Understanding right wing extremism in Australia: testing an integrated unfairness grievance and outgroup threat framework

Abstract

ABSTRACT Right-wing extremism (RWE) has increased across much of the western world, but empirical knowledge about RWE beliefs and behaviours remains limited. In this paper, we propose and test a new framework for explaining the drivers of RWE ideology in Australia. We call this framework – which we adapted from Van Den Bos’ Growing Radicalisation Model – the Integrated Unfairness Framework of Radicalisation. Based on a thematic analysis of the discourse of 13 Australian RWE groups’ websites and social media homepages, we find significant evidence supporting our adapted framework. Specifically, we show that unfairness grievances and perceptions of outgroup threat underlie and help to explain expressions of RWE ideology in Australia. In addition, we identify expressions of RWE ideology that may indicate higher risk and potential for violence, including techniques of moral disengagement, vigilantism, and the adoption of a ‘war’ narrative. These themes, combined with an overarching conspiracy mindset, characterise these Australian RWE groups’ ideology and suggest important directions for further research.