Homeland Security Report: Analyzing and Comparing Extremist Ideologies

This report provides a comprehensive analysis of right-wing and left-wing extremism in the context of homeland security, drawing comparisons between the two. It examines the findings of reports from the New York Police Department and the Department of Homeland Security to gauge the extent of terror inflicted by these groups. The analysis delves into the impact of economic and political climates on radicalization, the motivations behind each extremist ideology, and the methods employed by terrorist outfits. The report concludes by highlighting the differences between the groups and suggesting tailored approaches for the U.S. government to address the threats posed by each.

Running head: HOMELAND SECURITY
Homeland Security
Name of the University
Name of the Student
Author Note

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Executive Summary
The report tries to gauge the extent of terror that has been inflicted by the rightwing terror groups
and also draw a comparison between the left and the right wings. New York Police
Department’s report: “Radicalization in the West: The Homegrown Threat is a comprehensive
understanding of the threat that shook the West and Department of Homeland Security report:
“Rightwing extremism: Current economic and political climate fueling resurgence in
radicalization and recruitment talks about the resurgent threat that impacted the World. These
reports try to draw and parallel regarding the homegrown terrorist outfits and how they have
fuelled and shaped the course of terrorism. The report tries to study the findings and also gauge
the extent of the terror outfits. Through analyzing the reports, there has been a constant endeavor
to do a comparative analysis of the two.

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Contents
Analysis 1........................................................................................................................................3
Analysis 2........................................................................................................................................4
Comparison......................................................................................................................................6
References........................................................................................................................................8

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Analysis 1
Rightwing extremism: Current economic and political climate fueling resurgence in
radicalization and recruitment.
Research Question:
The main aim of the report was to understand and assess the intelligence so as to fathom
a bigger issue of radicalization and ways to combat the threat. The research question that is
addressed through this report is to see if the economic and political climate has an impact on
radicalization. Through this report, it is essential to see how far the federal, state and the local
authorities can devise methods to counter terrorism (Zaxon, 2018).
Literature review:
Understanding the reports generated by scholars who have studied vastly on poverty and
unemployment has tried to link them to radicalization. A 2007 report of the German Institute for
Economic Research has helped in the understanding of the extremist rightwing ideologies. This
report has specifically addressed xenophobia and antidemocratic ideals. Many conspiracy
theories have been studied and those theories have reflected in the report. By studying the
Christian Identity Organization it has been understood that the prophecies of the extremists have
been taken up by the antigovernment conspiracy. The Supreme Court had decided in the case of
District of Columbia v Heller, wherein the Court had held that an individual had the right to keep
weapons under the provisions of the U.S Constitution. A FBI report in the year 2008 held that
some veterans who were returning from Iraq or Afghanistan had started to join the extremist
groups.

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Research method:
Secondary data analysis has been used. Qualitative data collection process has been
implemented to conduct the report.
Research collection:
The research was done by collecting the existing data and survey that were present in the
FBI department and cells. Though the Office of Intelligence and Analysis had not received any
data regarding the domestic rightwing terrorists there has been ample proof regarding the
terrorist issues and the impending violence. The DHS/I&A has assessed the declining economy
as one of the prime reasons behind the radicalization.
Analysis:
The conclusion of the report as highly supported by the research that was conducted. The
report concludes the survey and the data that were studied in the process.
Analysis 2
Radicalization in the West: The Homegrown Threat
Research question:
The main research question in this case is to assist the policy makers by evaluating the
scope of the threat faced by the law enforcement officials and the encounter process for the
emerging threats to constitute radicalization process.

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Literature review:
The main theme of this report is to point out the aim of the leftwing radicalism in order to
mitigate the threatening issues emerged in the post 9/11 stage. The main threat has been come
out from the Islamic states and the main directory authority in this case is the al-Qaeda. Further,
certain Salafi ideological influence has been pointed out in the main literature parts of this report.
According to the report of the New York Police Department, the Salafi sources are trying to
constitute certain Non-governmental organizations to proliferate the militant ideology. Further,
the influences of the internet cafes have been mentioned here. Brian Michael Jenkins has pointed
out certain resources regarding the Muslim institutions. Further, focus has been given on the
extremist literature for instigating the terrorism. According to Alain Bauer, Criminologist at
Sorbonne University, terrorism is the central pivot for the government and the harshest thing is
that those organizations are quite opportunistic.
Research method:
Considering the brief of the report, it can be stated that the nature of the report is quite
exploratory. It helps to understand the terrorist encounter process and the source of terrorism. It
assists the lawmakers to resolve the dispute relating to the terrorist attacks. Therefore, it can be
stated that the research method applies in this case is qualitative. This report will help to uncover
the opinions to counter terrorism attacks and reveals the semi-structured method. Certain usual
methods in this case are research, participation and observation.
Research collection:

