HSEP 301 Exam 2 Study Guide

What is the QAnon conspiracy?

"Deep state" - secret organization made up of high-ranking Democrats that is actually governing the United States. The "deep state" is also planning a coup against the Trump administration.

What is shitposting? How was this utilized in the manifesto of the New Zealand attacker?

"Shitposting" is a form of trolling and is low quality content designed to invoke emotions and get media attention. The New Zealand attacker used shitposting by blaming the video games; Spyro the Dragon and Fortnite - both 'apparently' lead him to kill all of these people. He also claimed that Pewdiepie (YouTube star) motivated him to create an act of terrorism/violence. The attacker spoke on gun control in his manifesto video before carrying out these attacks, which leads to the media bringing up gun control problems.

What are the three things we see in all forms of nationalism?

- Belief that one's national group is being threatened - Fighting to preserve this community - Fighting for the ability to self-govern.

What are the core beliefs of incel extremists?

- Feminism brought women greater power in relationships - It gave women more choice in determining who they have relationships with - Women now only want to have relations with attractive, popular men (Chads) - Incels believe they (the incels) are irredeemably ugly, and no matter what improvements they make, women will never see them as Chads (aka desirable. - So... they blame women for being ugly/unwanted and for not being able to have sex.

What are the three basic premises of conspiracy theories?

1) Nothing happens by accident - Every bad outcome is an intentional decision by some evil actor. 2) Nothing is as it seems - Conspirators fabricate evidence to distract people from the truth, and hide the truth from public. 3) Everything is connected - Seemingly unrelated events are all part of a bigger plot.

What is the 80/20 rule?

80% of women only want to have relationships with attractive/popular men (AKA Becky's and Stacy's BOTH want relationships with Chads). BUT only 20% of men qualify as Chads. This means that 80% of men are left to fight for 20% of women. This leads to them not being good enough which is why they hate women, but desperately want to be recognized by these women.

What is material support?

Allegiance is one way of giving material support. Any given property, weapons, financial services, or any type of aid to a terrorist group labels you as a terrorist because you gave this type of material support.

What demographic characteristics define those who are most likely to carry out attacks?

Attacks are most likely to be carried out by people from the United States instead of foreigners

What is nationalism? Define a nation? Define a national identity?

Belief that one's national group (community based on shared characteristics) is being threatened and/or being treated unfairly by some governing body. Fighting to preserve this community. Fighting for the ability to self-govern.

Who are Chad's, Stacy's and Becky's?

Chad's are dominant/alpha male specie, they get all the good-looking girls and all the good-looking girls want them. These characters fit into the incel ideology because some incels dislike and or look up to the Chads. Incels despise the good looking girls for not giving them a chance.

What are the core beliefs of eco-terrorists? What community do they perceive as under threat, and what is the nature of that threat? How do they seek to change society?

Core beliefs: Humans are not superior to other organisms on the planet (animals deserve equal rights as humans). The ecosystem relies on interdependence among all organisms. Anything that negatively impacts one part of the ecosystem, negatively impacts humans (chopping down a tree doesn't just effect the environment, it effects humans as well). And industrialism and consumerism created a system where humans exploited the planet (humans are killing the planet because of cars, factories, littering. Nothing is natural anymore because of technological advancements).

How do ecoterrorists seek to change society?

Eco-terrorists want to overthrow society and replace technology with natural earth remedies. People need to live off of the land; hunt, fish, herd. People will then become self sufficient again and will not lean on the system.

What is the false flag conspiracy? Be able to provide an example.

False Flags are tragedies are government ploys to advance their own political agenda, infringe upon our freedoms, and/or achieve world domination. Example: 9/11 was an inside job by the US so they had a valid reason to invade the middle east (planes never hit the buildings). Also Sandy Hook school shooting never actually happened; they paid actors, faked the event so democrats could shed more light on gun control.

What are the core beliefs of eco-terrorists?

Humans are not superior to other organisms on the planet (animals deserve equal rights as humans). The ecosystem relies on interdependence among all organisms. Anything that negatively impacts one part of the ecosystem, negatively impacts the whole ecosystem including humans.

What is the FEMA camp conspiracy?

Many conspiracy-mongers argue that, under the auspices of FEMA, the federal government has plans to intern large numbers of Americans in detention camps.

What forms of attacks are most common in the US?

Mass shootings via firearm, arson (burning down buildings) and sometimes plowing people down via vehicles

What period in American history saw the most terrorist attacks?

New Left Wave; 1960's & 70's

What are the core beliefs of Antifa? What is the main purpose of the actions/attacks carried out by Antifa? What strategies do they use in these attacks?

