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Going Dark: The Secret Social Lives of Extremists
By day, Julia Ebner works at a counter-extremism think tank, monitoring radical groups from the outside, but two years ago, she began to feel that she was only seeing half the picture. She needed to get inside the groups to truly understand them. So she decided to go undercover in her spare hours – late nights, holidays, weekends – adopting five different identities, and joining a dozen extremist groups from across the ideological spectrum.
Her journey would take her from a Generation Identity global strategy meeting in a pub in Mayfair, to a Neo-Nazi Music Festival on the border of Germany and Poland. She would get relationship advice from 'Trad Wives' and Jihadi Brides and hacking lessons from ISIS. She was in the channels when the alt-right began planning the lethal Charlottesville rally, and spent time in the networks that would radicalise the Christchurch terrorist.
In Going Dark, Ebner takes the reader on a deeply compulsive, terrifying, illuminating journey into the darkest recesses of extremist thinking, exposing how closely we are surrounded by their fanatical ideology every day, the changing nature and practice of these groups, and what is being done to counter them.
Her journey would take her from a Generation Identity global strategy meeting in a pub in Mayfair, to a Neo-Nazi Music Festival on the border of Germany and Poland. She would get relationship advice from 'Trad Wives' and Jihadi Brides and hacking lessons from ISIS. She was in the channels when the alt-right began planning the lethal Charlottesville rally, and spent time in the networks that would radicalise the Christchurch terrorist.
In Going Dark, Ebner takes the reader on a deeply compulsive, terrifying, illuminating journey into the darkest recesses of extremist thinking, exposing how closely we are surrounded by their fanatical ideology every day, the changing nature and practice of these groups, and what is being done to counter them.
352 pages, Hardcover
First published September 9, 2019
About the author
Julia Ebner
5 books75 followersJulia Ebner, geboren 1991 in Wien, forscht am Institute for Strategic Dialogue in London zu Online-Extremismus. Sie arbeitet mit zahlreichen Regierungsorganisationen und Polizeiorganen zusammen, sie ist Online-Extremismus-Beraterin der UN, NATO und der Weltbank. Sie schreibt regelmäßig für den Guardian und die Süddeutsche Zeitung, war unter anderem bei Markus Lanz, den Tagesthemen und dem heute-journal zur Gast. Ihr Buch Wut. Was Islamisten und Rechtsextreme mit uns machen war ein SPIEGEL-Bestseller.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 220 reviews
May 12, 2021
Illuminating in some respects, but the book is at once too specific and too vague to shed any real insights on these groups that Ebner investigates. Her focus is more on the fact that a) she was able to infiltrate these groups and b) the things they stand for are abhorrent; but there’s little discussion of why people join these groups, and more of just her observations of what was said amongst group members once she’d joined. As others have said, the tradwives section is probably the best, but the gamification of terrorism chapter was also good.
March 21, 2021
Worth a read if you've read nothing else on the topic but I'd recommend Laura Bates's Men Who Hate Women ahead of this, if only because of the writing. Ebner covers most of the usual bases - misogyny, racism, the psychology of fascism - but not with any great insight or revelations. She doesn't write as a journalist or, rather, the style is journalistic without any great investigative interest. Perhaps she simply cannot give too much away without blowing people's cover, I don't know. There just doesn't seem to be much here that you couldn't get from the MSM and written with greater perspicacity.
The reader of this book will be left with the impression that fascists are just like the rest of us, which they are in many ways, except that they're also broken psychologically, given to paranoia, resentment, begrudgery, spite, a sense of entitlement and superiority, and especially prone to violence and apocalypticism. What Ebner doesn't do is explain why or, in any great detail, how these characteristics develop or how they are manipulated by the grifters who exploit these damaged and dangerous people for profit and political gain without regard for the social consequences. She shows us the secret lives of social extremists at a point when it's already too late.
The reader of this book will be left with the impression that fascists are just like the rest of us, which they are in many ways, except that they're also broken psychologically, given to paranoia, resentment, begrudgery, spite, a sense of entitlement and superiority, and especially prone to violence and apocalypticism. What Ebner doesn't do is explain why or, in any great detail, how these characteristics develop or how they are manipulated by the grifters who exploit these damaged and dangerous people for profit and political gain without regard for the social consequences. She shows us the secret lives of social extremists at a point when it's already too late.
March 15, 2020
Despite the marketing for this book, it is Ebner's deep expertise as a researcher into extremism that provides the heft in the book. Her experiences in direct contact with extremists provide an effective framing of the broader content, and provide effective moments of "Oh god these people are real people".
I was motivated largely by her work within ISIS communities to pick up the book, but the quick and persistent take-home here is the growth of neo-Nazi and far-right networks. In proof there is nothing new under the sun, this includes groups of gamer women reading Mormon and Quiverful classics on traditional gender relationships, 'tradwives' to a gamergate generation. Ebner tracks these movements through the Charleville Unite the Right protests, and then the impact of the massacre of worshippers in Christchurch, watching as the movement grows in unity and then militant violence. It is a scary prospect, which does not need a big reveal to fill the reader with disquiet.
I was motivated largely by her work within ISIS communities to pick up the book, but the quick and persistent take-home here is the growth of neo-Nazi and far-right networks. In proof there is nothing new under the sun, this includes groups of gamer women reading Mormon and Quiverful classics on traditional gender relationships, 'tradwives' to a gamergate generation. Ebner tracks these movements through the Charleville Unite the Right protests, and then the impact of the massacre of worshippers in Christchurch, watching as the movement grows in unity and then militant violence. It is a scary prospect, which does not need a big reveal to fill the reader with disquiet.
April 27, 2020
By day, Julia Ebner is a journalist and a research fellow, working at a counter-extremism think tank that monitors the activity of radical groups right across the spectrum. You’d think that after a long day at work, she’d want to come home, put her feet up, and binge-watch ’90s sit-coms. But, no: Ebner spends her spare time going undercover in the online world of extremists, taking on secret identities to gain access to the darkest corners of the internet that you can imagine. She shares her experiences in Going Dark, and Bloomsbury was kind enough to send me a copy for review.
The question nagging at the back of the mind of anyone who picks up a book like this is “could I become radicalised online and not even know it?”. The scary answer is: probably. We have all felt as lonely and hard-done-by as the people that Ebner finds in groups for trad-wives, in-cels, jihadists, and white supremacists. She goes above and beyond to provide this multi-dimensional view of online extremism, but shows remarkable restraint in not sensationalising the subject matter. Everyone should read Going Dark, if for no other reason than what you don’t know can hurt you.
An extended review will be available to subscribers at Keeping Up With The Penguins.
The question nagging at the back of the mind of anyone who picks up a book like this is “could I become radicalised online and not even know it?”. The scary answer is: probably. We have all felt as lonely and hard-done-by as the people that Ebner finds in groups for trad-wives, in-cels, jihadists, and white supremacists. She goes above and beyond to provide this multi-dimensional view of online extremism, but shows remarkable restraint in not sensationalising the subject matter. Everyone should read Going Dark, if for no other reason than what you don’t know can hurt you.
An extended review will be available to subscribers at Keeping Up With The Penguins.
February 4, 2020
2017 konnte Julia Ebner mit ihrem Bericht WUT: WAS ISLAMISTEN UND RECHTSRADIKALE MIT UNS MACHEN einen großen Erfolg feiern. Es gelang der jungen Wienerin, die seit 2017 am Institute for Strategic Dialogue in London arbeitet, die strukturelle Verwandtschaft von Islamisten und Rechtsradikalen sowohl in ihrer Zielsetzung als auch in ihren Methoden aufzuzeigen.