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The research collection method applies in this case is secondary and further research has
been made by the New York Police Department. Certain terrorist sources have been filtered and
various sources have been uncovered. The nature of the research was quite systematic.
Comparison
Unlike the rightwing extremists, the aim of the western radicals is different. It has been
observed in the previous paragraph that the main aim of rightwing is to protest against the
financial scarcity in the country. Further, the problem regarding unemployment has made a great
dilemma in the inter section of the country. On the other hand, the rise of western radicalism
gives birth of Islamic-based terrorism in the New York City and the matter was established
through various terrorist attacks such as Madrid’s March attack in 2004, London’s Attack in
2005 and Toronto’s 18 Case in 2006. The main aim of this group is not to protest against the
economic problem or unemployment, but to spread threat all over the world. Certain researches
have been taken place to understand the plan and plots of the terrorists by the US government;
however, it has been observed that the terrorists are adopting various different techniques to
materialize their action (Karakatsanis& Herzog, 2016). The main ideology of those radicals is
based on Jihadi-salafi and the followers of this cult victimized the host countries and inspired by
a number of homegrown groups. There are four separate phases can be observed in this place
such as pre-radicalization, self-identification, indoctrination and Jihadization. No similarities can
be observed regarding the action plans of these groups and all these models are sequential
(Rooduijn&Akkerman, 2017). In case of rightwing extremists, economic downturn and
unemployment was the main issues. In case of western radicalism, there are four main issues
such as:
 Economic issue based on the lack of job and blocked mobility;

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 Social issue such as alienation, discrimination and racism;
 Political issue such as global conflict as against the Muslim; and
 Personal issue that is death of close relatives
Further, in Western Radicalism, certain religious matter is involved. According to most
of the Jihadi, a conception of “spiritual sanctioner” is evolved. In addition, the rightwing
movement is national in nature; whereas the western radicalism is international and the terrorists
are spreading the terror all over the world. Therefore, not only USA, various other countries are
affected by this. The rightwing extremists are not followed a specific cult and no religious aspect
is engraved under this group (Gomez, Morales & Ramiro, 2016). However, the Muslims mainly
follow western radicals and they wanted to establish their identity in the world. Certain problems
are there to identify the source of resentment between the two groups. In case of rightwing, it is
clear that lack of financial sustainability and idleness is the main reason. Further, the movement
was limited to the territorial jurisdiction of USA. However, in case of western radicalism, the
matter was quite hard and the source of anger could not be resolved. Further, this movement is
international and therefore, global effort is required to stop this phenomenon. Further, the Jihadis
are adopting new techniques and one of the most utilized practices in the modern world is the
rise of suicide squad (Ali, 2016). Further, most of the groups are divided in semi-groups and the
operational leader heads each group. The leaders are motivated the jihadis with tapes and videos
and money is offered to them. The growth of the jihadis is rapid and it becomes difficult to trace
out the source of the radicals with prominence.

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Conclusion
Therefore, it can be stated that both the groups are based on the ideology to introduce
terror attacks, but there are certain differences in between the groups. The USA government has
to take different mentality to deal with the matters. The position of the groups should be
identified and various steps are required to be identified and enforced.

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References
Ali, J. A. (2016). Multiculturalism, Muslim radicalism, and the problematic of Muslim
integration in Australia. Muslim integration: Pluralism and multiculturalism in New
Zealand and Australia, 151-169.
Caiani, M., &Parenti, L. (2016). European and American extreme right groups and the internet.
Routledge.
Capellan, J. A. (2018). Killing Alone. Terrorism in America, 8.
Gomez, R., Morales, L., & Ramiro, L. (2016). Varieties of radicalism: Examining the diversity
of radical left parties and voters in Western Europe. West European Politics, 39(2), 351-
379.
Karakatsanis, L., & Herzog, M. (2016). Radicalisation as form: beyond the security paradigm.
Marquis, D. J. (2016). Race, Sexuality, And Radicalism In The Piney Woods: The Industrial
Workers Of The World And The Brotherhood Of Timber Workers, 1910-1916.
Parent, D. R. B., & Ellis III, J. O. (2016). Future of Right-Wing Terrorism in Canada. Canadian
Network for Research on Terrorism, Security, and Society.
Rooduijn, M., &Akkerman, T. (2017). Flank attacks: Populism and left-right radicalism in
Western Europe. Party Politics, 23(3), 193-204.
Silber, M. B. A. (2007). Radicalization in the West: The Homegrown Threat.
Windle, J., Morrison, J. F., &Winter, A. (2018). Introduction: Hawking the historical method in
organized crime and terrorism studies. In Historical Perspectives on Organized Crime
and Terrorism (pp. 13-26). Routledge.

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Winter, A. (2018). The Klan is history: a historical perspective on the revival of the far-right in
‘post-racial’America. In Historical Perspectives on Organized Crime and Terrorism(pp.
121-144). Routledge.
Zaxon, K. (2018). Rightwing extremism: Current economic and political climate fueling
resurgence in radicalization and recruitment (pp 5-7)