AUC Undergraduate Journal of Liberal Arts & Sciences
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AUC Undergraduate Journal of Liberal Arts & Sciences Capstone Issue Vol. 10 2018 Published by AUC Undergraduate Journal of Liberal Arts & Sciences Capstone Issue Vol. 10 2018, published by InPrint The AUC Undergraduate Journal of Liberal Arts and Sciences is a biannual, interdisciplinary publication showcasing outstanding undergraduate academic papers. The Journal aims to demonstrate the strength of undergraduate scholarship at AUC, to reflect the intellectual diversity of its academic programme, to encourage best research and writing practices, to facilitate collaboration between students and faculty across the curriculum, and to provide students with opportunities to gain experience in academic reviewing, editing and publishing. The Editorial of the Journal is constituted of members of the InPrint board, a registered AUCSA committee. Editorial board (InPrint) Lanie Preston | Editor-in-Chief Aisha Erenstein | Head Editor Social Sciences Catherine Andersen | Head Editor Humanities Linnea Sinharoy | Editor Sciences & Secretary Caoimhe Martin | Editor Social Sciences & Treasurer Stefanie Saddey | Editor Social Sciences Merel Makkus | Editor Humanities Cullen Ogden | Editor Humanities & Head of PR Merel Laauwen | Editor Sciences Vebjørn Bjelland Berg | Editor Sciences Capstone coordinators Dr. Bob Kardolus Dr. Maurits de Klepper Series Editing Prof. Dr. Murray Pratt Dr. Belinda Stratton i Copyright: All texts are published here with the full consent of their authors. Every effort has been made to contact the rightful owners of all content with regards to copyrights and permissions. We apologise for any inadvertent errors or omissions. If you wish to use any content please contact the copyright holder directly. For any queries regarding copyright please contact [email protected]. Foreword In the semester prior to graduation, every AUC student is required to carry out an independent research project within their intended major (Sciences, Social Sciences or Human- ities), referred to as the Capstone. This project is meant to have students engage with the current academic dialogue within their fields. With this year’e™s Capstone Issue, which includes six capstones across all three majors from students from the class of 2018, InPrint showcases the ability of AUC students to generate insightful interdisciplinary research. Additionally, all Capstones published in this issue have undergone a meticulous editing process carried out by the Editorial Board of InPrint to further improve their clarity. A workshop providing the basic tools for this editing process was provided by lecturer and linguist Dr. Lotte Tavecchio. Finally, assistance with the LATEX 2ε formatting for this is- sue was graciously provided by former Editor-in-Chief Phillip Hartout. We hope that reading this capstone issue gives our read- ers both insight into the high level of academic achievement of AUC students as well as how the integration of skills and talents achieved through a liberal arts education can come together to create something truly excellent. Lanie Preston, on behalf of InPrint ii Contents Social Sciences Alt-Reich: Why We Fail to Recognize Far Right Extremism - Mapping the Alternative Right’s Repertoire of Violence – Nasiba Sharipova Social Sciences Peer Culture as Moroccan-Dutch Youth’s Space of Resistance – Domiziana Turcatti Humanities Living Antiquity: the Borghese Hermaphrodite as Baroque Installation – Arent Boon Humanities The Artificial Truth: Universal Rights in a Post-Truth Culture – Vincent Franz Sciences The Ethics of Fairness in Algorithmic Decision Making: an Ethical Analysis of COMPAS through Berk’s Model of Statistical Fairness – Dorian Buijse Sciences The Impact of a Transition to Autonomous Vehicles on Total Energy Consumption in the Passenger Vehicle Transport Sector in the Netherlands – Julian Visser iii Social Sciences Alt-Reich: Why We Fail to Recognize Far Right Extremism - Mapping the Alternative Right’s Repertoire of Violence Nasiba Sharipova Capstone Issue Vol. 10, 2018 Nasiba Sharipova Abstract This study analyses the development of the Alternative Right movement from an agglomeration of online platforms into a violent white nationalist movement, with a focus on this movement in the American context. Drawing on scholarship in media, as well as peace and conflict studies, this thesis conducts visual and discursive analyses of relevant images, events, and texts, specifically looking at the Alternative Right’s behavior on the Internet, as well its coverage by traditional news media. The analyses reveal that through narrative building and collective identity construction the movement propagates a worldview in which white people are oppressed, and herein places an implicit