Tradition and Authoritarianism as a Solution to Social Decay- An Analysis of Canadian Right- Wing Extremism Online by Kayla Preston Submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts at Dalhousie University Halifax, Nova Scotia April 2020 © Copyright by Kayla Preston, 2020 Dedication To my wonderful cohort and friends. Thank you for the laughs and the fond memories. ii Table of Contents List of Figures ................................................................................................................................. v Abstract .......................................................................................................................................... vi List of Abbreviations Used ........................................................................................................... vii Acknowledgements ...................................................................................................................... viii Chapter 1: Introduction ................................................................................................................. 1 Canadian Context ..................................................................................................................... 2 Extremism in the United States ............................................................................................... 4 Right-Wing Groups in This Study........................................................................................... 6 Gaps in Current Research........................................................................................................ 7 Chapter 2: Common Worlds and Whiteness Theory- Analyzing Online Content ..................... 10 Race and Right-Wing Extremism.......................................................................................... 10 Politics and Political Ideologies.............................................................................................. 11 The Internet ............................................................................................................................. 12 Theoretical Framework .......................................................................................................... 14 Critical Whiteness Theory..................................................................................................... 14 Sociology of Critical Capacity .............................................................................................. 17 Limitations ............................................................................................................................... 20 Chapter 3: Analysis of Online Content ....................................................................................... 22 Benefits and Challenges to Online Research ........................................................................ 22 Data .......................................................................................................................................... 23 Data Collection ........................................................................................................................ 24 Data Analysis- Content Analysis ........................................................................................... 25 Variables and Strategies of Coding ....................................................................................... 26 Summary .................................................................................................................................. 29 Chapter 4: Findings: Claims about Canadian Identity, Belonging, and Politics ..................... 30 Overview of Canadian Identity is White .............................................................................. 32 Identity and Whiteness .......................................................................................................... 32 A Lack of Assimilation .......................................................................................................... 35 Overview of Equating Canadian Values to Traditional Values ......................................... 37 Canadian Values ................................................................................................................... 37 Queerness and the Authority of the Parent ........................................................................... 39 The Media ............................................................................................................................. 42 Overview of Social Decay ....................................................................................................... 45 Increase in Crime .................................................................................................................. 46 iii Increase in Illegal Immigration ............................................................................................ 47 Overview of Implementation of Authoritarian Governments ............................................ 50 Distrust of Governmental Institutions ................................................................................... 50 Vilification of the Liberal Party ............................................................................................ 53 Valorization of Right-Wing Governments ............................................................................. 54 Summary .................................................................................................................................. 57 Chapter 5: Using Mundane Language to Make Key Claims ..................................................... 59 Connection to the Bigger Story .............................................................................................. 60 Canadian identity .................................................................................................................. 60 Canadian Values are Traditional Values ............................................................................. 63 Social Decay ......................................................................................................................... 65 Authoritarian Government .................................................................................................... 67 Summary .................................................................................................................................. 69 Chapter 6: Conclusion ................................................................................................................. 70 Study Contributions................................................................................................................ 70 Studying Right-Wing Extremism in Canada ......................................................................... 70 Studying Extremism Online ................................................................................................... 71 Extremist Groups and Mundane Language .......................................................................... 73 Relevance ................................................................................................................................. 74 Summary .................................................................................................................................. 75 References .................................................................................................................................... 77 Appendix 1- Initial Observation Keywords ................................................................................. 92 Appendix 2- Number of Posts Coded in Each Theme ................................................................ 93 Appendix 3- Hierarchal Coding Structure .................................................................................. 94 iv List of Figures Figure 1 Example of Coding ......................................................................................................... 28 Figure 2 “About” Tab from ID Canada Webpage ........................................................................ 32 Figure 3 "White Guilt" Poster from ID Canada ............................................................................ 34 Figure 4 "Break the Shackles of White Guilt" Tab from ID Canada Webpage............................ 34 Figure 5 Yellow Vests Canada Post#74........................................................................................ 36 Figure 6 "Resource Competition" ID Canada Website ................................................................. 36 Figure 7 Soldiers of Odin-BC Information Poster ........................................................................ 38 Figure 8 "ID Canada's Role" from ID Canada's Webpage ........................................................... 39 Figure 9 Soldiers of Odin-BC Post#16 ......................................................................................... 40 Figure 10 Soldiers of Odin-BC Post#83 ....................................................................................... 41 Figure 11 Soldiers of Odin-BC Post#52 ....................................................................................... 42 Figure 12 Soldiers of Odin-BC Post#77 ....................................................................................... 43 Figure 13 Yellow Vests Canada Post#72.....................................................................................