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Mike White is a Senior Customs Officer with the New Zealand Customs Service. He holds a MIntSy (Master’s Degree) in Intelligence and an MA in Defence and Security Studies, both from Massey University. Divergent Options’ content does not contain information of an official nature nor does the content represent the official position of any government, any organization, or any group.
Title: Assessment of Ideological Convergence Between White Supremacist and Islamist Extremists
Date Originally Written: April 14, 2024.
Date Originally Published: May 20, 2024.
Article Point of View: This assessment explores the increasing ideological and tactical convergence between white supremacist and Islamist extremists, highlighting the risks this poses to national security.
Summary: This analysis details the ideological crossover between white supremacist and Islamist extremists, focusing on shared tactics, terminology, and mutual legitimization. It examines the adoption of Islamist motifs by white supremacists and discusses the implications for national security, emphasizing the threat of interconnected extremist ideologies.
Text: The phenomenon of converging extremist ideologies, particularly between white supremacist and Islamist groups, represents a significant and complex challenge to global security. This convergence is not rooted in shared beliefs or end goals—indeed, these groups often hold diametrically opposed worldviews—but in a mutual embrace of violence, propaganda methods, and enemy construction. This assessment explores the ways in which segments of white supremacists have begun to mirror Islamist extremists in language, symbolism, and actions, the increasing links between these groups, and the implications for national security.
Historically, white supremacist and Islamist extremist ideologies have thrived on narratives of exclusivity and purity, albeit targeting different ‘out-groups’. White supremacists focus on race and ethnicity, while Islamists typically target religious and cultural infractions against what they perceive as true Islamic doctrine. Despite these differences, both groups have adopted a posture of being under siege by modern, often Western-led, influences which they claim corrupt their ‘pure’ societies.
In recent years, the tactical playbook of Islamist extremists, notably their use of media for radicalization and recruitment, has been increasingly co-opted by white supremacist groups. For instance, the use of high-quality propaganda videos and online magazines, a hallmark of groups like ISIS, has been mirrored by white supremacist groups aiming to recruit and radicalize individuals online. The Christchurch Mosque shooter’s manifesto, which detailed his actions as a response to perceived ‘invasions’ of European lands by non-whites, echoes the language of Islamist manifestos that frame their actions as a defense against Western imperialism.
Furthermore, the adoption of specific Islamist terminologies such as ‘martyrdom’ and ‘crusade’ by white supremacist factions illustrates a deeper ideological borrowing. These terms not only enhance the perceived legitimacy of their actions within their communities but also serve to create a narrative of heroic struggle against an oppressive other. This rhetoric is powerful and can accelerate the path from radical belief to terrorist action.
More disturbingly, there is evidence of operational learning and adaptation of tactics between these ideologically opposed groups. White supremacists have noted the ‘success’ of Islamist terror tactics, such as lone-wolf attacks and vehicle-ramming, adopting these methods themselves. The use of livestreaming attacks, as seen in Christchurch, was inspired in part by the real-time media strategy used by jihadists in Paris in 2015 and Nice in 2016.
The symbolic convergence includes the neo-fascist accelerationist groups, which promote chaos as a means of hastening the collapse of society to rebuild a racially pure state. This mirrors the Islamist apocalyptic vision where a final caliphate emerges following worldwide turmoil. Both groups celebrate and amplify each other’s successes, seeing them as blows against common enemies like modern democratic governments and multicultural societies.
This crossover poses multifaceted risks to national security. It not only complicates the threat landscape but also facilitates unexpected alliances that could lead to sharing of tactics, resources, and mutual radicalization. The ideological crossover enables both types of extremists to draw upon a larger pool of tactics and rhetorical strategies, increasing their disruptive capabilities.
The impact of such convergence on national security is profound. It challenges traditional counterterrorism approaches which are often siloed into combating distinct forms of extremism, potentially overlooking the synergies between different extremist factions. Additionally, it can lead to the radicalization of a broader demographic, as groups co-opt tactics and narratives that appeal across traditional ideological divides.
In conclusion, the ideological and tactical convergence between white supremacist and Islamist extremists represents a significant evolution in global extremist movements. This synthesis of extremist tactics and narratives not only broadens the scope of these groups’ influences but also presents heightened challenges for national and global security infrastructures. As such, understanding and addressing this convergence is crucial for effectively countering the evolving landscape of global extremism.
Endnotes:
The following prompt was given to ChatGPT-4 by Mike White:
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In 1000 words. Assess the convergence between white supremacist and Islamist ideologies; how contemporary white supremacist extremists derive inspiration from Islamists; their integration of Islamist terminology and symbolism; their support and adoption of Islamist propaganda and actions; and their legitimation of inter-ideological collaboration. Assess how white supremacists have incorporated Islamist language, motifs, and tactics into their ecosystem. Highlight the growing links between Islamist extremists and neo-fascist accelerationist groups. Demonstrate the convergence amongst segments of militant far right extremist movements, particularly of the white supremist variety, with actors identified with militant Islamism. Specify the risks this poses to national security. Why does this national security situation matter? what is the impact? Use the following format:
Title: Note: Titles will always begin with “Assessment of”
Date Originally Written: Month, Day, Year.
Date Originally Published: Month, Day, Year.
Article Point of View: short description of the central thesis of the assessment.
Summary: Note: “Summary” will be five lines of text maximum.
Text: Note: This part of the article, called “Text,” is what will be counted against the 1,000-word limit.
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