On Exam - Antifa Core beliefs: Freedom of Speech (we have the right to express our feelings without getting punished, unless that speech incites violence or conflicts with our freedoms). Marketplace of ideas. Antifa's views - evil flourishes when good people do nothing. Antifa does not want another fascist government to come along (Nazi Germany, Italy with Mussolini). They achieve these beliefs through NO PLATFORMING: (People who express these fascist ideas should not be allowed a platform to spread these ideas). Antifa strategies: They show up at these events and do whatever they can to prevent these people from sending a hateful message. (They will sometime make noise, play music, etc.) Antifa will use Doxing as a strategy - doxing is the releasing or broadcasting of personal identification to try and make someone look bad.

What is the main purpose of the actions/attacks carried out by ELF and ALF? What common strategies do they use in these attacks?

Part 1: Inflict economic damage on those who profit from exploiting animals and those who profit off of nature destruction. They want to get people's attention but they do not want to hurt anyone on the planet. Part 2: Tactics/Strategies - Arson (burn down logging facilities, ski resort lodges, non-green houses), Monkeywrenching (anything that prevents someone from carrying out tasks to hurt the environment), Vandalizing facilities, Releasing animals from captivity (like zoo's)

What was the Oklahoma City bombing, and what do we know about the motives and plans for that attack?

Perpetrated by Timothy McVeigh - A truck bomb that killed 168 and wounded > 500 individuals outside of a federal government building (symbolic act of war against the government). Motives: government trying to take away rights. McVeigh carried a book called the Turner Diaries, which gave McVeigh a blueprint to work with. McVeigh was also upset that the government did the wrong thing at Waco, TX during the Branch Davidian's and David Koresh's standoff with the US Military. WHAT TO KNOW: At the time it was the worst attack on American soil, until 9/11 attacks (now 2nd worst).

How do incels seek to change society?

Restore the traditional power dynamic between men and women and revert the current structure of American society/government to something more traditional.

What ideology poses the greatest threat in the US?

Right-Wing group ideology

What is 1488?

Secret code used by Neo-Nazis and white supremacists. 14 = 14 words: "We must secure the existence of our people and a future for white children" 88 = H is the eight letter in the alphabet (HH=88) So HH means "Heil Hitler"

What other groups populate the manosphere and how would you describe them?

The four groups that populate manosphere are: - Men's rights activists (MRAs): The MRA subculture primarily concerns itself with issues related to men's legal rights. These issues include, amongst others, circumcision or 'male genital mutilation', men in the military (selective service), choice in parenthood for men (allowing men to reject paternal rights and obligations) etc.. - Pickup artists (PUAs): Declare themselves as the 'masters' of getting women to sleep with them or so on. Their "negging" tactic gets any girl to notice you; developed from a book that can show you how to pull any girl you want. - Men going their own way (MGTOW): Many MGTOW refuse to date 'Western women' and some try to avoid women altogether." This rejection of relationships with women stems from a deep distrust of and dissatisfaction with women who, they insist, have been 'programmed' to ruin men's lives. - Incels: They believe they are ugly and not good enough for good looking girls so they take their frustration out on the good looking girls.

How would you describe the current terrorism threat in the United States and how frequent are they?

The frequency of attacks are very low. Attacks are more common internationally vs in the US - especially in Europe with their open borders. There are few attacks in the united states (most attacks in the United States don't kill anyone).

What community do the incels perceive as under threat, and what is the nature of that threat?

The incels believe they themselves are under threat because they are unable to have fruitful relationships with good looking women.

Describe the three lifestyles through which white nationalists in America live and express their beliefs

The three lifestyles: Hardcore, Newly Respectable, and Communitarian. They express their beliefs through homeschooling hate, cultural isolation and gender lessons.

What community do eco-terrorists perceive as under threat, and what is the nature of that threat?

They believe that animals are under threat from humans

What is the punishment for providing material support to an Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO)?

Up to 15 years in prison if nobody was killed but if someone was killed you can get life in prison.

Why do we need to be cautious when interpreting the manifestos of terrorists?

We need to understand they are a form of propaganda and are designed to give a specific story/interpretation to draw recruits to an organization. Analysts have to take what they say as a grain of salt.

Who/what is typically targeted in domestic US terrorism?

We see a lot of religious institutions and infrastructures getting attacked.

Who is the Weather Underground? What was their political motivation? How did they typically carry out attacks? What caused the dissolution of the Weather Underground?

Weather Underground was a radical left-wing domestic terror group that originated as an SDS Students for democratic society from the University of Michigan (Ann Arbor). Their political motivation originated from two events during the late 60's and 70's; They did not like the Vietnam war and they did not like how black people were being treated and how those inner cities were oppressed. Weatherman slogan - "bring the war home". They carried out attacks with the goal to not kill anyone (but still wanted to send a message) by targeting federal buildings after hours when there were no employees present. WUO officially died down after the Vietnam war. Not many of the members were convicted because the government used illegally tactics to catch them.

Why are Rhodesia and South Africa important in white nationalist thought?

White people are better off running the country, put white people in charge of races and societies will flourish. It is a symbol that shows white nationalists that white people are better off in charge (in government positions) society is better off. They validate this argument as evidence because south Africa was in good shape when white people were in charge.