Hate Groups and Extremism Essay Example

The society comprises diverse groups of people who share a wide range of cultures and beliefs. Diversity in cultural backgrounds implies that people subscribe to different philosophies, ideas, and customs. The differences in ideologies make each group unique from the other. Cultural beliefs dictate the perceptions and attitudes of a particular group of people towards others. Thus, members of a social group develop stereotypes on issues, such as religion, gender, ethnicity, and race. They perpetuate these stereotypes through acts of violence and open hostility against specific groups (Schmid, 2013). Hate groups often advance their agenda through the use of radical measures. Members adopt a policy of zero tolerance for other people's religions, races, or cultures. Hate groups thrive on vilification of others. This paper discusses the aspects of hate groups and extremism in the society.

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Extremists are members who adopt radical tactics to fulfill their mission of hatred against a section of a population. They often support the use of violence to spread fear and intimidate others. They use dangerous methods to threaten core values that characterize society. For instance, extremist groups affiliated with the Islam religion demonstrate a lack of tolerance for the other people's religious beliefs. Perpetuating violence against groups whose faith differs from theirs violates the fundamental freedom of worship. Extremists use force to impose their beliefs on others. Their methods impart fear in the targeted communities. Specific reasons motivate individuals who advocate for the use of violent means to convey their message or disagreement (Borum, 2011). The primary motivator is the misguided interpretation of beliefs, which prevents extremists from accepting logical explanations.

Institutions tasked with protecting citizens against threats of hate groups and extremists face numerous challenges. As technology evolves, monitoring of their plans and activities becomes hard. The practical approach of dealing with the dangers of extremists lies in enacting prevention strategies. However, for the method to succeed there is the need to understand how these groups operate (Steinberg, Brooks, & Remtulla, 2003). Hate groups do not just acquire prejudices against specific communities. Members of hate groups exist in environments that consistently emphasize their superiority over others. The members receive teachings that nurture hatred against some groups. Thus, over time, members believe that their beliefs are the superior. Once individuals develop such misplaced ideas, they can justify even the most inhumane and criminal actions. Such persons pose a significant danger to themselves as well as the community at large.

Driven by misdirected ideologies and the sense of belonging that a group presents, members rarely exercise self-restraint when carrying out threats. Their devotion to the group's agenda often overrides self-control. Once an individual pledges loyalty, it is not easy to convince them that they are on the wrong path. Extremists and hate groups have a tendency of overpowering human instincts for self-preservation. For instance, actions of members of terrorist groups continue to puzzle researchers. The willingness to put oneself in grave danger to harm others is puzzling. Activities of hate groups result to loss of lives and destruction of property (Gale, Heath, & Ressler, 2002). Extreme violence by the groups has adverse impacts on various sectors of the economy. Besides, it affects public health and safety.

Hate groups carry out their agenda through various methods on different platforms. The most common practice is the use of hate crimes to express hatred against another community. For instance, the actions of supremacist groups against people of African descent qualify as hate crimes. Certain acts, such as physical assault and deliberate vandalism of property, instill fear in other communities (Yahagi, 2017). The groups also use insensitive language to humiliate and spread malicious information about their targeted subject. Hate speech can influence the formation of stereotypes due to the inaccurate portrayal of a section of the population. Members of the targeted community endure shame and public humiliation due to the spiteful information conveyed in such speeches. With modern information and communication technology, the spread of propaganda by hate groups is difficult to control.

Hate groups continue to thrive by exploiting advantages of technology such as the internet. For instance, extremists capitalize on the global audience that the internet offers and use it to invoke fear through violence. The broad reach of present-day technology provides an audience for the hate groups' propaganda. Through the interconnectivity, members can conduct strategic meetings to raise funds or plan atrocities. The internet also provides a convenient platform for the recruitment of members (Schmid, 2013). Organizations usually target susceptible individuals. For instance, persons facing financial hardships or identity issues are easy prey. Promises of financial rewards or a better life easily attract young people to such groups. Thus, social media platforms have widened the reach of hate groups across the globe.

Conclusion

In conclusion, hate groups pose a threat to the average citizens. They thrive on hatred and malice. Members of a particular hate group share a dislike for a specific community. Stereotypes against some races, ethnic groups, religious beliefs, and cultures characterize these groups. The movements seek to spread their misguided perceptions by harming others. They operate on a false premise that their opinions are superior and the absolute truth. Extremists are members who advocate for the use of aggressive methods in spreading propaganda. They use violence to intimidate and harm their target groups. Developing an understanding of hate group operations is essential. It can help in the conception of strategic preventive measures to curb hate groups.

References

Steinberg, A., Brooks, J., & Remtulla, T. (2003). Youth hate crimes: Identification, prevention, and intervention. American Journal of Psychiatry, 160(5), 979-989.

Yahagi, K. (2017). The effects of hate groups on hate crimes.

Gale, L. R., Heath, W. C., & Ressler, R. W. (2002). An economic analysis of hate crime. Eastern Economic Journal, 28(2), 203-216.

Borum, R. (2011). Radicalization into violent extremism I: A review of social science theories. Journal of Strategic Security, 4(4), 2.

Schmid, A. P. (2013). Radicalisation, de-radicalisation, counter-radicalisation: A conceptual discussion and literature review. ICCT Research Paper, 97(1), 22.