadly, the trend of mass shootings in the United States is unlikely to change anytime soon, despite the recent Buffalo shooting and the need for comprehensive solutions.
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Radicalization and terrorism are complex issues that require a multidisciplinary approach. While the primary focus of this text is on addressing domestic terrorism in the United States, it's essential to recognize that this problem is not unique to America. Radicalization and terrorism are global concerns that require international cooperation and collaboration between governments, businesses, civil society, and academic institutions.
Some strategies for addressing the radicalization and terrorism challenge include:
- Legislation and Policy Development: Governments should enact comprehensive, evidence-based policies that address the root causes of radicalization. This could involve addressing issues like discrimination, poverty, and social exclusion.
- Community Engagement and Education: Encourage community-led initiatives that promote social cohesion, address grievances, and offer alternative narratives. Governments can support these initiatives by providing funding and resources.
- Technological Solutions and Innovations: Leverage technological solutions, such as AI and machine learning, to detect and monitor radicalizing content and conversations online. This can be done through partnerships between tech companies and governments.
- Counseling and Mental Health Support: Provide counseling and mental health support to individuals at risk of radicalization. Early intervention and prevention efforts can help individuals overcome psychological vulnerabilities that make them susceptible to radicalization.
- Interagency Coordination: Foster effective interagency coordination and information-sharing between law enforcement, intelligence agencies, and social service providers.
- International Cooperation and Networks: Collaborate with international partners to share best practices and develop common frameworks for addressing radicalization and terrorism. This can help nations learn from each other's experiences and develop more effective strategies.
- Mitigating Disinformation and Propaganda: Disinformation and propaganda are powerful tools used by extremist groups to recruit and radicalize individuals. Governments, tech companies, and civil society can contribute to this effort by promoting media literacy and critical thinking skills.
- Empowering Impacted Communities: Empower communities to take an active role in addressing radicalization and terrorism. This includes recognizing the impact of radicalization on diverse communities and providing adequate resources and support.
By prioritizing these strategies, governments, communities, and stakeholders can collectively work towards preventing radicalization and addressing the root causes of terrorism.