Nun legt Ebner nach und weist in RADIKALISIERUNGSMASCHINEN. WIE EXTREMISTEN DIE NEUEN TECHNOLOGIEN NUTZEN UND UNS MANIPULIEREN (2019) nach, wie das Internet als perfektes Mittel genutzt werden kann, Minderheitsmeinungen wie Massenbewegungen aussehen zu lassen, welche Strategien greifen, um sich im World Wide Web zu vernetzen, Kommunikationsstrukturen aufzubauen, die nicht so schnell zu durchschauen sind, und nicht zuletzt neue Anhänger für die eigenen ideologischen Überzeugungen zu rekrutieren.
Ebner arbeitet in ihrer Funktion am Institute eng mit Ermittlungsbehörden, aber auch mit Regierungsorganisationen zusammen, um diese bei ihrer Arbeit für politische Bildung, gegen Hass und Hetze, aber auch bei der Aufklärungsarbeit zu unterstützen. Für die Recherchen zu ihrem Buch hat sie sich nicht nur online mehrfach anwerben lassen – darunter vom britischen Ableger der Identitären Bewegung, islamistischen Hetzern und in Trollwerkstätten – sondern sie hat sich auch mehrfach mit Vertretern dieser und anderer Organisationen des rechten Randes getroffen, hat ein Rechtsrockkonzert besucht und sich auch in die Niederungen islamistischer Prediger und IS-Kämpfer begeben.
Manches dessen, was sie in den sechs Kapiteln ihres Buchs beschreibt, ist dem aufmerksamen und interessierten Leser bereits bekannt. Vor allem die Vorgänge auf den Rechtsrockkonzerten im sächsischen Ostritz sind mittlerweile hinlänglich dokumentiert, gelegentlich entsteht der Eindruck, daß dort mehr V-Männer und undercover Recherchierende vor Ort sind, als wirkliche Neo-Nazis. In diesem Kapitel entfernt sich Ebner auch am weitesten von ihrem eigentlichen Anliegen, dem Leser die Radikalisierung im Internet zu verdeutlichen. Und doch bleibt auch in diesem Abschnitt nicht nur der unappetitliche Nachgeschmack einer braunen Brühe, sondern durchaus auch die Erkenntnis, daß auch zur Organisation solcher „Events“ das Internet dringend notwendig ist.
Am überzeugendsten ist Ebner dort, wo sie dem Leser die unendliche Fülle an Plattformen und Möglichkeiten der Vernetzung nahebringt. Nicht nur all jene mehr oder weniger geschlossenen Blasen auf Facebook und anderen Social-Media-Plattformen, sondern vor allem auch Suchmaschinen und Kanäle, die einst für ganz andere Vorgänge gedacht waren. Bspw. die Nutzung von Spieleplattformen, die den einschlägig Interessierten nicht nur die Möglichkeit bietet, in einer Masse von scheinbar Gleichgesinnten – man ist ja lediglich an den neuesten Ego-Shootern etc. interessiert – unterzutauchen, sondern auch eine Art codierter Sprache, die an sich schon nicht gut zu durchschauen ist, durch doppelte und dreifache Codierung jedoch auch die Möglichkeit bietet, doppelte Kommunikation zu betreiben. So kann der Gamer, der Spieler, sich einerseits mit seinesgleichen austauschen, der politisch-ideologische Manipulator aber auch gleich noch ganz andere Nachrichten vermitteln und verbreiten. Es waren gerade solche Plattformen, auf denen sich der Attentäter von Christchurch und der verhinderte Massenmörder aus Halle tummelten.
In diesen Hinweisen steckt der eigentliche Wert von Ebners Buch. Anderes mutet nur skurril an. Wenn sie sich auf eine Plattform begibt, auf der Frauen sich dezidiert antifeministisch geben, sich bereitwillig zu den Werten des Patriarchats bekennen und nichts lieber sein wollen als willige Dienerinnen ihrer Herren, mag man das kaum glauben und kann nur hoffen, daß es sich da um keine zukünftige Massenbewegung handelt. Auch Ebners Abstecher in die Welt der Verschwörungstheoretiker ist eher im Bereich des Surrealen anzusiedeln, allerdings wird dem Leser bei der Lektüre gerade dieser Kapitel auch noch einmal deutlich, daß es da „draußen“ eine komplett in sich geschlossene Welt gibt, in der die wildesten Theorien und die allerüberholtesten Werte fröhliche Urständ´ feiern.
Daß allerdings auch immer wieder Ausbrüche aus diesen scheinbar geschlossenen Parallelwelten möglich sind und dann höchst dramatische Folgen haben können, zeigt ihre Nachzeichnung der Planungsorganisation für die rechtsextremistischen Aufläufe in Charlottesville, Virginia, im Jahr 2017. Anhand der damaligen Vorkommnisse, die Donald Trump veranlassten, davon zu sprechen, daß es „good people“ auf beiden Seiten des politischen Spektrums gebe – immerhin traf er diese Aussagen, nachdem in Charlottesville eine junge antirassistische Aktivistin Opfer eines üblen Anschlags mit einem Auto geworden war und zudem Hunderte sich eindeutig der militanten Rechten zuordnende Protestler wenig Zweifel an ihren rassistischen und antisemitischen Ansichten und ihrer Bereitschaft zur Gewalt gelassen hatten – kann Ebner nicht nur verdeutlichen, wie die Vernetzung auch scheinbar nicht direkt zusammenhängender Organisationen funktioniert, sondern auch, wie ein emotionalisiertes Empörungspotenzial zu einer schnellen und vor allem effektiven Mobilisierung führen.
RADIKALISIERUNGSMASCHINEN bietet allzu Bekanntes und doch immer wieder auch Neues, wird dem Interessierten vor allem Ergänzungen und Erweiterungen an die Hand geben, kann aber doch immer wieder mit einzelnen Hinweisen und Rechercheergebnissen überraschen. Stilistisch merkt man Ebner an, daß sie keine Journalistin ist, das Schreiben also auch nicht ihre engere Berufung. Gelegentlich muten ihre Berichte von Treffen mit Identitären in London, der Kontaktaufnahme mit rechten Bloggern im Internet oder auch Frauen, die sich dem IS verschrieben haben, wie schulische Aufsätze an. Andererseits geht es hier wahrlich nicht um Schönheitspreise oder die feinste Syntax, sondern um Fakten. Fakten, die man sicher zur Verfügung haben sollte, wenn man sich ein Bild davon zu machen versucht, wie die sogenannte „neue Rechte“ sich vernetzt, wie es ihr gelingt, neue Mitglieder, oft Menschen, die noch gar nicht allzu radikalisiert sind, zu werben und von ihren menschenfeindlichen Ansichten wenn nicht zu überzeugen, so doch immerhin Interesse daran zu wecken. Gerade das Internet, dieses einst als Mittel zur totalen Demokratisierung betrachtete und gefeierte Instrument, entpuppt sich immer mehr als Echokammer für Radikalisierung unterschiedlichster Couleur und Richtung. Es ist an uns allen, wachsam und aufmerksam zu bleiben, auch da hinzugucken, wo es hässlich wird und im Zweifelsfall dagegen zu halten. Auch wenn es nicht gerade bequem ist.
Nun legt Ebner nach und weist in RADIKALISIERUNGSMASCHINEN. WIE EXTREMISTEN DIE NEUEN TECHNOLOGIEN NUTZEN UND UNS MANIPULIEREN (2019) nach, wie das Internet als perfektes Mittel genutzt werden kann, Minderheitsmeinungen wie Massenbewegungen aussehen zu lassen, welche Strategien greifen, um sich im World Wide Web zu vernetzen, Kommunikationsstrukturen aufzubauen, die nicht so schnell zu durchschauen sind, und nicht zuletzt neue Anhänger für die eigenen ideologischen Überzeugungen zu rekrutieren.
