From Words to Weapons: Leveraging Right-Wing Extremist Manifestos in prevention and preparedness work.

Abstract

This master's thesis explores the potential use of terrorist manifestos in enhancing counterterrorism prevention and preparedness. It centres on the analysis of six manifestos authored by notorious right-wing extremists: Anders Behring Breivik, Dylann Roof, Brenton Tarrant, John Earnest, Patrick Crusius, and Juraj Krajčík. The primary research question investigates how these manifestos can be leveraged to benefit counterterrorism efforts. The study identifies these documents' ideological motives, common themes, and radicalisation indicators through qualitative content analysis and interviews. It further argues that understanding these manifestos can provide valuable insights for developing targeted measures to prevent terrorist attacks and create counternarratives to hinder radicalisation. It also addresses the ethical considerations of using such materials, ensuring data collection and analysis are conducted securely and ethically. The findings aim to contribute to a more effective and informed approach to counterterrorism by utilising the communicative aspects of terrorist violence.