The Howl of the Lone Wolf
(2023) SOCM04 20231Sociology
Department of Sociology
- Abstract
- Attacks of mass-harm perpetrated by lone actor terrorists, also known as lone wolves which they are called in this study, have been increasing in the last few decades and has become one of the main national security threats in Sweden. With the increase in attacks, so has the research on this type of terrorism, looking at ideological reasons, target selection and the radicalisation process as well as comparisons to group-based terrorism. There has also been research done on the narratives that these individuals use, both before their attack and after. This thesis aims to build on that knowledge by studying how lone wolves justify their violence and how they present their victims as legit targets. The theoretical framework is based on Lois... (More)
- Attacks of mass-harm perpetrated by lone actor terrorists, also known as lone wolves which they are called in this study, have been increasing in the last few decades and has become one of the main national security threats in Sweden. With the increase in attacks, so has the research on this type of terrorism, looking at ideological reasons, target selection and the radicalisation process as well as comparisons to group-based terrorism. There has also been research done on the narratives that these individuals use, both before their attack and after. This thesis aims to build on that knowledge by studying how lone wolves justify their violence and how they present their victims as legit targets. The theoretical framework is based on Lois Presser’s underdog narrative, Philip Smith’s apocalyptic narrative and Mary Douglas theory on boundaries. This is done by studying eight lone wolf terrorists that are representative of the ideologies they identify with and who have inspired others to commit acts of mass-harm. The analysis shows that the lone wolves use the underdog narrative to create meaning to their violence and that the apocalyptic narrative shows why violence is the only way. In combination with the boundaries that separate the victim, it also gives their targets an active role in the violence. It becomes an apocalyptic underdog story that aim for others to join the fight. (Less)
- Popular Abstract
- In this study I explored how right-wing terrorists use narratives to justify their crimes. The terrorists I have focused on are those that commit the act of mass-harm on their own, without connection to organisation or terrorist cells. I am looking at what narratives they are using to present their cause, how they justify their violence and how they are legitimising their victims as deserving of violence. I look at their written statements that they made before the violent act. These kinds of attacks have been increasing over the last two decades and are considered one of the bigger national security threats in Sweden. The lone wolves I have looked at committed their acts in the USA, Slovakia, Germany, and New Zealand. What this study... (More)
- In this study I explored how right-wing terrorists use narratives to justify their crimes. The terrorists I have focused on are those that commit the act of mass-harm on their own, without connection to organisation or terrorist cells. I am looking at what narratives they are using to present their cause, how they justify their violence and how they are legitimising their victims as deserving of violence. I look at their written statements that they made before the violent act. These kinds of attacks have been increasing over the last two decades and are considered one of the bigger national security threats in Sweden. The lone wolves I have looked at committed their acts in the USA, Slovakia, Germany, and New Zealand. What this study shows is that the terrorists see themselves as the underdog because they are being oppressed by a threat that is trying to destroy their community. The threat is so severe and their enemy so evil that the only way to defend themselves is with violence. This is also a way for them to inspire others to commit their own acts of mass-harm and to join the fight against oppression. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
http://lup.lub.lu.se/student-papers/record/9124751
- author
- Rolfsson, Jonna LU
- supervisor
-
- Erik Hannerz LU
- organization
- course
- SOCM04 20231
- year
- 2023
- type
- H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
- subject
- keywords
- Lone Wolf, Manifesto, Narrative, Targets, Right-wing, Underdog, Ideology, Social System, Social Order, Crisis, Violence, Mass-harm, Replacement
- language
- English
- id
- 9124751
- date added to LUP
- 2023-08-03 08:31:24
- date last changed
- 2023-08-03 08:31:24
@misc{9124751,
abstract = {{Attacks of mass-harm perpetrated by lone actor terrorists, also known as lone wolves which they are called in this study, have been increasing in the last few decades and has become one of the main national security threats in Sweden. With the increase in attacks, so has the research on this type of terrorism, looking at ideological reasons, target selection and the radicalisation process as well as comparisons to group-based terrorism. There has also been research done on the narratives that these individuals use, both before their attack and after. This thesis aims to build on that knowledge by studying how lone wolves justify their violence and how they present their victims as legit targets. The theoretical framework is based on Lois Presser’s underdog narrative, Philip Smith’s apocalyptic narrative and Mary Douglas theory on boundaries. This is done by studying eight lone wolf terrorists that are representative of the ideologies they identify with and who have inspired others to commit acts of mass-harm. The analysis shows that the lone wolves use the underdog narrative to create meaning to their violence and that the apocalyptic narrative shows why violence is the only way. In combination with the boundaries that separate the victim, it also gives their targets an active role in the violence. It becomes an apocalyptic underdog story that aim for others to join the fight.}},
author = {{Rolfsson, Jonna}},
language = {{eng}},
note = {{Student Paper}},
title = {{The Howl of the Lone Wolf}},
year = {{2023}},
}