Ebner arbeitet in ihrer Funktion am Institute eng mit Ermittlungsbehörden, aber auch mit Regierungsorganisationen zusammen, um diese bei ihrer Arbeit für politische Bildung, gegen Hass und Hetze, aber auch bei der Aufklärungsarbeit zu unterstützen. Für die Recherchen zu ihrem Buch hat sie sich nicht nur online mehrfach anwerben lassen – darunter vom britischen Ableger der Identitären Bewegung, islamistischen Hetzern und in Trollwerkstätten – sondern sie hat sich auch mehrfach mit Vertretern dieser und anderer Organisationen des rechten Randes getroffen, hat ein Rechtsrockkonzert besucht und sich auch in die Niederungen islamistischer Prediger und IS-Kämpfer begeben.
Manches dessen, was sie in den sechs Kapiteln ihres Buchs beschreibt, ist dem aufmerksamen und interessierten Leser bereits bekannt. Vor allem die Vorgänge auf den Rechtsrockkonzerten im sächsischen Ostritz sind mittlerweile hinlänglich dokumentiert, gelegentlich entsteht der Eindruck, daß dort mehr V-Männer und undercover Recherchierende vor Ort sind, als wirkliche Neo-Nazis. In diesem Kapitel entfernt sich Ebner auch am weitesten von ihrem eigentlichen Anliegen, dem Leser die Radikalisierung im Internet zu verdeutlichen. Und doch bleibt auch in diesem Abschnitt nicht nur der unappetitliche Nachgeschmack einer braunen Brühe, sondern durchaus auch die Erkenntnis, daß auch zur Organisation solcher „Events“ das Internet dringend notwendig ist.
Am überzeugendsten ist Ebner dort, wo sie dem Leser die unendliche Fülle an Plattformen und Möglichkeiten der Vernetzung nahebringt. Nicht nur all jene mehr oder weniger geschlossenen Blasen auf Facebook und anderen Social-Media-Plattformen, sondern vor allem auch Suchmaschinen und Kanäle, die einst für ganz andere Vorgänge gedacht waren. Bspw. die Nutzung von Spieleplattformen, die den einschlägig Interessierten nicht nur die Möglichkeit bietet, in einer Masse von scheinbar Gleichgesinnten – man ist ja lediglich an den neuesten Ego-Shootern etc. interessiert – unterzutauchen, sondern auch eine Art codierter Sprache, die an sich schon nicht gut zu durchschauen ist, durch doppelte und dreifache Codierung jedoch auch die Möglichkeit bietet, doppelte Kommunikation zu betreiben. So kann der Gamer, der Spieler, sich einerseits mit seinesgleichen austauschen, der politisch-ideologische Manipulator aber auch gleich noch ganz andere Nachrichten vermitteln und verbreiten. Es waren gerade solche Plattformen, auf denen sich der Attentäter von Christchurch und der verhinderte Massenmörder aus Halle tummelten.
In diesen Hinweisen steckt der eigentliche Wert von Ebners Buch. Anderes mutet nur skurril an. Wenn sie sich auf eine Plattform begibt, auf der Frauen sich dezidiert antifeministisch geben, sich bereitwillig zu den Werten des Patriarchats bekennen und nichts lieber sein wollen als willige Dienerinnen ihrer Herren, mag man das kaum glauben und kann nur hoffen, daß es sich da um keine zukünftige Massenbewegung handelt. Auch Ebners Abstecher in die Welt der Verschwörungstheoretiker ist eher im Bereich des Surrealen anzusiedeln, allerdings wird dem Leser bei der Lektüre gerade dieser Kapitel auch noch einmal deutlich, daß es da „draußen“ eine komplett in sich geschlossene Welt gibt, in der die wildesten Theorien und die allerüberholtesten Werte fröhliche Urständ´ feiern.
Daß allerdings auch immer wieder Ausbrüche aus diesen scheinbar geschlossenen Parallelwelten möglich sind und dann höchst dramatische Folgen haben können, zeigt ihre Nachzeichnung der Planungsorganisation für die rechtsextremistischen Aufläufe in Charlottesville, Virginia, im Jahr 2017. Anhand der damaligen Vorkommnisse, die Donald Trump veranlassten, davon zu sprechen, daß es „good people“ auf beiden Seiten des politischen Spektrums gebe – immerhin traf er diese Aussagen, nachdem in Charlottesville eine junge antirassistische Aktivistin Opfer eines üblen Anschlags mit einem Auto geworden war und zudem Hunderte sich eindeutig der militanten Rechten zuordnende Protestler wenig Zweifel an ihren rassistischen und antisemitischen Ansichten und ihrer Bereitschaft zur Gewalt gelassen hatten – kann Ebner nicht nur verdeutlichen, wie die Vernetzung auch scheinbar nicht direkt zusammenhängender Organisationen funktioniert, sondern auch, wie ein emotionalisiertes Empörungspotenzial zu einer schnellen und vor allem effektiven Mobilisierung führen.
RADIKALISIERUNGSMASCHINEN bietet allzu Bekanntes und doch immer wieder auch Neues, wird dem Interessierten vor allem Ergänzungen und Erweiterungen an die Hand geben, kann aber doch immer wieder mit einzelnen Hinweisen und Rechercheergebnissen überraschen. Stilistisch merkt man Ebner an, daß sie keine Journalistin ist, das Schreiben also auch nicht ihre engere Berufung. Gelegentlich muten ihre Berichte von Treffen mit Identitären in London, der Kontaktaufnahme mit rechten Bloggern im Internet oder auch Frauen, die sich dem IS verschrieben haben, wie schulische Aufsätze an. Andererseits geht es hier wahrlich nicht um Schönheitspreise oder die feinste Syntax, sondern um Fakten. Fakten, die man sicher zur Verfügung haben sollte, wenn man sich ein Bild davon zu machen versucht, wie die sogenannte „neue Rechte“ sich vernetzt, wie es ihr gelingt, neue Mitglieder, oft Menschen, die noch gar nicht allzu radikalisiert sind, zu werben und von ihren menschenfeindlichen Ansichten wenn nicht zu überzeugen, so doch immerhin Interesse daran zu wecken. Gerade das Internet, dieses einst als Mittel zur totalen Demokratisierung betrachtete und gefeierte Instrument, entpuppt sich immer mehr als Echokammer für Radikalisierung unterschiedlichster Couleur und Richtung. Es ist an uns allen, wachsam und aufmerksam zu bleiben, auch da hinzugucken, wo es hässlich wird und im Zweifelsfall dagegen zu halten. Auch wenn es nicht gerade bequem ist.
July 21, 2023
Tremendos ovarios los de esta periodista adentrándose en los grupos más extremos y peligrosos de internet con el fin de investigar a sus líderes, sus formas de operar, sus campañas propagandísticas, sus tácticas para reclutar y, lo peor de todo, su paso del mundo digital al real, no solo en forma de atentados o hackeos, sino incluso desequilibrando la balanza en las elecciones.
Divide el libro en las diferentes fases de estos grupos y muestra también distintos grupos extremos como los supremacistas blancos, los yihadistas y grupos de ultraderecha muy peligrosos.
Es una pasada ver cómo los propios algoritmos de internet (y el conocimiento que ellos tienen de su uso) favorecen los contenidos extremos y ayudan a divulgar sus ideas, lo que facilita la captación de gente, el acoso continuado y la polarización de ideas. Da bastante miedo.
Aquí en España es algo que se viene viendo en los últimos años con el partido político Vox y grupos ultras partidiarios del mismo.
