The Emerging Threat of Domestic Terrorism and White
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THE EMERGING THREAT OF DOMESTIC TERRORISM AND WHITE SUPREMACIST GROUPS: A SYSTEMATIC-REVIEW by JOSE CAMPOS B.A., American Military University, 2013 A thesis submitted to the Graduate Faculty of the University of Colorado Colorado Springs in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Criminal Justice and Master of Public Administration School of Public Affairs 2020 © 2020 JOSE CAMPOS ALL RIGHTS RESERVED This thesis for the Master of Criminal Justice and Master of Public Administration degree by Jose Campos has been approved for the School of Public Affairs by Edin Mujkic, Chair Henriikka Weir Steve Recca Date 14 December 2020 ii Campos, Jose (M.C.J & M.P.A) The Emerging Threat of Domestic Terrorism and White Supremacist Groups: A Systematic-Review Thesis directed by Assistant Professor Edin Mujkic ABSTRACT On September 17, 2020, Christopher A. Wray, the Federal Bureau of Investigations’ director, testified in Congress that violent extremist groups and racially motivated violent extremism, mostly from white supremacists, are the number one threat to this nation. Additionally, the director made it clear with his statement that white supremacists and anti-government groups have carried out the most lethal attacks on American soil in recent years. In the light of these uncertainties with white supremacist violence and domestic terrorism, the first objective of this systematic review is to understand further the proliferation of white supremacist groups' structures, tactics, and bigoted ideologies and investigate the causes of domestic terrorism and its connection to white supremacist groups. This review’s second objective is to examine the relationships between domestic terrorism threats with a specific focus on white supremacist groups in the State of Colorado. This examination’s third objective is to incorporate the research of domestic terrorism and white supremacist groups using peer-reviewed articles, published books, and providing a brief background into the threats, white supremacist groups embody, its causes, and motivations. Lastly, examining of the information and the data in this review will help identify the best explanation of domestic terrorism to facilitate research progression. iii DEDICATION I dedicate this thesis work to my loving wife, Estela. Without your support, this process of ten months would never have come to fruition. Thank you for your constant support and encouragement during the challenges I encountered in three years as a graduate student. I am genuinely thankful for your love, dedication, and having you in my life. This thesis is also dedicated to my beloved friend Gilbert Sanchez, for his unconditional love and encouragement for the last 32 years of my life. He has been an inspiration to me, and he is the epitome of a man I always aspire to be. Also, I would like to thank Lieutenant Belk back then in 1999 Senior Airman Belk to help me catapult my Air Force career in 2000. He helped me secure a critical position running the Weapons Safety and Security System when my career was stagnated. His actions helped expand my horizons and increase the confidence I lacked, which led me to the fascinating world of writing academically. Finally, I dedicate this work to Dr. Edward Coufal; although you are no longer in this world, the endless advice you gave me as a mentor continues to regulate every aspect of my life. I will ensure that your loving memories live as long as I shall live in this world. There is no doubt in my mind that God has truly blessed me with loving relationships. iv ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The onset of this process started in January 2020 as an attempt to understand why the threats of domestic terrorisms and white supremacist groups are emerging at an alarming pace in the United States. Predominantly, my research led me down several pathways, revealing that this country does not have adequate statutes for combating domestic terrorism. Most importantly, these threats are multifaceted, dynamic, and pose a more significant threat than international terrorism. Additionally, understanding the explanations in the direct involvement of violence by white supremacist groups and whether they represent a clear and present threat. My first indebtedness is to Dr. Mujkic, the chair of this research. This thesis would not have been possible without your help. I would like to thank you for your unwavering support during the darkest stages of this research and your expert guidance. My second indebtedness is to Dr. Weir for your inputs proved to be invaluable during my thesis defense and the methodology. My third indebtedness is to Mr. Recca for your proficiency and excellent feedback. My fourth indebtedness is to Dr. Caudill for always invigorating my learning, and your determination to make me a logical thinker and writer was not unproductive. My last indebtedness is to Dr. Wonnett, Dr. Lee, Dr. Winters, Dr. Moon, and Dr. Landon-Murray. They never faltered with their commitment to my academic progress, and each of them are masters of encouraging teaching. Finally, I would like to thank the entire School of Public Affairs for their support every time I had a question or assisted me in navigating the requirements for graduation and completing my thesis. It is a blessing to be part of such a fantastic team, and I would like to express my deepest gratitude. v TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER 1 ...................................................................................................................... ..1 INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Introduction of the Problem .............................................................................. 1 1.2 The Systematic Review ..................................................................................... 2 1.3 Purpose of the Study .......................................................................................... 4 1.4 Description of the Chapters ............................................................................... 5 CHAPTER 2 ........................................................................................................................ 6 LITERATURE REVIEW ................................................................................................ 6 2.1 Defining Domestic Terrorism ........................................................................... 6 2.1.1 The Problems Toward a Practical Definition of Domestic Terrorism......9 2.1.2 What is Domestic Terrorism...................................................................10 2.2 History and Examples of Domestic Terrorism ................................................ 14 2.2.1 Critical Aspects Complicating Domestic Terrorism……………...........19 2.3 The Evolution of Domestic Terrorism ............................................................ 22 2.3.1 Why the Emerging Threat of Domestic Terrorism is Growing…..........24 2.3.2 Responding to the Threat of Domestic Terrorism ................................. 27 CHAPTER 3 ...................................................................................................................... 29 METHODS .................................................................................................................... 29 3.1 Data Collection ................................................................................................ 29 3.2 Articles and Books Included ........................................................................... 30 3.3 Resources Excluded ........................................................................................ 34 CHAPTER 4 ...................................................................................................................... 39 FINDINGS ..................................................................................................................... 39 4.1 Introduction ..................................................................................................... 39 4.2 Causes of Domestic Terrorism ........................................................................ 40 4.2.1 Organizational Level Motivations ........................................................... 41 4.2.2 Individual Level Motivations .................................................................. 42 4.3 Operations of White Supremacist Groups in Colorado……………..…..…….43 4.3.1 Websites and Social Media Presence ...................................................... 44 4.3.2 Membership, Recruitment, Propaganda, and Violent Activities………...45 CHAPTER 5 ...................................................................................................................... 47 DISCUSSION ................................................................................................................ 47 vi 5.1 Conclusion ....................................................................................................... 47 5.2 Limitations of the Current Research ............................................................... 48 5.3 Future Research .......................................................................................... ….49 5.4 Recommendations ........................................................................................... 49 REFERENCES .................................................................................................................. 53 vii LIST OF TABLES Table 3.1 Articles and Books Included in the Review………………..…………………….31 3.2