White supremacy: radicalization, deradicalization, and public health implications Pubblico
Seiler, Jessica (Spring 2019)
Abstract
After interviewing six self-identified former white supremacists using a semi-structured interview guide, I used grounded theory to build theories of radicalization and deradicalization specific to white supremacy. These models represent the beginning of a process that will involve further theoretical refinement through additional foundational research and eventual intervention development, all allowing us to do anti-racist work in the field of public health.
Table of Contents
Chapter 1: introduction........................................................................................................ 6
Research rationale: white supremacy as a public health issue.................................. 6
Radicalization and deradicalization in the public health context............................. 9
Significance of this research............................................................................................. 12
Theoretical framework....................................................................................................... 12
Chapter 2: literature review............................................................................................ 14
Public health contributions to the understanding of racism.................................... 14
White supremacy.................................................................................................................. 17
Radicalization and deradicalization................................................................................ 18
Violence as a public health problem............................................................................... 23
Conclusion............................................................................................................................. 24
Chapter 3: methods.............................................................................................................. 25
Internal Review Board clearance..................................................................................... 26
Population and sample....................................................................................................... 26
The interview guide............................................................................................................. 28
Interview format.................................................................................................................. 30
Data management................................................................................................................ 31
Analysis................................................................................................................................... 31
Grounded theory.................................................................................................................. 33
Chapter 4: results................................................................................................................. 35
Case analyses of former white supremacists................................................................ 35
Janet..................................................................................................................................... 35
Stephen................................................................................................................................ 37
Ben....................................................................................................................................... 38
Zachary................................................................................................................................ 39
Toby...................................................................................................................................... 41
Andrew................................................................................................................................ 42
Important themes in radicalization................................................................................ 44
Aesthetics............................................................................................................................ 44
Identity and identity construction.................................................................................. 46
Feelings of power and self-worth.................................................................................... 49
Intellectual curiosity........................................................................................................... 51
The stigma surrounding taboo subjects.......................................................................... 55
Searching for community.................................................................................................. 57
Escalation of engagement................................................................................................. 59
Violence............................................................................................................................... 62
Ambivalence....................................................................................................................... 64
Important themes in deradicalization............................................................................ 68
New communities.............................................................................................................. 68
Ambivalence........................................................................................................................ 72
Changing identities............................................................................................................ 74
Lingering beliefs................................................................................................................. 76
Healing................................................................................................................................ 79
Proposed theoretical models............................................................................................. 83
Chapter 5: discussion.......................................................................................................... 90
The theoretical models....................................................................................................... 90
Implications and recommendations............................................................................... 92
White supremacy as a public health problem................................................................ 92
The importance of the Internet....................................................................................... 94
Age at time of radicalization............................................................................................. 95
Interventions...................................................................................................................... 95
The “no-platform” practice and other failures.............................................................. 96
Strengths, limitations, and next steps............................................................................ 98
Reflexivity.............................................................................................................................. 99
Conclusion............................................................................................................................. 100
Appendix: the interview guide...................................................................................... 102
Citations.................................................................................................................................. 105About this Master's Thesis
- Permission granted by the author to include this thesis or dissertation in this repository. All rights reserved by the author. Please contact the author for information regarding the reproduction and use of this thesis or dissertation.
| School | |
|---|---|
| Department | |
| Degree | |
| Submission | |
| Language |
|
| Research Field | |
| Parola chiave | |
| Committee Chair / Thesis Advisor | |
| Committee Members |
Primary PDF
| Thumbnail | Title | Date Uploaded | Actions |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
White supremacy: radicalization, deradicalization, and public health implications () | 2019-04-24 17:57:52 -0400 |
|
Supplemental Files
| Thumbnail | Title | Date Uploaded | Actions |
|---|