No sólo nos habla de los peligros, sino que en los dos últimos capítulos hace predicciones de futuro y nos cuenta qué medidas se podrían poner en marcha (o se están poniendo ya en la actualidad) para frenar este peligroso avance.
(4/5) ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ interesante y aterrador a partes iguales. Qué bonito está el mundo 🫣
Divide el libro en las diferentes fases de estos grupos y muestra también distintos grupos extremos como los supremacistas blancos, los yihadistas y grupos de ultraderecha muy peligrosos.
Es una pasada ver cómo los propios algoritmos de internet (y el conocimiento que ellos tienen de su uso) favorecen los contenidos extremos y ayudan a divulgar sus ideas, lo que facilita la captación de gente, el acoso continuado y la polarización de ideas. Da bastante miedo.
Aquí en España es algo que se viene viendo en los últimos años con el partido político Vox y grupos ultras partidiarios del mismo.
No sólo nos habla de los peligros, sino que en los dos últimos capítulos hace predicciones de futuro y nos cuenta qué medidas se podrían poner en marcha (o se están poniendo ya en la actualidad) para frenar este peligroso avance.
(4/5) ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ interesante y aterrador a partes iguales. Qué bonito está el mundo 🫣
February 4, 2021
A very light surface scan of Extremist groups. The chapter on Tradwives is the most insightful as it is a sub-culture I had heard little about.
Worth noting that the Author used to work for Quilliam and as mentioned in the book her boss was Maajid Nawaz. Who himself has had an interesting history (https://newrepublic.com/article/12843...), and has recently taken a bizarre turn regarding COVID19.
The book soft peddles 'Western' liberal exceptionalism and the proscriptions it suggests at the coda are meagre and unsubstantial. There are some good insights in the book, but it feels like a padded out 'my weekend with the alt-right' Guardian article. In a post-Trump world, it feels strangely dated. Even as I was reading the Qanon chapter the very people on the page were storming the capitol building, the book felt like a product of something written in 2014.
For a decent US perspective of how we arrived at the alt-right and Trump, I would recommend Alt-America: The Rise of the Radical Right in the Age of Trump by David Neiwert, which Ebner does lean on.
Worth noting that the Author used to work for Quilliam and as mentioned in the book her boss was Maajid Nawaz. Who himself has had an interesting history (https://newrepublic.com/article/12843...), and has recently taken a bizarre turn regarding COVID19.
The book soft peddles 'Western' liberal exceptionalism and the proscriptions it suggests at the coda are meagre and unsubstantial. There are some good insights in the book, but it feels like a padded out 'my weekend with the alt-right' Guardian article. In a post-Trump world, it feels strangely dated. Even as I was reading the Qanon chapter the very people on the page were storming the capitol building, the book felt like a product of something written in 2014.
For a decent US perspective of how we arrived at the alt-right and Trump, I would recommend Alt-America: The Rise of the Radical Right in the Age of Trump by David Neiwert, which Ebner does lean on.
December 6, 2023
Julia Ebner is a very brave person.
She was working at a think tank - the Institute for Strategic Dialogue - that monitors radical groups but realised that in order to fully understand these extremist organisations she would have to go undercover and take part in online meetings as well as in-person events. This she did, adopting varying disguises, and came through some close calls to provide the details included in this amazingly informative book.
Alt-right groups, Trad Wives, Jihadi Brides, Isis, the Daily Stormer, and many others are discussed in this book. Most of the radicalisation of people takes place online with the individuals being gradually seduced into feeling part of a movement, part of a group, part of a club. Conspiracy theories such as the Great Replacement fuel hatred against ethnic and cultural minorities. Livestream features make terror go viral and as was seen with the Christchurch attacks, elements of gaming are introduced to encourage lone-wolf attacks.
As much as the Internet has speeded up people's abilities to shop, pay bills, and check information, it has also allowed the bad actors to steal those same people's personal information just as quickly under the right circumstances.
The book's penultimate chapter includes ten predictions from industry insiders about what tactics the extremist groups will try next, as predicting their actions could mean counter measures can be taken to prevent their effectiveness.
The last chapter provides information on what people are doing now to fight back against those who troll individuals and try to steal their data. My favourite idea to counter disinformation is the Baltic Elves, a group of thousands of individuals who quickly dismantle the disinformation provided by Russian Trolls and debunk the 'truths' these trolls spout. I also love the #ichbinhier group on Facebook that is committed to preventing the spread of toxic discussions online. Whenever they identify a hate campaign, they immediately start a counter-campaign and like each other's posts. By accumulating likes, the online algorithms prioritise these stories so that they show up higher than the extremists's posts.
She was working at a think tank - the Institute for Strategic Dialogue - that monitors radical groups but realised that in order to fully understand these extremist organisations she would have to go undercover and take part in online meetings as well as in-person events. This she did, adopting varying disguises, and came through some close calls to provide the details included in this amazingly informative book.
Alt-right groups, Trad Wives, Jihadi Brides, Isis, the Daily Stormer, and many others are discussed in this book. Most of the radicalisation of people takes place online with the individuals being gradually seduced into feeling part of a movement, part of a group, part of a club. Conspiracy theories such as the Great Replacement fuel hatred against ethnic and cultural minorities. Livestream features make terror go viral and as was seen with the Christchurch attacks, elements of gaming are introduced to encourage lone-wolf attacks.
As much as the Internet has speeded up people's abilities to shop, pay bills, and check information, it has also allowed the bad actors to steal those same people's personal information just as quickly under the right circumstances.
The book's penultimate chapter includes ten predictions from industry insiders about what tactics the extremist groups will try next, as predicting their actions could mean counter measures can be taken to prevent their effectiveness.
The last chapter provides information on what people are doing now to fight back against those who troll individuals and try to steal their data. My favourite idea to counter disinformation is the Baltic Elves, a group of thousands of individuals who quickly dismantle the disinformation provided by Russian Trolls and debunk the 'truths' these trolls spout. I also love the #ichbinhier group on Facebook that is committed to preventing the spread of toxic discussions online. Whenever they identify a hate campaign, they immediately start a counter-campaign and like each other's posts. By accumulating likes, the online algorithms prioritise these stories so that they show up higher than the extremists's posts.
March 28, 2020
Julia Ebner is my new hero. The work she does is terrifying, brave and so important. Not only that, but she writes in such an approachable way that you never feel intimidated, lost or patronised while reading. This book reads like a thriller - I didn’t expect it to be so personal and tense at times, and that made it even more of an urgent and necessary read. An amazing book by an amazing woman.
May 1, 2020
Interesting reading, and good points raised particularly regarding gamified terrorism and how dangerous the internet has become. However I was hoping that going undercover into extremist factions would have produced a deeper dive into the mindsets of some of those individuals and an unbiased product, like a Theroux documentary. Still an interesting read.
February 28, 2020
Disappointing. No real insights, instead relating the author's experiences in joining various extremist subreddits and other social media groups
June 4, 2021
Som rád, že táto kniha bola preložená do Slovenčiny a nedávno vyšla v edícií Denníka N.
Julia Ebner (1991) nás vezme do súkromných online skupín rôznych extrémistických hnutí v západnej Európe, kam sa infiltrovala s rôznymi falošnými identitami. Prečítať si môžete úryvky rozhovorov, ktoré v týchto skupinách viedla. Pre mňa asi najprekvapujúcejšie boli rozhovory v ženskej krajino-pravicovej skupine Trad-Wifes, teda tradičné manželky. Rady o tom, ako mať šťastný vzťah sú veľmi podobné radám od "neviest džihádu". Je to plné sebanenávisti a absolútnemu podriaďovaniu sa mužovi. Chvíľami sa mi nechcelo ani veriť, že tie príspevky môžu písať samotné ženy. Optimistické nie su ani predpovede autorky, ktorá je presvedčená (na základe dát), že rozvoj internetu a sociálnych sietí neustále urýchľuje a zintenzívňuje radikalizáciu stále väčšieho počtu ľudí.