call for the collective it has constructed to stand up against the oppressor. The Alternative right’s knowledge of the principles of traditional media discourse allows it to manipulate the media in such a way that the violence perpetrated at the hands of its sympathizers is not linked to the movement or its ideology. The overall goal of this thesis is to urge an adequate problematization of Alternative right’s progression toward violence. Keywords and phrases: Alt-right, political violence, white supremacy, radical right, social media Introduction agation of its narrative, Alt-right unapologetically proposes white and male superiority and opposes "Hail Trump, hail our people, hail victory!". Less both progressive and conservative America (Mar- than two weeks after the victory of the presiden- wick & Lewis, 2017; Salazar, 2018). Feminism tial candidate Donald Trump in 2016, Richard B. and "political correctness" are rejected, journalists Spencer chose these words to welcome over 200 and media are deemed deceitful, and the perva- attendees to the annual conference of the National siveness of inflammatory language across the plat- Policy Institute. The conference guests applauded forms used by the movement reveals that Alt-right their unofficial leader, who in only a matter of considers the First Amendment as the "right to of- months would enjoy international recognition as fend" (Lyons, 2017). Primarily interacting online, the face of the Alternative Right, and returned his the white nationalist movement is often found on greeting with chants and Nazi salutes (Goldstein, platforms such as Reddit, 8chan and 4chan, as well 2016). as mainstream social media, where its sympathiz- During the 2016 United States presidential elec- ers discuss the issues of politics, race and gen- tion, it was not only Donald Trump who made head- der. Alt-right is further known for its embracing lines with controversial statements; the world was of memes, which in the online context refers to confronted with a Frankenstein’s monster that had images paired with a caption representing a com- taken the shape of the Alternative Right. With its mon expression of comedic or relatable information unconventional practices such as "trolling", Amer- (Lyons, 2017; Marwick & Lewis, 2017). The reliance ica’s organically-developed, bottom-up, right-wing of the Alternative Right on the Internet is strategic, political movement left many people puzzled. As as the medium assists in the process of mass com- a movement, the Alternative Right is a vanguard munication, facilitates the construction of a collec- for radical right-wing ideology and white identity, tive identity, allows the movement to disseminate and with its nativity story tracing back to the dark its message faster, requires little to no resources, corners of the Internet (Salazar, 2018). Once only and often secures anonymity (Adams & Roscigno, referring to a series of vaguely connected websites 2005; Lyons, 2017). Additionally, the sphere of ob- where online subcultures and identity politics were scurity, ephemerality, and irony that governs on prevalent, today the Alt-right not only represents a these platforms allows those previously not inter- movement that is highly skilled in conducting poli- ested in politics, to flirt with hateful and often racist tics online, but also a large organization with a wide ideas, without facing the obligation of accountabil- net of supporters. Relying on legions of white mid- ity. When instrumentalized for political ends, the dle class men, the Alternative Right is on a quest to Internet lends many opportunities to new forms of tell America a story: one where America is in a crisis collective action, such as organized online cam- that traditional methods cannot resolve, one where paigns or crusades targeting enemies of the move- whites are on the edge of extinction, and one where ment (Marwick & Lewis, 2017; Neiwert, 2017). To- liberalism, feminism and multiculturalism are seen day these are commonplace practices of Alterna- as a threat to the future of America. In the prop- tive Right, and the competency of the movement 1 Capstone Issue Vol. 10, 2018 Nasiba Sharipova to utilize the Internet in the said manner is exactly dia scholarship, as well as peace and conflict stud- what makes it unique and frightening. ies. A guiding assumption of this thesis is that The worldview painted by the Alternative Right the construction of a collective identity with shared implicitly demands action against its enemies, de- values and grievances within social movements nouncing democratic methods, and with reference facilitates, and even compels (collective) action. to eugenics, the movement asks its followers to Themes needed to advance this argument will be conspire in the creation of a pure, white America addressed in three