Selling Violent Extremism
In this working paper, author Danny Klinenberg studies how the inflow of new members into America’s largest paramilitary organization is affected by three different tactics: showcasing their ideological zeal through armed standoffs with the government, membership discounts, and sports sponsorships. His findings provide new insights into the ways extremist groups attract potential recruits.
DownloadWhy do people join domestic violent extremist organizations? This paper from Danny Klinenberg, an IGCC nonresident fellow, examines an understudied reason: organizational outreach. Klinenberg studies how the inflow of new members to the Oath Keepers, America’s largest paramilitary organization, is affected when the group’s leadership employs three tactics: showcasing their ideological zeal through armed standoffs with the government, membership discounts, and sports sponsorships. Using a variant of the synthetic control method, he finds that standoffs increase new memberships by 150 percent, discounts increase new memberships by over 60 percent, and sports sponsorships decrease new memberships. Membership is less responsive in counties with higher income inequality, but is more responsive in politically conservative counties. The findings provide new insights into ways extremist groups attract potential recruits.
Thumbnail credit: ADL