University of Nebraska at Omaha DigitalCommons@UNO Student Work 7-2011 Breaking the Criminogenic Code: A Frame Analysis of Neo-Nazi and Violent Jihadi Propaganda William Travis Morris Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.unomaha.edu/studentwork Part of the Criminology Commons Recommended Citation Morris, William Travis, "Breaking the Criminogenic Code: A Frame Analysis of Neo-Nazi and Violent Jihadi Propaganda" (2011). Student Work. 15. https://digitalcommons.unomaha.edu/studentwork/15 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by DigitalCommons@UNO. It has been accepted for inclusion in Student Work by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@UNO. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Breaking the Criminogenic Code: A Frame Analysis of Neo-Nazi and Violent Jihadi Propaganda A Dissertation Presented to the School of Criminology & Criminal Justice and the Faculty of the Graduate College University of Nebraska In Partial Fulfillment of Requirements for the Degree of Ph.D. University of Nebraska at Omaha by William Travis Morris July 2011 Dissertation Committee: Chair: Dr. Pete Simi Dr. Dennis Hoffman Dr. Lorine Hughes Dr. Moshe Gershovich UMI Number: 3465747 All rights reserved INFORMATION TO ALL USERS The quality of this reproduction is dependent on the quality of the copy submitted. In the unlikely event that the author did not send a complete manuscript and there are missing pages, these will be noted. Also, if material had to be removed, a note will indicate the deletion. UMI 3465747 Copyright 2011 by ProQuest LLC. All rights reserved. This edition of the work is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States Code. ProQuest LLC. 789 East Eisenhower Parkway P.O. Box 1346 Ann Arbor, MI 48106 - 1346 Breaking the Criminogenic Code: A Frame Analysis of Neo-Nazi and Violent Jihadi Propaganda Travis Morris, Ph.D. University of Nebraska, 2011 Advisor: Dr. Pete Simi Abstract: This dissertation focuses on neo-Nazi and violent jihadi propaganda and its role in defining social boundaries. Frame analysis was used to gain a deeper understanding of how neo-Nazis and violent jihadis construct propaganda to neutralize objections and promote drift. Specifically, diagnostic and prognostic frames were analyzed for 10 ―effective‖ propagandists and two ―ineffective‖ propagandists in a comparative framework. This research uses a social psychological perspective, paying particular attention to the emotion of shame and advances the ―violence as communication‖ model into ―terrorism as criminogenic propaganda.‖ Qualitative and quantitative methods were used to analyze how neo-Nazi and violent jihadi propagandists incorporate diagnostic and prognostic frames as techniques of neutralization. Specifically, I analyzed: 1) frame typologies, 2) relationships between frames, 3) location of frames, and 4) frame prevalence. The results provide a better understanding of the link between terrorist propaganda and radicalization and can be used to inform future research and policy decisions. i DEDICATION To my wife, Carrie, the love of my life. We walk as one. ii ACKNOWLEGEMENTS I would like to thank my committee: Dr. Pete Simi (chair), Dr. Dennis Hoffman, Dr. Lori Hughes, and Dr. Moshe Gershovich. I could not have asked for a better committee. I learned a great deal from each of you and your efforts are sincerely appreciated. The support from my family was truly amazing. Carrie, Eden, and Adara demonstrated unwavering support from beginning to end. There really aren‘t words to express how much you mean to me. I also have to thank my classmates who have walked along side me in this journey. Scott and Connie have become some of my closest friends and our time at UNO together created some wonderful memories. A heartfelt thanks also goes to Ben, Mary, and Tusty, who have been very supportive of me and my family throughout the dissertation process. Finally, I would like to thank my parents for their love, encouragement, and support. The most important things in life are ―caught‖ not ―taught‖ and the way they live their life still continues to guide me. iii TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION Introduction-1 Defining Terrorism-2 Criminology and terrorism: a review-4 The analytical framework of violence as communication-6 VAC and Frames-8 Refining Violence as Communication: Including Emotions and Propaganda-10 Terrorism as Criminogenic Propaganda-12 ―Propaganda‖ over ―Communication‖ adds specificity to VAC-13 ―Terrorism‖ over ―Violence‖ adds specificity to VAC-16 A Path Forward-16 The Ontology: The Key to Operationalizing Emotions in Frames-16 Network Text Analysis (NTA): Analyzing Emotional Frames in Criminogenic Propaganda-17 Neo-Nazi and Violent Jihadism: A Current Social