Kniha kombinuje množstvo faktografických údajov o extrémistických skupinách s osobnými príbehmi a rozhovormi, vhodne doplnené o aktuálne výskumy relevantné k téme. Autorka nenecháva nič na náhodu a všetky rozhovory, či vyjadrenia ľudí z extrémistickcých skupín vysvetľuje a vyvracia. Cenná je aj občasná sebareflexia (pasáže o tom, čo sa autorke odohrávalo v hlave počas rôznych stretnutí).
O jednu hviezdičku menej dávam preto, že Julia Ebner celý čas vníma tých ľudí z extrémistických skupín len ako objekty jej výskumu, ktoré chce a plánuje šokujúco odhaliť a obnažiť pred svetom. Nič prevratne nové sa však o rétorike a rozmýšľaní týchto ľudí nedozvedáme a už vôbec nemáme ��ancu spoznať ich ľudskú stránku, či to najdôležitejšie, prečo sa im deje to, čo sa im deje. Čo sa stalo v ich životoch? Zdá sa, že autorka počas infiltrácie (možno) nevyužívala najdôležitejšiu metódu pri deradikalizácií - teda hľadanie spoločných čŕt, záujmov, postojov a názorov s ľuďmi z hodnotovo opačného spektra. Nadviazanie tejto formy dialógu si to priam pýta, no zrejme to nie je možné, keď používate netransparentné techniky infiltrácie pod falošnou identitou. Nie som úplne presvedčený, že toto je tá správna cesta, ako pomôcť ľuďom, ktorí sa dostanú do spleti dezinformácií, hoaxov a propagandy.
Julia Ebner (1991) nás vezme do súkromných online skupín rôznych extrémistických hnutí v západnej Európe, kam sa infiltrovala s rôznymi falošnými identitami. Prečítať si môžete úryvky rozhovorov, ktoré v týchto skupinách viedla. Pre mňa asi najprekvapujúcejšie boli rozhovory v ženskej krajino-pravicovej skupine Trad-Wifes, teda tradičné manželky. Rady o tom, ako mať šťastný vzťah sú veľmi podobné radám od "neviest džihádu". Je to plné sebanenávisti a absolútnemu podriaďovaniu sa mužovi. Chvíľami sa mi nechcelo ani veriť, že tie príspevky môžu písať samotné ženy. Optimistické nie su ani predpovede autorky, ktorá je presvedčená (na základe dát), že rozvoj internetu a sociálnych sietí neustále urýchľuje a zintenzívňuje radikalizáciu stále väčšieho počtu ľudí.
Kniha kombinuje množstvo faktografických údajov o extrémistických skupinách s osobnými príbehmi a rozhovormi, vhodne doplnené o aktuálne výskumy relevantné k téme. Autorka nenecháva nič na náhodu a všetky rozhovory, či vyjadrenia ľudí z extrémistickcých skupín vysvetľuje a vyvracia. Cenná je aj občasná sebareflexia (pasáže o tom, čo sa autorke odohrávalo v hlave počas rôznych stretnutí).
O jednu hviezdičku menej dávam preto, že Julia Ebner celý čas vníma tých ľudí z extrémistických skupín len ako objekty jej výskumu, ktoré chce a plánuje šokujúco odhaliť a obnažiť pred svetom. Nič prevratne nové sa však o rétorike a rozmýšľaní týchto ľudí nedozvedáme a už vôbec nemáme ��ancu spoznať ich ľudskú stránku, či to najdôležitejšie, prečo sa im deje to, čo sa im deje. Čo sa stalo v ich životoch? Zdá sa, že autorka počas infiltrácie (možno) nevyužívala najdôležitejšiu metódu pri deradikalizácií - teda hľadanie spoločných čŕt, záujmov, postojov a názorov s ľuďmi z hodnotovo opačného spektra. Nadviazanie tejto formy dialógu si to priam pýta, no zrejme to nie je možné, keď používate netransparentné techniky infiltrácie pod falošnou identitou. Nie som úplne presvedčený, že toto je tá správna cesta, ako pomôcť ľuďom, ktorí sa dostanú do spleti dezinformácií, hoaxov a propagandy.
October 12, 2020
So if you are someone who has familiarized themselves with how social media causes polarization, this book is the next step in that direction. It is written by a investigative researcher who adopts fake identities to join and participate in some of the biggest online extremist groups to research on why people join the group and what influences their thoughts. There is too much information for me to able to do justice to a quick summary but I am going to leave questions below - answers to which you will find in the book!
- Why does it feel like the Global right movements are finally beginning to threaten democracy across different countries?
- How have misogynistic, extremist, islamophobic, anti-semitic, racist people united across the world?
- Which social media platforms do these fringe groups occupy and what are the conversations that result in their manipulation and brainwashing?
- Have you looked at seemingly intelligent people being convinced of conspiracy theories, participating in hate speech due to their right leaning beliefs and wondered how did they get so polarized?
- How has technology played an important role in driving the Aryans/whites vs the other narratives? Are we essentially rewriting centuries of history to suit our agenda?
- What is common between how the right uses technology and how the left does?
- What are the names of some of the biggest, popular alt right, fringe groups across the world and how did they get so popular?
- How is your personal experience used to justify your hate ridden political thought?
- How conversations in online spaces are resulting in actual physical violence?
- What are tech policy changes that we need to make right now to be able to influence young minds who will turn to the internet as a solution to all their problems?
- Will extremist groups take over the world with the support of extremist politicians running states?
- What does the future of terrorism and nationalism look like keeping in mind that the entire operations of mobilizing young people is now low cost and can be even more secretive than before?
While there is very little direct reference to the right movement in India, it is also a realisation that Indian right wing movement is honestly nothing different from the extremists of the world. So many commonalities among the racists, the xenophobic, the anti semitic, the hate speech propagandists and the Indian right wing!
- Why does it feel like the Global right movements are finally beginning to threaten democracy across different countries?
- How have misogynistic, extremist, islamophobic, anti-semitic, racist people united across the world?
- Which social media platforms do these fringe groups occupy and what are the conversations that result in their manipulation and brainwashing?
- Have you looked at seemingly intelligent people being convinced of conspiracy theories, participating in hate speech due to their right leaning beliefs and wondered how did they get so polarized?
- How has technology played an important role in driving the Aryans/whites vs the other narratives? Are we essentially rewriting centuries of history to suit our agenda?
- What is common between how the right uses technology and how the left does?
- What are the names of some of the biggest, popular alt right, fringe groups across the world and how did they get so popular?
- How is your personal experience used to justify your hate ridden political thought?
- How conversations in online spaces are resulting in actual physical violence?
- What are tech policy changes that we need to make right now to be able to influence young minds who will turn to the internet as a solution to all their problems?
- Will extremist groups take over the world with the support of extremist politicians running states?
- What does the future of terrorism and nationalism look like keeping in mind that the entire operations of mobilizing young people is now low cost and can be even more secretive than before?
While there is very little direct reference to the right movement in India, it is also a realisation that Indian right wing movement is honestly nothing different from the extremists of the world. So many commonalities among the racists, the xenophobic, the anti semitic, the hate speech propagandists and the Indian right wing!
January 9, 2024
Resulta un poco complicado calificar este libro solo por las cosas que hace bien, sobre todo porque desde su título pretende ir más allá y en ese proceso veo omisiones importantes que le llevan a desperdiciar oportunidades de plantear un panorama más complejo y útil para pensar en soluciones efectivas ante la marea extremista y populista que campea por la red.
