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dc.contributor.advisorObadare, Ebenezer
dc.contributor.authorSampson, Kirk
dc.date.accessioned2021-02-27T20:48:00Z
dc.date.available2021-02-27T20:48:00Z
dc.date.issued2019-12-31
dc.date.submitted2019
dc.identifier.otherhttp://dissertations.umi.com/ku:16885
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/1808/31494
dc.description.abstractThe European Union (EU) appears nearing the end of a second wave of Islamist-inspired terrorism that peaked in 2015. However, the focus on Islamist terrorism may have diverted attention from a more pressing domestic terrorism threat. While not as lethal as Islamist terrorism, the total of non-Islamist terrorist attacks was significantly higher during the same timeframe. Of the non-Islamist attacks, right-wing terrorism accounted for a small percentage, but these numbers may be misleading. How the various EU members define right-wing terrorism may be contributing to an underestimation of the threat, but there could also be a temporal explanation. Right-wing terrorism appears to be cyclic, with the last major wave ending in the early 2000s. A concern is a new wave of right-wing terrorism may appear fueled by the same grievances that have led to increasing support for right-wing populist parties. Right-wing populist parties now have parliamentary representation in 22 of 28 EU member states and have a sizeable presence in the European Parliament. While right-wing populist parties have refrained from openly calling for violence against their perceived antagonists, the rhetoric of these groups has nonetheless helped to create a climate encouraging hatred of outgroups. These toxic narratives have inspired lone actors to commit acts of domestic terrorism around the world. Could the underlying societal issues and grievances contributing to the rise of right-wing populism in Europe also fuel a corresponding rise in right-wing terrorism? In determining the nature of future terrorist threats to the EU, this thesis explores the relationship between the rise of right-wing populism and its potential impact on domestic terrorism. Specifically, in what ways might the presence of right-wing populist parties in government (either at the national or supranational level) effect right-wing terrorism in the EU? In helping to conceptualize the terrorist threat to the EU, this thesis discusses the various definitions of terrorism, the goals and strategies of terrorist groups, the current terrorist threat assessments, and the latest trends shaping how terrorists operate. Next, the thesis focuses on conceptualizing populism to help understand the us vs. them construct and the demand- and supply-side drivers contributing to the rise of right-wing populism in Europe. This is followed by an in-depth look into the current European political and social environment to show how the various issues play into right-wing populist narratives. The European case study offers a unique opportunity to analyze right-wing populist politics simultaneously at the state and supranational levels. Also discussed are the various theories underpinning political mobilization, radicalization, us vs. them narratives, and terrorism pathways, to understand how right-wing populism factors into the radicalization process. The paper concludes by discussing seven hypotheses on how the right-wing populism could shape domestic terrorism in the EU.
dc.format.extent114 pages
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherUniversity of Kansas
dc.rightsCopyright held by the author.
dc.subjectPolitical science
dc.subjectInternational relations
dc.subjectSociology
dc.subjectEuropean Union
dc.subjectPolitical Mobilization
dc.subjectPopulism
dc.subjectRadicalization
dc.subjectRight-wing
dc.subjectTerrorism
dc.title“Weapons of the Weak” in the European Union: The Rise of Right-Wing Populism and its Implications for Domestic Terrorism
dc.typeThesis
dc.contributor.cmtememberCarter, Brittnee A
dc.contributor.cmtememberHanley, Eric A
dc.thesis.degreeDisciplineGlobal and International Studies, Center for
dc.thesis.degreeLevelM.A.
dc.identifier.orcidhttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-7764-2923en_US
dc.rights.accessrightsopenAccess


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