Active Clubs

Friday, May 17, 2024

Active Clubs in The Netherlands and Belgium | Or Goldenberg

Or Goldberg
Investigative journalist for the Dutch weekly magazine De Groene Amsterdammer

The Dutch weekly magazine The Groene Amsterammer investigated the scene in the Netherlands in February 2024:
https://www.groene.nl/artikel/witte-strijders-werven

 

On May 17, 2024, CEP hosted a webinar to discuss the latest developments around the white supremacist Active Club network in the U.S. and Europe. Active Clubs are arguably the largest and fastest growing violent extreme-right network with more than 100 groups in North America and Europe.

The underlying strategy was developed in the U.S. in 2020 with the aim to build a shadow militia. To hide in plain sight, Active Clubs are supposed to present a friendly face to the public with a focus on sports and brotherhood to avoid law enforcement interventions. This less aggressive and more mainstream looking strategy is also meant to help grow the network. 

In September 2023, CEP published the first comprehensive report on the Active Club network and strategy. Further CEP research looked into the militant nature of the network and addressed the important difference between Active Clubs and other right-wing extremist groups doing combat sports. 

The Swedish EXPO Foundation published a detailed report on the local Active Club network in November 2023, while the Dutch weekly magazine The Groene Amsterdammer investigated the scene in the Netherlands in February 2024. 

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Friday, May 17, 2024

Active Clubs: The Case of Sweden 2020-2024 | Morgan Finnsiö

Morgan Finnsiö 
Researcher, EXPO Foundation

The Swedish EXPO Foundation published a detailed report on the local Active Club network in November 2023: https://expo.se/nyhet/har-tranar-nazisterna-i-kommunens-traningshall/

On May 17, 2024, CEP hosted a webinar to discuss the latest developments around the white supremacist Active Club network in the U.S. and Europe. Active Clubs are arguably the largest and fastest growing violent extreme-right network with more than 100 groups in North America and Europe.

The underlying strategy was developed in the U.S. in 2020 with the aim to build a shadow militia. To hide in plain sight, Active Clubs are supposed to present a friendly face to the public with a focus on sports and brotherhood to avoid law enforcement interventions. This less aggressive and more mainstream looking strategy is also meant to help grow the network. 

In September 2023, CEP published the first comprehensive report on the Active Club network and strategy. Further CEP research looked into the militant nature of the network and addressed the important difference between Active Clubs and other right-wing extremist groups doing combat sports. 

The Swedish EXPO Foundation published a detailed report on the local Active Club network in November 2023, while the Dutch weekly magazine The Groene Amsterdammer investigated the scene in the Netherlands in February 2024. 

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"Australian white supremacists and neo-Nazis are encouraging members to undergo combat sports training and law enforcement avoidance under the banner of “Active Clubs”, a parliamentary inquiry into right-wing extremism heard from the Counter Extremism Project (CEP)."

Date
April 12, 2024
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cep blog active club april 2024

(Mis)Understanding the transnational violent extreme-right Active Club Strategy

In early April 2024, CEP submitted a report to the inquiry of the Parliament of Australia into right-wing extremist movements. This blog summarizes the contribution of CEP´s senior adviser Alexander Ritzmann to the CEP report, where he analyzes the...

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"The global anti-terror group Counter Extremism Project last week warned the Senate committee about Australian neo-Nazis creating crowdfunding campaigns and “active clubs” to train members in combat."

Date
April 9, 2024
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"In 2023, a report from the Counter Extremism Project highlighted close to 46 active clubs in 34 states. Lewis said one of the most important strength values is their ability to recruit white men nationwide, encouraging them to organize and lead their own clubs."

Date
March 14, 2024
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"In the US, there are at least 46 active clubs across 34 states, a 2023 report from the Counter Extremism Project (CEP) said." 

Date
March 3, 2024
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Active Clubs “promise a massive status upgrade through white supremacy,” said Alexander Ritzmann, a political scientist and senior advisor at the Counter Extremism Project. “It’s specifically interesting for people who feel unaccomplished, discriminated [against], unseen.…male fragility plus a tendency for violence. That is the target audience.”

Date
February 7, 2024
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