Destacando lo positivo, es inevitable no elogiar la labor arriesgada de la autora de inmiscuirse en los grupos y asociaciones identitarias que han contribuido a episodios terribles como lo ocurrido en Charlottesville (2017) o los auges de lamentables expresiones de terrorismo doméstico con tintes nativistas (atentado de la mezquita en Christchurch y cualquiera motivada en la teoría del gran reemplazo).
En lo correspondiente a concientizarnos de la importante infiltración de la derecha extrema en el mundo virtual, su peligro en materia de crímenes de odio y en la radicalización que los algoritmos juegan a la hora de sumarle nuevos adeptos, Julia Ebner se saca un 5. Nada habría que discutir si el libro fuese un trabajado sobre el supremacismo blanco, la xenofobia europea y la subcultura que lo alimenta en la red con graves consecuencias en la sociedad. Pero el libro pretende ir más allá, pretende mostrarnos la vida secreta de los extremistas, su refugio, sus herramientas retóricas, su público vulnerable y las medias verdades con la que se legitiman frente al público temeroso y enojado con las instituciones.
Viéndolo así, es inevitable no sentir que a Julia Ebner se le ha escapado parte del panorama. Una parte de la población con tarjeta de residencia en la tierra de los extremistas. Pero están ahí, aportando su granito de arena en la polarización electoral, el tribalismo en la sociedad, radicalización virtual, violencia en los campus, el alejamiento cada vez mayor del consenso y los valores ilustrados y sí, ... Con sus propios ejemplos de agresiones y rastros de sangre también.
Esta omisión. La cual conlleva monopolizar el peligro y el análisis solo al lado derecho del espectro, nos lleva a ignorar otros tipos extremismos están actuando en las sociedades y que contribuyen, como no puede ser de otro modo, a la radicalización mutua entre dos bandos identitarios sedientos de conspiranoia, odio y deseo de rebelión. Es ignorar el creciente aumento del antisemitismo, alimentado ya no solo por el extremismo de derecha que recicla la conspiranoia de los los sabios de Zion y ven en figuras como George Soros la "mayor amenaza globalista" para la soberanía popular, sino por el creciente nacionalismo negro , el cual ha traído múltiples ataques de odio hacia sinagogas durante protestas de Black Lives Matters. Así como la promulgación y vociferación pública de activistas asociados al movimiento con idearios abiertamente supremacistas como el relacionado con el origen de la raza blanca defendido por la Nación del islam.
No puedes hablarnos de los extremistas que hoy asolan nuestro tejido social y amenazan con dinamitarlo y radicalizarlo en el proceso, sin mencionar siquiera el odio virulento y la cámara de eco que han contribuido a la creación de los black-only fórums o los grupúsculos feministas radicales en donde la misandria campa a sus anchas y se disfraza de las mejores intenciones y empatías posibles (SCUM/lesbianismo politico/TERFs/abolicionismo etc). Hablamos de espacios en donde poseer identidades específicas, te degrada a ser un patógeno biológico y/o cultural contaminante, al punto que asociarse en vínculo con ellos te vuelve "traidor" (Hombre heterosexual/ blanco, respectivamente), espacios en donde abundan los epítetos alienantes y racistas para cualquier miembro que haga un llamado a la sensatez y proponga un mínimo de matiz ( Uncle Tom, race traitor, an Oreo, coconut, pick me girl, etc). La polémica sobre las relaciones interraciales y el mestizaje, volvieron a ocupar controversia y debate.
Es inevitable no pensar que en alguna medida, más que algoritmos y líderes carismáticos con apariencia hipster, algo que suma simpatías, reacciones emocionales en cadena y apoyos a las causas identitarias de la extrema derecha; es la existencia de violencia y lenguaje extremista como estos. ¿Cuán radicalizador puede llegar hacer el que ocurra un escándalo, libre de consecuencias, sobre el racismo expreso (aunque justificado/minimizado posteriormente por "antirracistas") de Sarah Jeong ? ¿Cuántas personas de a pie podrían soportar las tristes historias de personas obligadas a renunciar o llevadas a la quiebra, debido a que su demostración de antirracismo fue considerada "inadecuada", antes de empezar a sentir sensatas las palabras de un Steve Banon o las delirantes "batallas culturales" de un Ron de Santis sobre "lo woke"? Sumemos a lo anterior, los crecientes reportes de agresiones recibidas por personas acusadas de "apropiación cultural" por llevar el peinado "equivocado" o usar la ropa equivocada o preparar la comida equivocada ... o por entrar a un "restaurante equivocado" con tu pareja de "raza equivocada".
Sin duda, de haberlo querido, la autora hubiese podido sugerir respuestas posibles a las anteriores preguntas en la medida que recababa más información al visitar los círculos en donde tales extremismos se gestaban. Julia Ebner tiene la capacidad, la habilidad, tenacidad y la experiencia para habernos ofrecido alguno mucho mejor y completo de lo que nos terminó ofreciendo. He aquí el porqué de mi calificación.
Destacando lo positivo, es inevitable no elogiar la labor arriesgada de la autora de inmiscuirse en los grupos y asociaciones identitarias que han contribuido a episodios terribles como lo ocurrido en Charlottesville (2017) o los auges de lamentables expresiones de terrorismo doméstico con tintes nativistas (atentado de la mezquita en Christchurch y cualquiera motivada en la teoría del gran reemplazo).
En lo correspondiente a concientizarnos de la importante infiltración de la derecha extrema en el mundo virtual, su peligro en materia de crímenes de odio y en la radicalización que los algoritmos juegan a la hora de sumarle nuevos adeptos, Julia Ebner se saca un 5. Nada habría que discutir si el libro fuese un trabajado sobre el supremacismo blanco, la xenofobia europea y la subcultura que lo alimenta en la red con graves consecuencias en la sociedad. Pero el libro pretende ir más allá, pretende mostrarnos la vida secreta de los extremistas, su refugio, sus herramientas retóricas, su público vulnerable y las medias verdades con la que se legitiman frente al público temeroso y enojado con las instituciones.
Viéndolo así, es inevitable no sentir que a Julia Ebner se le ha escapado parte del panorama. Una parte de la población con tarjeta de residencia en la tierra de los extremistas. Pero están ahí, aportando su granito de arena en la polarización electoral, el tribalismo en la sociedad, radicalización virtual, violencia en los campus, el alejamiento cada vez mayor del consenso y los valores ilustrados y sí, ... Con sus propios ejemplos de agresiones y rastros de sangre también.
Esta omisión. La cual conlleva monopolizar el peligro y el análisis solo al lado derecho del espectro, nos lleva a ignorar otros tipos extremismos están actuando en las sociedades y que contribuyen, como no puede ser de otro modo, a la radicalización mutua entre dos bandos identitarios sedientos de conspiranoia, odio y deseo de rebelión. Es ignorar el creciente aumento del antisemitismo, alimentado ya no solo por el extremismo de derecha que recicla la conspiranoia de los los sabios de Zion y ven en figuras como George Soros la "mayor amenaza globalista" para la soberanía popular, sino por el creciente nacionalismo negro , el cual ha traído múltiples ataques de odio hacia sinagogas durante protestas de Black Lives Matters. Así como la promulgación y vociferación pública de activistas asociados al movimiento con idearios abiertamente supremacistas como el relacionado con el origen de la raza blanca defendido por la Nación del islam.
