Is There a Language of Terrorists? A Comparative Manifesto Analysis
Previous research has shown that identity fusion can motivate violent self-sacrifice when the group is threatened. In this study we conducted an ethnographic content analysis of fifteen manifestos - expressing varied levels of extremism - to examine whether fusion and other relevant variables can be...
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| Published in | Studies in conflict and terrorism Vol. 48; no. 6; pp. 601 - 628 |
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| Main Authors | , , |
| Format | Journal Article |
| Language | English |
| Published |
Routledge
03.06.2025
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| Online Access | Get full text |
| ISSN | 1057-610X 1521-0731 |
| DOI | 10.1080/1057610X.2022.2109244 |
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| Abstract | Previous research has shown that identity fusion can motivate violent self-sacrifice when the group is threatened. In this study we conducted an ethnographic content analysis of fifteen manifestos - expressing varied levels of extremism - to examine whether fusion and other relevant variables can be reliably identified and if the predictions of the fusion-plus-threat model are supported. Our findings indicate that linguistic proxies for identity fusion combined with mediating and moderating variables such as existential threat narratives, violence-condoning group norms and dehumanizing vocabulary, can be reliably identified and are more prevalent in the documents of would-be terrorists. This method may contribute to predicting the likelihood that individuals will engage in acts of violent extremism. |
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| AbstractList | Previous research has shown that identity fusion can motivate violent self-sacrifice when the group is threatened. In this study we conducted an ethnographic content analysis of fifteen manifestos - expressing varied levels of extremism - to examine whether fusion and other relevant variables can be reliably identified and if the predictions of the fusion-plus-threat model are supported. Our findings indicate that linguistic proxies for identity fusion combined with mediating and moderating variables such as existential threat narratives, violence-condoning group norms and dehumanizing vocabulary, can be reliably identified and are more prevalent in the documents of would-be terrorists. This method may contribute to predicting the likelihood that individuals will engage in acts of violent extremism. |
| Author | Ebner, Julia Kavanagh, Chris Whitehouse, Harvey |
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| Copyright | 2022 The Author(s). Published with license by Taylor & Francis Group, LLC. 2022 |
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| Title | Is There a Language of Terrorists? A Comparative Manifesto Analysis |
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