#Efforts root out farright extremism drivers

68 This occurs when they are done with the intention of inciting or amplifying hate against a group. International evidence has shown there are also behaviours underpinned by an extremist ideology that are not violent but nonetheless can cause harm to individuals and create fear and division within societies. Violent extremism encompasses any violent actions committed to further extremist aims, including vandalism, spontaneous violence and terrorism. Violent extremism only occurs where an individual or group believes that violence is a legitimate (and often the only) way through which they can achieve systemic change.

Having extreme beliefs does not automatically lead to violence and the majority of those who subscribe to an extremist ideology do not commit acts of violence. These do not represent all the types of behaviours that cause harm but are those that are most material to our inquiry. In this report we will talk about a range of behaviours that cause harm to people, some of which are inspired by extremist ideologies and others which are not. The group’s survival is therefore contingent on hostility towards and suppression of those who are outside the group. Anyone outside of that group (for example, people from a different religion or ethnicity) can present a threat to the group’s existence. 65 This can be any political, religious, social, ethnic or other grouping. Central to extremist belief systems is a desire to bring about change and overhaul the political, social or religious environment to conform to the person’s or group’s idealised vision of society.Įxtremist belief systems are characterised by a strong “us versus them” mentality, and belief in the supremacy of, or at least strong loyalty to, the group a person is part of. 64 Extremism can have different ideological underpinnings and manifest in a number of ways. In the case of New Zealand this might be by rejecting democracy, the rule of law and human rights.

#Efforts root out farright extremism drivers

We also discuss what we mean by radicalisation to violence and outline some of the drivers of radicalisation, and the challenges for Public sector agencies in identifying and mitigating the threat from right-wing extremism.Įxtremism is generally understood as a belief system underpinned by rigid and uncompromising beliefs outside the norm of a society. Not wishing to amplify extreme right-wing ideologies, we do not provide a complete survey.

We then address aspects of extreme right-wing thinking and behaviour that are relevant to the account we are about to tell about the individual, the behaviours evident in his radicalisation and mobilisation to violence and his resort to terrorism (see Part 4: The terrorist). The discussion that follows outlines what we mean by extremism and why it is important to look at a spectrum of behaviours and their consequences for society.

It is not possible to understand the pattern of events that both led to, and demonstrated, the individual’s radicalisation without a general understanding of extreme right-wing thinking and some of its markers.Ī description of the key dynamics of right-wing extremism is also required to understand the harms that communities have told us they have experienced. Terms of Reference for the Reference Group Questions and Answers from the Reference Group

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What we heard from affected whānau, survivors and witnesses Muslim Community Reference Group: Lessons for the future Hate speech and hate crime related legislation Guide for engaging with Muslim communities

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What Public sector agencies knew about the terrorist

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