Americans tend to have a rather inaccurate view of terrorist threats facing the country. The prototypical view of the terrorist threat is Middle Eastern, jihadist, and irreconcilable with American society. However, the more realistic terrorist threat facing us is much closer, more dangerous, and hiding right in front of us. Domestic terrorism, specifically violent extremism, is one of the most significant security threats facing our nation today.

While not the solely responsible party for domestic violent extremism (DVE), the far-right has been responsible for half of all terrorist attacks in the US since 2011. In 2019, this amount jumped to two-thirds. And in 2020, over 90 percent. It’s clear that the threat of right-wing extremism is growing in the United States, and with it, extreme ideology. This article hopes to explain exactly what this threat is, how it’s impacting American society and security, and posit the future of DVE. Because considering that more people in the US have been killed by right-wing extremists than jihadists in the years since 2011, it’s clear that America, ripe with political polarization, a new era of online radicalization, and constantly facing socio-political challenges, now has a severe, homegrown terrorist threat.

What is Right-Wing Extremism?

Right-wing extremism is a broad topic that, in the context of the United States, often takes roots from racist, nativist, anti-government, or single-issue (such as abortion or the environment) views. And unfortunately, the US has a long history of such extremism. The most prominent example is certainly the KKK, a white supremacist hate group responsible for thousands of killings of black Americans, terrorist attacks, and violence against social minorities.

But American DVE groups have evolved to become more convoluted than their past racist and nativist counterparts. Many right wing extremist groups now share ideologies from different tenets, or mix ideologies from other groups. What started off as white supremacy and nativism evolved to encompass anti-socialist, anti-Semitism, anti-government, neonazi, and alt right views. Moreover, extremist groups are, perhaps counterintuitively, becoming more diverse. Due to an increasingly prominent belief that the state of the nation is declining, more and more people are willing to resort to extreme ideologies and violent action in order to advocate for a change they want to see, or shift the balance of power. As a result of these growing views, the nation is actually seeing more nonwhite individuals take part in right-wing extremist groups, which traditionally espouse doctrines of white supremacy. As DVE is twisted to fit the modern age, a new kind of ‘multiracial white supremacy’ is joining other combined views to create the violent ideologies of America’s right-wing extremism.

Society and Security

Right now, right-wing extremism is being perpetuated at different levels within society. Right-wing organized paramilitary groups, for example, such as the Oath Keepers and Proud Boys (groups holding responsibility for the January 6th attacks), coordinate and carry out attacks against the government. Extremists within law enforcement and in the military can cause serious harm due to the nature of their positions. GOP politicians occasionally use the threat of political violence to secure their interests. Globally, we’re seeing extremism spread at a rate and in ways that we’ve never seen before.

Already, we’re seeing radical right-wing ideas and individuals change the way society functions. Election workers have been forced into hiding, school officials are constantly harassed, flight attendants have been assaulted for enforcing COVID-19 rules, and judges are threatened. We see armed demonstrations, attacks on abortion clinics, bomb threats delivered to hospitals that provide care to transgender children, and the armed intimidation of librarians for sharing their ideas.

Considering that law enforcement exists to protect the people, it’s interesting that one of the newest targets of right-wing DVE is law enforcement itself. In the summer of 2020, America witnessed huge numbers of protests against police brutality following the murder of George Floyd, and ‘left-wing extremists’ became a favorite point of contention among the right. But in 2021, the narrative flipped, when right-wing extremists attacked the Capitol. And last summer, the FBI investigation at Mar-a-Lago launched a new wave of right-wing attacks on law enforcement. Online, GOP politicians flouted conspiracy theories, and some MAGA Republicans went so far as to call the FBI the ‘enemy of the people.’ One Florida politician seeking office proposed all be allowed to shoot federal troops on sight. With law enforcement increasingly threatened by right-wing extremism, it’s a real threat that our troops or officers could be seriously injured or even killed in the line of duty, only worsening the threat these violent groups and individuals create for the public.

Moving Foward

The future is looking grim. America is ripe with conspiracies, disinformation, culture wars, and a radicalized internet culture that will continue to fuel right-wing extremist groups. All recent data demonstrates that DVE is on the rise. Furthermore, as right- wing extremism is positively correlated with Trump supporters, the upcoming election may stir political tensions and allegiances in such a way to inflame extremists.

Many don’t realize the true extent that extremism has permeated our society. While very few Americans will identify with labels such as ‘radical’, ‘extremist’, or ‘white supremacist’, more and more people, in self-reported polls, are starting to align with extremist ideologies. While not definitive categorization, this suggests that Americans are becoming increasingly radicalized without realizing it. As our population becomes more influenced by these ideals, our society will witness more violent, radicalized behavior.

Our fundamental security is threatened by right-wing and domestic violent extremism. In some drastic, devastating, and deadly situations, extremism becomes terrorism. As government, law, and military agencies have become the most frequent targets of attacks, and metropolitan areas become focal points of domestic terrorism, our society and its balance of power is shifting to a precarious position – one that threatens the people, our security, and our democratic values.

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