By Ceci Cohen; Image by The Guardian
Accelerationism is a term that has become synonymous with a certain form of right-wing extremism. While far-right extremists are the most prominent form of accelerationists today, the idea of accelerationism has developed significantly since it was first established.
Theoretical Accelerationism
The study of “accelerationism” began in the mid- to late-1900s in the field of philosophy. In a theoretical sense, accelerationism refers to the speeding up of certain elements in a system in the natural direction of that system. This kind of theoretical accelerationism is most commonly thought of in terms of capitalism (Beckett 2017).
Militant Accelerationism
Aside from the theoretical definition, a concept of “militant accelerationism” has developed. Militant accelerationism involves the acceleration of elements in a system through means of violence in order to destruct the existing system (Parker 2020). Ultimately, this accelerationism is an indirect process for creating change: the terrorist attacks lead to a cycle of response and further attacks to collapse the existing system. This is different from traditional methods of terrorism that employ more direct processes for creating change. In understanding what accelerationism is, it is important to note that accelerationism is not an ideology but rather a strategy. Proponents of several ideologies could subscribe to accelerationism (Kriner n.d.). However, most of the research on militant accelerationism has had a particular focus on far-right extremist militant accelerationism.
Far-Right Extremist Militant Accelerationism
Far-right extremist militant accelerationists (FREMA) apply a far-right, white supremacist, neo-Nazi ideology to the militant accelerationism explained above. Following the general concept of militant accelerationism, FREMA want to “accelerate” the societal values and consequently the clash of the values that they see as immoral, such as multiculturalism, liberalism, and diversity, in order to collapse “The System” (Anti-Defamation League 2019). Many white supremacists believe that the United States government and culture are controlled by Jewish people and racial minorities, and they have dubbed this imagined concept “The System” (Hatewatch Staff 2018). FREMA desire the collapse of The System so that it can be replaced with a white ethnostate (Southern Poverty Law Center n.d.). By accelerating societal values through their acts of terrorism, FREMA engage in a very indirect process of using terrorism to create their desired political change.
Traditional Far-Right Terrorism
FREMA is distinct from traditional far-right terrorism. Many extremists engage in terrorism to promote their political agenda, and traditional far-right terrorists in the United States are no exception. According to the Center for Monitoring, Analysis, and Strategy (CeMAS), characteristics of far-right extremist terrorism include that “selection of the target is based on far-right extremist ideas,” that “the attack is premeditated,” and that “the violence is intended to trigger psychological repercussions beyond the immediate victim or target” (Dittrich et al. 2022, 10). Ultimately, these terrorists differ from far-right extremist militant accelerationists because traditional far-right terrorists commit attacks to trigger a more direct process of terrorism for political change.
Studying far-right extremist militant accelerationism is relevant because FREMA is the most violent kind of far-right extremism in America. More specifically, it is crucial to analyze the difference between FREMA and traditional far-right terrorism in order to better understand the threat that accelerationism poses in society today. Comparing these various strategies for political change will aid future academics as well as inform and support policy makers and practitioners, especially the intelligence community.
References
Anti-Defamation League. 2019. “White Supremacists Embrace ‘Accelerationism.’” Anti-Defamation League. https://www.adl.org/resources/blog/white-supremacists-embrace-accelerationism.
Beckett, Andy. 2017. “Accelerationism: How a Fringe Philosophy Predicted the Future We Live In.” The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/may/11/accelerationism-how-a-fringe-philosophy-predicted-the-future-we-live-in.
Dittrich, Miro, Jan Rathje, Thilo Manemann, and Frank Müller. 2022. “Militant Accelerationism: Origins and Developments in Germany.” CeMAS. https://cemas.io/en/publications/militant-accelerationism/.
Hatewatch Staff. 2018. “Atomwaffen and the SIEGE Parallax: How One Neo-Nazi’s Life’s Work Is Fueling a Younger Generation.” Southern Poverty Law Center. https://www.splcenter.org/hatewatch/2018/02/22/atomwaffen-and-siege-parallax-how-one-neo-nazi%E2%80%99s-life%E2%80%99s-work-fueling-younger-generation.
Kriner, Matthew. “An Introduction to Militant Accelerationism.” Accelerationism Research Consortium. https://www.accresearch.org/shortanalysis/an-introduction-to-militant-accelerationism.
Kydd, Andrew H., and Barbara F. Walter. 2006. “The Strategies of Terrorism.” International
Parker, Jade. 2020. “Accelerationism in America: Threat Perceptions.” Global Network on Extremism and Technology. https://gnet-research.org/2020/02/04/accelerationism-in-america-threat-perceptions/. Southern Poverty Law Center. “Atomwaffen Division.” Southern Poverty Law Center. https://www.splcenter.org/fighting-hate/extremist-files/group/atomwaffen-division