No puedes hablarnos de los extremistas que hoy asolan nuestro tejido social y amenazan con dinamitarlo y radicalizarlo en el proceso, sin mencionar siquiera el odio virulento y la cámara de eco que han contribuido a la creación de los black-only fórums o los grupúsculos feministas radicales en donde la misandria campa a sus anchas y se disfraza de las mejores intenciones y empatías posibles (SCUM/lesbianismo politico/TERFs/abolicionismo etc). Hablamos de espacios en donde poseer identidades específicas, te degrada a ser un patógeno biológico y/o cultural contaminante, al punto que asociarse en vínculo con ellos te vuelve "traidor" (Hombre heterosexual/ blanco, respectivamente), espacios en donde abundan los epítetos alienantes y racistas para cualquier miembro que haga un llamado a la sensatez y proponga un mínimo de matiz ( Uncle Tom, race traitor, an Oreo, coconut, pick me girl, etc). La polémica sobre las relaciones interraciales y el mestizaje, volvieron a ocupar controversia y debate.
Es inevitable no pensar que en alguna medida, más que algoritmos y líderes carismáticos con apariencia hipster, algo que suma simpatías, reacciones emocionales en cadena y apoyos a las causas identitarias de la extrema derecha; es la existencia de violencia y lenguaje extremista como estos. ¿Cuán radicalizador puede llegar hacer el que ocurra un escándalo, libre de consecuencias, sobre el racismo expreso (aunque justificado/minimizado posteriormente por "antirracistas") de Sarah Jeong ? ¿Cuántas personas de a pie podrían soportar las tristes historias de personas obligadas a renunciar o llevadas a la quiebra, debido a que su demostración de antirracismo fue considerada "inadecuada", antes de empezar a sentir sensatas las palabras de un Steve Banon o las delirantes "batallas culturales" de un Ron de Santis sobre "lo woke"? Sumemos a lo anterior, los crecientes reportes de agresiones recibidas por personas acusadas de "apropiación cultural" por llevar el peinado "equivocado" o usar la ropa equivocada o preparar la comida equivocada ... o por entrar a un "restaurante equivocado" con tu pareja de "raza equivocada".
Sin duda, de haberlo querido, la autora hubiese podido sugerir respuestas posibles a las anteriores preguntas en la medida que recababa más información al visitar los círculos en donde tales extremismos se gestaban. Julia Ebner tiene la capacidad, la habilidad, tenacidad y la experiencia para habernos ofrecido alguno mucho mejor y completo de lo que nos terminó ofreciendo. He aquí el porqué de mi calificación.
November 20, 2021
There were some really enjoyable parts and parts that felt like an undergrad dissertation.
I don't think I can say I have learned all that much, but I have some background in extremism.
I don't think I can say I have learned all that much, but I have some background in extremism.
August 20, 2020
I read in English but this review is in Bahasa Indonesia
Ketika itu Dwiki--salah satu anggota Sobat Sospol--mengunggah resensi buku ini. Padahal Going Dark adalah judul baru yang masuk ke Indonesia melalui Periplus. Beberapa kali aku sempat melihatnya dan sebenarnya cukup tergoda untuk membeli karena desain sampulnya. Ternyata tulisan Dwiki soal buku ini semakin meyakinkan aku untuk membaca Going Dark.
Julia Ebner, penulisnya, berusaha masuk ke dalam kehidupan para ekstrimis selama kurang lebih 2 tahun. Dia tidak hanya "menyusupi" satu saja, melainkan ada beberapa. Dari ekstrimis kulit putih Eropa hingga yang berada di Timur Tengah. Hidupnya berganti-ganti identitas dan penuh dengan risiko bahwa siapa dirinya akan terungkap.
Going Dark disusun menjadi beberapa bagian yang cukup sistematis. Bagian itu merupakan tahapan soal bagaimana kelompok ekstrimis merekrut anggota, menyebarkan informasi dan doktrin, hingga bagaimana mereka mengeksekusi rencana. Dengan tulisan Ebner yang tidak bertele-tele, pembaca akan mengetahui bagaimana kelompok ekstrimis tersebut "bekerja."
Perlu aku tekankan, pasti ada orang-orang yang tidak nyaman membaca Going Dark. Ebner menggambarkan kembali seperti apa percakapan di dalam kelompok ekstrimis tersebut. Misalnya saja ketika membaca Bab 3 dan Bab 4 yang mengkhususkan diri pada kelompok ektstrimis yang percaya bahwa feminisme adalah produk barat (Amerika Serikat). Rasanya kesal setengah mati ada anggota kelompok ekstrimis mengatakan bahwa wanita mandiri tidak berharga di sana.
Tulisan Ebner begitu mengalir hingga tidak terasa kalau buku sudah habis. Ia juga memberikan referensi di akhir buku yang mana bisa ditelusur lebih jauh untuk memahami seluk beluk kehidupan ekstrimis.
Membaca Going Dark mengingatkanku pada tulisan Terence Ward yang berjudul The Wahhabi Code dan tulisan Francis Fukuyama yang berjudul Identity. Atau bahkan Communist Manifesto-nya Marx dan Engels?
I am convinced that nothing is more powerful than arming people with the knowledge of how extremists seek to exploit our weaknesses in our online and offline lives.
Ketika itu Dwiki--salah satu anggota Sobat Sospol--mengunggah resensi buku ini. Padahal Going Dark adalah judul baru yang masuk ke Indonesia melalui Periplus. Beberapa kali aku sempat melihatnya dan sebenarnya cukup tergoda untuk membeli karena desain sampulnya. Ternyata tulisan Dwiki soal buku ini semakin meyakinkan aku untuk membaca Going Dark.
Julia Ebner, penulisnya, berusaha masuk ke dalam kehidupan para ekstrimis selama kurang lebih 2 tahun. Dia tidak hanya "menyusupi" satu saja, melainkan ada beberapa. Dari ekstrimis kulit putih Eropa hingga yang berada di Timur Tengah. Hidupnya berganti-ganti identitas dan penuh dengan risiko bahwa siapa dirinya akan terungkap.
Going Dark disusun menjadi beberapa bagian yang cukup sistematis. Bagian itu merupakan tahapan soal bagaimana kelompok ekstrimis merekrut anggota, menyebarkan informasi dan doktrin, hingga bagaimana mereka mengeksekusi rencana. Dengan tulisan Ebner yang tidak bertele-tele, pembaca akan mengetahui bagaimana kelompok ekstrimis tersebut "bekerja."
Perlu aku tekankan, pasti ada orang-orang yang tidak nyaman membaca Going Dark. Ebner menggambarkan kembali seperti apa percakapan di dalam kelompok ekstrimis tersebut. Misalnya saja ketika membaca Bab 3 dan Bab 4 yang mengkhususkan diri pada kelompok ektstrimis yang percaya bahwa feminisme adalah produk barat (Amerika Serikat). Rasanya kesal setengah mati ada anggota kelompok ekstrimis mengatakan bahwa wanita mandiri tidak berharga di sana.
Tulisan Ebner begitu mengalir hingga tidak terasa kalau buku sudah habis. Ia juga memberikan referensi di akhir buku yang mana bisa ditelusur lebih jauh untuk memahami seluk beluk kehidupan ekstrimis.
Their ideological disagreements are however rather cosmetic in nature: in the end, they all agree that racism is "the purist form of patraiotism."
Membaca Going Dark mengingatkanku pada tulisan Terence Ward yang berjudul The Wahhabi Code dan tulisan Francis Fukuyama yang berjudul Identity. Atau bahkan Communist Manifesto-nya Marx dan Engels?
June 11, 2020
I honestly think this book is a must read. For everyone. If you read the blurb and decide that it’s not relevant to you, I’m sorry but you’re actually wrong! It is!! There have been books on how the internet has undermined the media and journalism and politics before, but not one that is so accessible nor so interesting to read, by an expert who backs her firsthand experiences up with research every step of the way.
