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Domestic Terrorism

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Domestic terrorism involves violence against the civilian population or infrastructure of a nation—often but not always by citizens of that nation and often with the intent to intimidate, coerce, or influence national policy. RAND addresses national security and critical infrastructure needs through objective research that helps government agencies prevent and mitigate terrorist activities and improves disaster preparedness, response, and recovery.

Essay

Violent Extremism in America: Pathways to Deradicalization

Sep 8, 2021

Ideologically inspired violence is a serious threat to U.S. national security. Research on effective strategies to fight it has often failed to engage the people who might know best: those who have lived that life and left it behind. Researchers partnered with antiextremism support groups to change that.
Commentary

Implications of Domestic Terrorist Group Designations for Combating Homegrown Extremism

Mar 2, 2021

It is not clear that an official designation of domestic extremists as terrorists would confer additional benefits that would outweigh potential risks to U.S. civil liberties. A combined government effort that facilitates mitigation strategies to preempt violence by hate groups, while also actively stemming the flow of online disinformation, may be a good first step in reducing homegrown extremism.

Explore Domestic Terrorism

Report

Reducing the Risk of Extremist Activity in the U.S. Military

The majority of military personnel are not extremists. But to address their potential exposure to and involvement in extremist activities, commanders who are tasked with combatting extremism could get some support from existing programs that promote diversity and inclusion and prevent violence.

Sep 16, 2021
Multimedia

Violent Extremism in America: Can It Be Stopped?

Co-authors of the RAND report, Violent Extremism in America, discuss the findings from their interviews with former members of radical organizations.

Jul 8, 2021
Research Brief

What Former Extremists and Their Families Say About Radicalization in America

Violent extremism is an evolving, ongoing threat in the United States. Interviews with former extremists—and their families and friends—offer insights into how individuals become radicalized, how they leave extremist groups, and what communities can do to stop the growth of extremism in their area.

Jun 25, 2021
Multimedia

Exiting Extremism: What Binds People to Extremist Groups and How Organizations Help Them Leave

What leads people to join violent extremist groups? How and why do they exit these groups and stop believing in radical ideologies? This one-hour webinar explores the forces that pull individuals to extremist groups, the binds that keep them connected, and why leaving can be so difficult.

Jun 18, 2021
Commentary

Capitol Rioters Face FBI Arrests and Prosecution. How Not to Make Them Martyrs in the Process

The righteous wrath of those who view January 6 as an insurrection and believe we need uncompromising prosecution is understandable. But is it strategic thinking? History has shown that prosecutions based on less severe and politically-fraught charges have a greater chance of resulting in the convictions needed to stop this behavior.

May 14, 2021
Journal Article

Building on Clues: Methods to Help State and Local Law Enforcement Detect and Characterize Terrorist Activity (Final Report)

This project considered the collection and use of suspicious activity reports at the state and local level.

Apr 29, 2021
Commentary

Don't Muddy the Objectives on Fighting Domestic Extremism

The U.S. Capitol attack on January 6 has fueled momentum for new approaches and laws to counter attacks by domestic violent extremists. It will be crucial for policymakers to reckon with what new laws and law enforcement can achieve, and what they can get wrong.

Apr 7, 2021
News Release

Interviews with Former Extremists Reveal Multiple Paths to Developing Extreme Ideologies; Rejection of Extremism Often ...

People who radicalize to extremist ideologies often are triggered by negative life events or exposure to propaganda, and those who escape from extreme groups frequently are aided by an individual or group that intervenes to help them reject the philosophy.

Apr 2, 2021
Report

Violent Extremism in America: Firsthand Accounts

The January 6 attack at the U.S. Capitol emphasized the need for more research to inform violent extremism prevention and deradicalization strategies. Interviews with former extremists and their family members shed light on what leads people to join—and later leave—extremist groups.

Apr 1, 2021
Blog

Teachers Quit Due to Stress, Peace in Yemen, America's Middle Class: RAND Weekly Recap

This weekly recap focuses on how stress leads teachers to quit their jobs, U.S. strategy in the Middle East, America's shrinking middle class, and more.

Feb 26, 2021
Commentary

Five Reasons to Be Wary of a New Domestic Terrorism Law

Momentum is building in Congress for legislation to deal with domestic terrorism. Here are five purely pragmatic reasons to be wary of addressing domestic terrorism with a new law.

Feb 24, 2021
Multimedia

Domestic Terrorism in the U.S.: The Need to Rethink Strategy

An overview of testimony by Brian Michael Jenkins presented before the House Committee on Homeland Security on February 4, 2021.

Feb 10, 2021
Blog

Unemployment Insurance, Domestic Extremists, Housing Insecurity: RAND Weekly Recap

This weekly recap focuses on what the pandemic has revealed about America's unemployment system, why stopping domestic extremism will be difficult, how housing insecurity may affect sleep, and more.

Feb 5, 2021
Testimony

Addressing the Threat of Domestic Violent Extremism

The attack on the Capitol was an unprecedented assault on America’s political system. How might a national commission to review the events of January 6 offer a road to national recovery? And what can be done to address broader threats from violent domestic extremists?

Feb 4, 2021
Commentary

What the Capitol Siege Means for the Future of Security Clearances

Some people who stormed the U.S. Capitol on January 6 had or have a national security clearance and thus trusted access to classified information. And some might apply for a security clearance in the future. If they are not identified and prosecuted, then they won't have a criminal record that could be detected in a background check.

Feb 2, 2021
Commentary

How to Root Out Extremism in the U.S. Military

The military has a growing extremism problem because America does. Service members who embrace violent extremism are thankfully few; Americans citizens who do so are sadly far too many. As a nation we need to deal with both.

Feb 1, 2021
Commentary

Domestic Violent Extremists Will Be Harder to Combat Than Homegrown Jihadists

The beliefs driving today's domestic extremists are deeply rooted in American history and society. For this and several other reasons, shutting them down will prove far more difficult than combating homegrown jihadists.

Feb 1, 2021
Commentary

How Threats Against Lawmakers Could Distort the Political Landscape for Years

The political environment is changing in a way that goes beyond immediate security concerns. The prevalence of threats and violence as a feature of American politics will ripple throughout the political system. Our politics could be distorted by the vicious atmosphere for years.

Jan 25, 2021

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RAND Topic:
Domestic Terrorism

Topic Synonyms:
Terrorism in the United States

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