Extremism Rebellion A review of ideology and tactics Tom Wilson and Richard Walton Extremism Rebellion A review of ideology and tactics Tom Wilson and Richard Walton Policy Exchange is the UK’s leading think tank. We are an independent, non-partisan educational charity whose mission is to develop and promote new policy ideas that will deliver better public services, a stronger society and a more dynamic economy. Policy Exchange is committed to an evidence-based approach to policy development and retains copyright and full editorial control over all its written research. We work in partnership with academics and other experts and commission major studies involving thorough empirical research of alternative policy outcomes. We believe that the policy experience of other countries offers important lessons for government in the UK. We also believe that government has much to learn from business and the voluntary sector. Registered charity no: 1096300. Trustees Diana Berry, Pamela Dow, Alexander Downer, Andrew Feldman, Candida Gertler, Patricia Hodgson, Greta Jones, Edward Lee, Charlotte Metcalf, Roger Orf, Andrew Roberts, George Robinson, Robert Rosenkranz, Peter Wall, Nigel Wright. Extremism Rebellion About the Authors Richard Walton is a Senior Fellow at Policy Exchange. A former Head of the Metropolitan Police Counter Terrorism Command (SO15) between 2011-2016 he spent the majority of his thirty-year policing career in the counter-terrorism field. Richard was Head of Counter Terrorism for London during the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and London Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2012. He is currently founder and Director of Counter Terrorism Global Ltd, a company that facilitates the design and implementation of solutions for countering terrorism and extremism to governments, private corporations and NGOs. He has travelled extensively to countries affected by terrorism, providing advice to governments in South and South-East Asia, the Middle East and East Africa. He lectures in the UK and is a regular key note speaker at international conferences on counter-terrorism and counter-extremism He is an on-air Counter Terrorism commentator for CBS News and regularly presents on British and international media networks. Richard is a Distinguished Fellow at the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI). He holds a BSc Hons degree in Policing and Police Studies from Portsmouth University and a MSc in International Relations from the London School of Economics (LSE). Tom Wilson is a Senior Research Fellow in the Security and Extremism Unit at Policy Exchange. Tom specialises in the study of extremist groups and counter-terrorism strategy. His previous research has focused on the growth of extremism in the UK as well as terrorist organisations in the Middle East. He regularly appears on broadcast media and written for various national and international publications including the New York Times, the Telegraph, the Independent, the Spectator, Standpoint, and The National Interest. His recent study Terrorism In The West: An Age of Extremes was published in November 2018. 2 | policyexchange.org.uk Acknowledgements Acknowledgements The authors would like to express their gratitude to Alexander Gray for all of the valuable research assistance that he contributed during the preparation of this paper. © Policy Exchange 2019 Published by Policy Exchange, 8 – 10 Great George Street, Westminster, London SW1P 3AE www.policyexchange.org.uk ISBN: 978-1-910812-78-5 policyexchange.org.uk | 3 Extremism Rebellion Contents About the Authors 2 Preface 5 Recommendations 7 Executive Summary 8 Introduction 10 Origins of the Extinction Rebellion Movement 13 Compassionate Revolution 13 Rising Up! 15 Founding Extinction Rebellion 21 Structure & Organisation 23 Extinction Rebellion’s Philosophy and Ideology 25 Apocalyptic Warnings 25 “System Change, Not Climate Change” 30 De-growth, Rewilding, & Post-Capitalism 35 Extinction Rebellion’s Strategy and Tactics 40 Demands 40 Non-Violence and Civil Disobedience 43 Dying for the Cause 46 Mass Civil Disobedience, Activism, and Law-breaking 51 The Heathrow Protest Controversy 54 Supporters and Financial Backing 56 Funding 56 Public Figures, Celebrities, and Fellow Travellers 59 Support on the Political Left 62 Policing and Political Response to Extinction Rebellion 66 The Police Response 66 Political Impact 67 Conclusion 70 4 | policyexchange.org.uk Preface Preface By Richard Walton Extinction Rebellion has captured the public imagination over the past year —becoming the UK’s most active campaign group. Using maxims of ‘rebellion’ and ‘non-violent protest’, it has rapidly enlisted the support of tens of thousands of followers who have been prepared to protest and even be arrested for their