Movement of Ideas-18 CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE Situational Motivation Theories: Subcultural and Strain Theory-21 Violent Jihadism-25 Neo-Nazism-28 Differences and Similarities between Neo-Nazism and Violent Jihadism-36 Terrorism Scholarship-34 A Social Psychological Perspective in Terrorism Scholarship-39 Criminology, Techniques of Neutralization, & Framing-38 Frames and Framing-43 Framing, Erving Goffman, and the Media-44 Framing and Social Movements-46 Terrorism as Criminogenic Propaganda-49 Propaganda-52 The Emotion of Shame-55 Violent Jihadi and neo-Nazi Shame-58 CHAPTER 3: METHODS Research Design-60 Research Questions-61 Operationalizing Diagnostic/Prognostic Frames-65 Network Text Analysis (NTA)-69 Analytical Procedures-71 Research Sample-72 Effective Propaganda-75 iv CHAPTER 4: FINDINGS-DIAGNOSTIC FRAMES Introduction-79 A Typology of Neo-Nazi Diagnostic Frames-81 A Typology of Violent Jihadi Diagnostic Frames-89 Similarities and Differences Between neo-Nazi and Violent Jihadi Neutralization Techniques-97 Conclusion and Discussion-106 CHAPTER 5: FINDINGS-PROGNOSTIC FRAMES Introduction-109 A Typology of Neo-Nazi Prognostic Frames-110 A Typology of Violent Jihadi Prognostic Frames-121 Similarities and Differences Between neo-Nazi and Violent Jihadi Neutralization Techniques-131 Conclusion and Discussion-140 CHAPTER 6: THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN DIAGNOSTIC & PROGNOSTIC FRAMES Introduction-144 Central Findings-145 Neo-Nazi Total Frame Prevalence-151 Neo-Nazi Violent Prognostic Frames as Solutions-152 Locating neo-Nazi Diagnostic & Prognostic Frames in Text-157 Violent Jihadi Total Frame Prevalence-162 Jihadi Violent Prognostic Frames as Solutions-163 Locating Violent Jihadi Diagnostic & Prognostic Frames in Text-168 Conclusion and Discussion-171 CHAPTER 7: CONCLUSION AND DISCUSSION Summary of Key Findings-174 Neutralization Theory-177 Shame-182 Research Rationale-185 Research Limitations-187 Policy Implications-189 Future Research-191 REFERENCES-194 v LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1: The Violence as Communication Concept-8 Figure 2: Terrorism as Criminogenic Propaganda-12 Figure 3: The Differences and Similarities between neo-Nazis and Violent Jihadis-33 Figure 4: Tissari (2006) Emotion Ontology Boundaries-68 Figure 5: Research Sample-76 Figure 6: A neo-Nazi/Violent Jihadi Diagnostic Typology-80 Figure 7: Similarities and Differences between neo-Nazi and Violent Jihadi Neutralization Techniques-98 Figure 8: A neo-Nazi/Violent Jihadi Prognostic Typology-110 Figure 9: Similarities and Differences between neo-Nazi and Violent Jihadi Neutralization Techniques-132 Figure 10: Network Text Analysis Closeness Algorithm-264 Figure 11: Violent Jihadi Diagnostic Frame Definitions/Codes-265 Figure 12: Neo-Nazi Diagnostic Frame Definitions/Codes-267 Figure 13: Violent Jihadi Prognostic Frame Definitions/Codes-270 Figure 14: Neo-Nazi Prognostic Frame Definitions/Codes-273 vi LIST OF FIGURES OF TABLES Table 1: Neo-Nazi Diagnostic Categories over Time-82 Table 2: Primary neo-Nazi Diagnostic Frames by Propagandist-87 Table 3: Violent Jihadi Diagnostic Typological Categories over Time-90 Table 4: Primary Violent Jihadi Diagnostic Frames by Propagandist-97 Table 5: Neo-Nazi Prognostic Typological Categories over Time-111 Table 6: Primary neo-Nazi Prognostic Frames by Propagandist-120 Table 7: Violent Jihadi Prognostic Typological Categories over Time-122 Table 8: Primary Violent Jihadi Prognostic Frames by Propagandist-131 Table 9: Neo-Nazi Diagnostic/Prognostic Prevalence-151 Table 10: Violent neo-Nazi Solutions to Out-Group/In-Group Problems-153 Table 11: Linking Violent Solutions to Neo-Nazi Diagnostic Types, Prevalence, and Closeness- 154 Table 12: The Location of neo-Nazi Diagnostic/Prognostic Frames-158 Table 13: Violent Jihadi Diagnostic/Prognostic Prevalence-163 Table 14: Violent Jihadi Solutions to Out-Group/In-Group Problems-164 Table 15: Linking Violent Solutions to Violent Jihadi Diagnostic Types, Prevalence, and Closeness-165 Table 16: The Location of Violent Jihadi Diagnostic/Prognostic Frames-167 Table 17: Types of neo-Nazi Diagnostic Frames-275 Table 18: Types of neo-Nazi Diagnostic Frames by Propagandist/Text-276 Table 19: Types of Violent Jihadi Diagnostic Frames-278 Table 20: Types of Violent Jihadi Diagnostic Frames by Propagandist/Text-280 Table 21: Types of neo-Nazi Prognostic Frames-282 Table 22: Types of neo-Nazi Prognostic Frames by Propagandist/Text-284 Table 23: Types of Violent Jihadi Prognostic Frames-286 Table 24: Types of Violent Jihadi Prognostic Frames by Propagandist/Text-287 Table 25: Relationship between neo-Nazi Prognostic/Diagnostic Frames-288 Table 26: Relationship between Violent Jihadi Prognostic/Diagnostic Frames-291