Normalizing cyberracism: a neutralization theory analysis

Abstract

White Supremacists use the Internet to discuss ideological arguments, which rationalize their beliefs and/or behavior by denying its implications, responsibility, or to contextualize it in higher order responsibilities to conform to normal expectations. The rationalization exemplified by their arguments can be simultaneously normalizing and neutralizing via framing processes that serve to legitimize deviant and criminal behaviors. These processes act as tools to not only maintain participation of current ideological followers, but also to persuade potential members who are pursuing their curiosity about White Supremacist ideology. Discourse on the web forum Stormfront was found to contain six types of argument frameworks: racial difference, cultural superiority, empiricism, verifiability, word choice, and racial superiority. Each of these categories was analyzed for neutralization framing techniques under pre-established metaframes and collective action frames, which collectively fall under the archetype hostile frame. It was found that neutralization of White Nationalism occurred via the hostile ‘speciesism’ frame, which effectively facilitates the persuasion of accepting pro-White ideologies. The prominent neutralization theory criticism that it cannot be determined whether neutralization occurred prior or after deviant behavior is refuted by this analysis that indicates neutralization may occur prior to deviant behavior.

Keywords:

• Neutralization
• framing
• stigma
• Internet
• intellectualization
• White Supremacists

Notes

1. Stormfront is constructed as a White Nationalist virtual space that is considered distinct from the White Supremacist movement. White Nationalists, as described on the site, use the ethnic claims-making frame to assert that they are claiming a separatist position on the issue of race. They will often assert that they view Whites as fundamentally different from other races and argue that such difference necessitates racial separation into ethnoracial nations. This is considered different from White Supremacist positions that argue for the inherent superiority of Whites over other racial and ethnic groups, and often have genocidal and oppressive intent. While Stormfront labels itself as a White Nationalist forum, it is designed to be non-sectarian, and individual members are free to hold any belief system that is consistent with its ultimately racist aims, including White Supremacy. This distinction becomes crucial when White Nationalists criticize White Supremacist ideologies of Nazism and fascism on the forum.

2. An example from Stormfront’s introduction http://www.stormfront.org/forum/t538924/.

3. A thread is defined as a focused discussion topic within a larger thematic frame of its nested forum. This particular thread was identified as part of a broader study on the use of scientific rhetoric in White Nationalist discourse focusing on the Science and Technology forum. The authors found the self-conscious discourse of the ‘Bad Scientific Arguments … ’ thread worthy of its own analysis due to the manner in which it acts as a space for framing and neutralization discussed throughout this article.

4. A thread is stickeyed by the forum moderator when the thread is determined to be of high importance, interest, or usefulness as a resource determined by popular request or by the moderator.

5. Categories for coding were developed as the threads were read. The two types of posts – arguments and rebuttals – were quickly identified by the content of the post. Specific types discussed below in the results section became evident as the types were sorted with arguments and rebuttals adhering to the themes becoming prevalent. A code sheet was developed based on these themes and types that was applied to each individual post in the entire thread.

6. An occurrence consists of the deliberate use of a theme noted in the code sheet found in a post on the thread. See Figure 1 for detailed categories.

7. This is determined by a point system earned by acknowledgment from other members. The specific rules can be found at http://www.stormfront.org/forum/t433181/.