cause. Like the public at large, many of these activists appear to be genuinely concerned about climate change and other environmentalist issues. As this paper shows, however, the leaders of Extinction Rebellion seek a more subversive agenda, one that that is rooted in the political extremism of anarchism, eco-socialism and radical anti-capitalist environmentalism. The ‘civil resistance model’ they espouse is intended to achieve mass protest accompanied by law-breaking —leading eventually to the breakdown of democracy and the state. Obscured from public view, these objectives mark Extinction Rebellion’s campaign out as an extremist one that seeks to break down the established civil order and liberal democracy in the UK. Many followers of Extinction Rebellion are completely unaware of this secondary objective, despite it being readily espoused by their leaders in YouTube posts of their speeches and in their publications. Celebrities, politicians and members of the public have been seduced into believing that Extinction Rebellion’s methods and tactics are honourable and justified, when clearly they are not. Those who accept planned mass law-breaking in a liberal democracy to further a political cause, are effectively condoning the breakdown of the rule of law. They may assert breaking the law is a means to an end, there is a crisis that needs addressing and law-breaking is the only tactic that will change government policy, but in doing so they have become extremists for their cause. Extinction Rebellion is an extremist organisation whose methods need to be confronted and challenged rather than supported and condoned. If we fail to confront those who incite and encourage mass law-breaking, we fail in our duty to confront extremism. This new form of extremism needs to be tackled by Ministers and politicians, the Commission for Countering Extremism, police and the general public. The honeymoon that Extinction Rebellion has enjoyed to date needs to come to an end. Members of the public need to be made fully aware this is not an organisation whose strategy and tactics should be applauded and copied. As a result of the evidence this paper uncovers, no one can now plead ignorance of the ominous and threatening intentions of this policyexchange.org.uk | 5 Extremism Rebellion campaigning organisation. The authors have successfully laid bare the history, strategy and tactics of Extinction Rebellion, revealing its underlying philosophy and intentions. The country and the public will benefit enormously from this seminal paper that breaks new ground in the understanding of environmental extremism in the UK. Extinction Rebellion is now at a cross roads. If it persists in its current strategy of encouraging mass law-breaking in order to bring down the government in the furtherance of its cause, then it will be treated as an extremist organisation, lose its mainstream supporter base and all public sympathy for its environmental cause. Conversely, if it changes its current strategy towards engaging in lawful protest whilst acknowledging the liberal democratic order, it has the opportunity to become a significant and influential global mass movement that is a positive force for change. 6 | policyexchange.org.uk Recommendations Recommendations • The police response to law-breaking by demonstrators must be far more proactive in enforcing laws that relate to public protest, preventing Extinction Rebellion and other political activists from embarking on illegal tactics that cause mass disruption and significant economic damage. • Legislation relating to public protest needs to be urgently reformed in order to strengthen the ability of the police to place restrictions on planned protest and deal more effectively with mass law- breaking tactics (including incitement and conspiracy offences) such as road and bridge blocking, aggravated trespass and criminal damage. • The Crown Prosecution Service should prosecute all those engaged in law-breaking relating to public protest in order to uphold the rule of law, support the ‘public interest’ and deter others from illegal protest. • Politicians and public figures should avoid endorsing, legitimising, or meeting with Extinction Rebellion, in particular whilst its leadership continues to encourage and incite law-breaking in furtherance of their political aims. • The Commission for Countering Extremism should ensure that far left, anarchist and environmentalist extremism are sufficiently recognised and challenged within a wider national strategy on extremism. • The Home Office should audit the financial cost of the unlawful protest activity that is being undertaken by Extinction Rebellion, including the cost of policing and the financial and social impact on businesses and the public. policyexchange.org.uk | 7 Extremism Rebellion