Going Dark talks about how extremists on the internet and social media fundamentally affects our day to day lives, and directly links it to societies turn into far right extremism over the past few years. I doubt that I will ever experience using social media in the same way.
Going Dark talks about how extremists on the internet and social media fundamentally affects our day to day lives, and directly links it to societies turn into far right extremism over the past few years. I doubt that I will ever experience using social media in the same way.
July 3, 2020
i wanted to like this a lot more than i did. it felt like there were two good books here - one that was primarily investigative journalism, and one that was primarily academic - but they never really managed to tie together cohesively. the fact that christchurch happened during the writing of this book should have (in my opinion) radically refocussed the book to being more related to the leadup and aftermath in extremist communities, but i guess i'm just wanting to read that book and had this one instead.
it's not a bad read and it tends to go pretty quickly, but having finished it i just wish it was more in-depth about the subcultures it touches on. if anyone who reads this review has a recommendation for a book that looks at some of the subcultures in the book (especially the trad wifes, they were bizarre) i'd love to read it
edit: it's also worth mentioning the genuinely astonishing amount of bravery it must have taken for Julia Ebner, a white woman, to go physically into some of these places
it's not a bad read and it tends to go pretty quickly, but having finished it i just wish it was more in-depth about the subcultures it touches on. if anyone who reads this review has a recommendation for a book that looks at some of the subcultures in the book (especially the trad wifes, they were bizarre) i'd love to read it
edit: it's also worth mentioning the genuinely astonishing amount of bravery it must have taken for Julia Ebner, a white woman, to go physically into some of these places
December 29, 2023
There are two things that I wish that this author did:
1. Write more about her experiences undercover in the extremist groups instead of the process to get in
2. More about why people turn to extremism, instead of just focusing on them after they’ve already gone too far
What this book does well is give you a base understanding of how extremist groups operate, from recruitment to mobilization. You get glimpses of what characteristics extremists share, no matter their type of beliefs. The most powerful part of the book was def the Trad Wives chapter, as the author’s research identity leads to a very interesting personal perspective of the indoctrination aspect of extremist groups.
(Stole this off my roommates table after seeing the cover. Instantly obsessed)
1. Write more about her experiences undercover in the extremist groups instead of the process to get in
2. More about why people turn to extremism, instead of just focusing on them after they’ve already gone too far
What this book does well is give you a base understanding of how extremist groups operate, from recruitment to mobilization. You get glimpses of what characteristics extremists share, no matter their type of beliefs. The most powerful part of the book was def the Trad Wives chapter, as the author’s research identity leads to a very interesting personal perspective of the indoctrination aspect of extremist groups.
(Stole this off my roommates table after seeing the cover. Instantly obsessed)
August 15, 2021
Interesting, but terrifying read. Julia Ebner infiltrates several extremist groups and introduces you to their thinking, tactics of recruitment, mobilisation and socialisation. She shows that the current environment is a perfect breeding ground for new extremist members and how they work to achieve this. Super intriguing and a very current topic.
January 23, 2024
Woahhhhh the amount of highlights I made in this book is insane. I learned SO MUCH about the process of radicalization today online, and the author infiltrates mainly white supremacist circles but also radical Islam and anti-feminism circles as well. She explains the steps taken by these communities to establish trust and belonging among new members, as well as the ensuing socialization that can transform them into militant and violent extremists.
One of the craziest and most enraging things was how misogyny was at the heart of so many of these movements and how many little signs and symbols these groups covertly use online, of which I will now be more aware. Dark times we live in.
I appreciated that this was not just USA-centric like Andrew Marantz's book Antisocial: Online Extremists, Techno-Utopians, and the Hijacking of the American Conversation, though I would highly recommend that as well! As a female author, Ebner was also able to really explain the dangers of the rise of extremism from a feminist point of view, and as she speaks German she was also able to infiltrate European white supremacy events and provide very interesting commentary as well as information on how European and American right extremism movements are linked. As an American in Germany I found this incredibly informative, and would recommend this to everyone.
One of the craziest and most enraging things was how misogyny was at the heart of so many of these movements and how many little signs and symbols these groups covertly use online, of which I will now be more aware. Dark times we live in.
I appreciated that this was not just USA-centric like Andrew Marantz's book Antisocial: Online Extremists, Techno-Utopians, and the Hijacking of the American Conversation, though I would highly recommend that as well! As a female author, Ebner was also able to really explain the dangers of the rise of extremism from a feminist point of view, and as she speaks German she was also able to infiltrate European white supremacy events and provide very interesting commentary as well as information on how European and American right extremism movements are linked. As an American in Germany I found this incredibly informative, and would recommend this to everyone.
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February 24, 2024“We have entered a new era of extremism. What was once fringe is now mainstream. Slogans of the extreme right have made their way into official campagin posters and election manifestos. Apolitical internet sub-cultures have turned political, while the political space had adopted the bizarre cultural elements of online communities. Fun and evil join forces, making it more difficult to distinguish between harmless prank and prosecutable crime. Where do you draw the line between freedom of speech and hate crime? Between citizen journalism and information warfare? Between trolling and terrorism? These are not just legal questions. They are questions that touch the very heart of democratic identity. How libertarian or authoritarian do we want to be? And how far can we afford to go - financially, morally, politically? What happens if we over-censor? How detrimental would the backlash against the entire political system be?
But equally, what is the cost of inaction?”
February 3, 2024
A strong introductory book to the vast topic of extremism and the groups that work within its mechanisms. One of the strongest things that stands out, is Ebner's bravery. Her research is wrought with first-hand experience, attending Neo-Nazi music festivals in disguise and infiltrating terrorist groups. The book is broad, but it doesn't pretend to be a deep-dive into any of these groups. Instead, it seems that Ebner aims to provide an overview to the way that extremist groups operate, providing case studies to amplify this, and for me this worked well. There is a tense, wraught nature throughout when she discusses her own experience, but Ebner does well to balance this with theoretical analysis and teachings on what can change in the future. An incredibly eye-opening, terrifying book, that reveals that anyone, including Ebner herself, can fall to the lures of extremism, and of all that goes on in modern internet channels that allows these groups to operate with ease.
May 23, 2021
Čítalo sa to dobre, ale čakala som viac. Autorka sa venovala príliš mnohým hnutiam a problémom na malom priestore, takže v konečnom dôsledku to bolo dosť povrchné.
Kniha v podobnom duchu ale lepšie spracovaná: Laura Bates - Men who hate women.
Musím sa ale priznať, že som sa doteraz nespamätala z kapitoly Trad Wifes. To by si zaslúžilo samostatnú knihu.
Kniha v podobnom duchu ale lepšie spracovaná: Laura Bates - Men who hate women.
Musím sa ale priznať, že som sa doteraz nespamätala z kapitoly Trad Wifes. To by si zaslúžilo samostatnú knihu.
Shelved as 'dnf'
July 4, 2021I listened to about 50% of this on audio before deciding to stop as I found I was getting quite bored. a lot of this felt very surface level (especially after having read guest house for widows right before this which is so thorough in its analysis), and altho the first few chapters were extremely interesting I found it started to become quite repetitive after a while !
August 14, 2023
it really does read like a thriller i’m glad i learnt something new
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April 25, 2022Bombe was Julia Ebner alles schon geschafft hat
July 30, 2023
*3.75 excellent but brief…felt as though many chapters required more depth. overall a great introduction into various extremist groups and great investigative journalism work.
March 6, 2020
Absolutely terrifying and extremely important.
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October 28, 2020La lectura ideal para el Halloween, la Noche de Muertos, el Día de Difuntos: simplemente terrorífica. El regalo navideño perfecto para los tibios y moderados de vuestras vidas.
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