Eamon Doyle - Domestic Extremism

Attacks on Science

Big Tech and Democracy

The Capitol Riot: Fragile Democracy

Cyberterrorism

Domestic Extremism

Domestic vs. Offshore Manufacturing

Fossil Fuel Industries and the Green Economy

Hate Groups

The Internet of Things

Libertarians, Socialists, and Other Third Parties

Reparations for Black Americans

Sustainable Consumption

Published in 2022 by Greenhaven Publishing, LLC

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Copyright 2022 by Greenhaven Publishing, LLC

First Edition

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Articles in Greenhaven Publishing anthologies are often edited for length to meet page requirements. In addition, original titles of these works are changed to clearly present the main thesis and to explicitly indicate the authors opinion. Every effort is made to ensure that Greenhaven Publishing accurately reflects the original intent of the authors. Every effort has been made to trace the owners of the copyrighted material.

Cover image: Johnny Silvercloud/Shutterstock.com

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Doyle, Eamon, 1988- editor.

Title: Domestic extremism / Eamon Doyle, book editor.

Description: First edition. | New York : Greenhaven Publishing, 2022. |

Series: Current controversies | Includes bibliographical references and index. | Audience: Ages 15+ | Audience: Grades 10-12 | Summary:

Anthology of diverse viewpoints exploring extremists on both the right and the left, how domestic extremism has evolved since the advent of the internet and social media, and how law enforcement at various levels should address it, particularly in the prevention of extremist attacks-- Provided by publisher.

Identifiers: LCCN 2021031626 | ISBN 9781534508507 (library binding) | ISBN 9781534508491 (paperback) | ISBN 9781534508514 (ebook)

Subjects: LCSH: Radicalism--United States--Juvenile literature. | Right and left (Political science)--United States--Juvenile literature.

Classification: LCC HN90.R3 D66 2022 | DDC 303.48/40973--dc23 LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2021031626

Manufactured in the United States of America

Website: http://greenhavenpublishing.com

Didi Kuo

This viewpoint examines the structural role of parties in governinga state as well as the rhetorical, cultural, and political dynamics thatoften emerge in a party-centric system. While political parties arenot inherently problematic for democracy, there are a number ofpotential problems and challenges that they raise.

Yes: Political Parties Encourage Citizens to View DemocraticPolitics Through an Us vs. Them Framework

Alexis Blue

Negative partisanship in the social media environment hasencouraged more political participation and higher voter turnout,but is the type of participation associated with negative partisanshiphealthy for democracy?

Pew Research Center

American attitudes about the social safety net, race, and immigration appear to be diverging along mostly partisan lines. Perhaps most concerning, these and other such partisan divisions are becoming even more pronounced and consequential than divisions based on race, gender, or ethnicity.

No: Political Parties Almost Always Play an Essential Role inthe Structure and Organization of Stable Democratic Societies

Russell Muirhead and Nancy L. Rosenblum

This viewpoint explores the concepts of dynamic and institutional pluralism and argues that parties play a central role in democratizing representative government. There is no guarantee that representative government will remain democratic in the absence of parties.

Ian Shapiro

This excerpted viewpoint offers a critique of deliberative democratic theory. The prospect of deliberative agreement in a diverse society is often unlikely. In view of this reality, political parties offer a degree of stability and structure that allows for democratic governments to function efficiently.

Steven Levitsky and Daniel Ziblatt

The United States has seen extremist demagogues like HueyLong, George Wallace, and Joseph McCarthy in the past, but ourdemocratic culture and institutionsincluding our partisan systemproved strong enough to withstand their respective influences. The presence of strong parties can mitigate the spread of extremism.

Luis De la Calle

Even in an affluent strong democracy like the United States, extreme polarization and armed groups willing to oppose the government can create an environment for terror. These terror attacks can be perpetrated by lone wolves or militias such as the one that participated in the 2021 insurrection at the US Capitol.

Yes: Increased Polarization Has Encouraged the Development of More Extreme Elements Within Our Political Coalitions

The Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project

There are over 80 currently active groups in the US unified around their support for Donald Trump and their belief that the 2020 election was tainted by voter fraud. This alignment has increased the risk of violence associated with the far right.

Jaclyn Diaz and Rachel Treisman

Many of the participants of the January 6 riot at the US Capitol were prepared not only to engage in violence but to execute public officials (including, notably, former vice president Mike Pence) who resisted their demands.

Lois Beckett and Josh Horwitz

The concept of violent, anti-government insurrection is something of a core value among Second Amendment extremists. Politicians and law enforcement officials should take the threats associated with gun and militia culture seriously and prepare for the likelihood that at least some will eventually engage in acts of political violence.

Alexander Hinton

In this viewpoint, the author identifies five separate reasons why the American intelligence and law enforcement community should treat the threat of violence from right-wing groups seriously.

No: Political Polarization in Contemporary American Society Is Unlikely to Result in Significant Instances of Violence

Chip Gibbons

Americans should be wary of law enforcement strategies designed to target political extremism. The FBIs use of radicalization theory has opened the door to more political surveillance and a slippery slope with regard to First Amendment rights.

David Smith

Conservatives highlight socialism as the central threat tocontemporary American democracy. Their narrative of Democrats as a party full of dangerous communists is a new Red Scare that could distract from dangerous right-wing activity.

Lois Beckett

Violent portrayals of the far left in the US are largely unfounded. There have been zero murders associated with Antifa and other far left groups in the last 25 years. In comparison, far right activists have been associated with more than 300 murders in the same span of time.

Clark Merrefield

New research in the journal Science delves into the rise of moral superiority and political sectarianism in Americaand how to fix it. If the government is for and by the people, then resisting polarizing elements is everyones responsibility.