By Murat Haner, Justin Pickett and Melissa Sloan
Political violence among rival partisans has been a deadly and destabilizing force throughout history and across the globe. It has claimed countless lives, deepened social divisions and even led to the collapse of democratic systems.
In recent history, political violence and its deadly consequences were seen in Italy after World War I when thousands of fascist supporters marched on Rome, the capital, threatening to overthrow the government unless Benito Mussolini was appointed prime minister. That kind of violence and its effects were also seen in 1930s Germany, where Adolf Hitler suppressed opposition and suspended civil liberties amid widespread unrest and factional violence.
Similar patterns occurred elsewhere in the decades that followed. Fascist movements used political violence and intimidation to seize or consolidate power, as seen in Spain under Francisco Franco, in Portugal under António de Oliveira Salazar and in Romania under the Iron Guard.
Today, many scholars, journalists, commentators and elected officials across the political spectrum have voiced alarm over escalating acts of violence in the United States, drawing parallels to Europe’s authoritarian past. Reports of politically motivated violence are distressingly common – ranging from mass shootings, car-ramming attacks and assaults at demonstrations to assassination attempts, kidnappings and threats targeting mayors, governors, political activists and members of Congress.
For example, threats of violence against members of Congress increased by more than 1,400%, from 902 in 2016 to an estimated 14,000 by the end of 2025, according to U.S. Capitol Police reports.
Political violence is certainly not new in American society, but current patterns differ in key ways. We found that, today, white nationalism is a key driver of support for political violence – a sign that white nationalism poses substantial danger to U.S. political stability.
In the 1970s, violence was political theater, aimed at drawing government and public attention to specific policies. Today, it’s personal and deadly, driven by a desire to annihilate.
AP Photo
Changing targets
In the 1970s, radical left-wing groups often targeted government property to send political messages.
Attacks included the anti–Vietnam War bombings carried out by the Weather Underground, as well as actions by groups such as the Symbionese Liberation Army and United Freedom Front. They struck government and corporate targets to protest imperialism, racism and economic inequality. These attacks were generally intended as statements rather than mass-casualty events, with perpetrators often issuing warnings beforehand to minimize harm.
Today, however, much of the violence is aimed directly at individuals, often with the intent to harm or kill political opponents.
These include incidents such as the 2017 shooting targeting Republican lawmakers at a congressional baseball practice, the 2022 hammer attack on Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s husband, Paul Pelosi, and the 2025 killing of Democrat Melissa Hortman, the former speaker of the Minnesota House, and her husband in what authorities described as a politically motivated assassination.
This resurgence of political violence has prompted intense academic and journalistic scrutiny. Numerous public opinion surveys have sought to gauge Americans’ approval of, or concern about, using violence against the government or political adversaries.
Initial estimates suggested nearly 1 in 4 Americans support political violence. But later studies identified flaws in the questions used to measure support for violence. Simply asking about violence in general or the use of force leaves too much room for interpretation.
Using more sophisticated questioning techniques results in lower estimates of public support for political violence.
Understanding what drives individuals to endorse political violence is essential for developing effective strategies to prevent it. As public opinion researchers who have studied Americans’ attitudes toward ideological extremism, political polarization and counterterrorism policy, we sought to advance our understanding of the factors underlying public support for political violence in the United States.
We aimed to do this in two ways: by using more specific questioning techniques and by identifying the factors associated with increased support for violence.
Who justifies political violence?
Our study focused specifically on white nationalism – a growing movement in the U.S. – as a driver of support for violence.
We asked a national sample of 1,300 Americans how justified or unjustified it would be “to take violent action against the U.S. government” in response to a range of government actions. This approach captures both approval of the use of violence and its political motivation.
We included nonpartisan government actions such as “the government violated or took away citizens’ rights and freedoms” and “the government violated the U.S. Constitution” along with hypothetical actions reflecting right or left-wing political causes. For example, a right-wing action would be to ban all abortions while a left-wing action would be to legalize all abortions.
Analyses revealed substantial support for violence against the government in response to the nonpartisan government actions. Half of the respondents indicated that violence would be justified if the government violated citizens’ rights, and 55% supported the use of violence as a response if the U.S. government committed unlawful violence against citizens. Nearly 40% said that violence would be justified if the government censored the news.
When we examined the factors behind these attitudes, a belief in white nationalism stood out above all others. But what, precisely, is white nationalism? It is more than simply identifying as white. Indeed, white nationalism is a sentiment found among some nonwhite Americans as well.
White nationalists are concerned about the increasing diversity of the American population and want to ensure that white citizens maintain a predominant influence in the country. To them, white citizens’ social, cultural and political values are superior to those of nonwhite citizens and immigrants. The perceived need to protect and propagate these values serves as a call to action.
This ideology has motivated several recent acts of mass violence, from synagogue shootings to racially targeted attacks.
Our data revealed that a belief in white nationalism predicted support for political violence as well. In response to both nonpartisan government actions and those that would benefit left-wing causes, the stronger a person’s white nationalist sentiment, the more strongly that individual believed that violence would be justified.
Out of all the variables in our statistical models, including political views and demographic characteristics, white nationalism was the strongest predictor of support for violence in these circumstances.
It did not, however, significantly influence support for violence when the government actions would benefit right-wing causes.
Growing threat to US democracy
Most people who voice support for political violence will never commit violent acts themselves.
Yet such attitudes foster an atmosphere of tolerance, signaling that violence is acceptable and enabling its continuation. Our analyses show that these supportive attitudes are prevalent among white nationalists.
Active white nationalist groups operate in all but two U.S. states, Alaska and Vermont. Decentralized groups, such as Active Clubs, where white nationalists train and network, are also on the rise.
Many more individuals hold white nationalist sentiments without belonging to organized groups. Indeed, in our national sample, one quarter of respondents agreed with the statement “although people won’t admit it, White Americans and their culture are what made America great in the first place.”
The fact that white nationalism is gaining prominence in the U.S., combined with the association between holding white nationalist views and supporting political violence found in our study, indicates that white nationalism poses a serious threat to U.S. political stability.
Murat Haner is Assistant Professor at the School of Criminology & Criminal Justice at Arizona State University. Justin Pickett is a Professor at the School of Criminal Justice at the University at Albany, State University of New York. Melissa Sloan is a Professor in the Department of Sociology & Interdisciplinary Social Sciences at the University of South Florida.
Al says
BS right from the start. When white people show pride in our culture it’s automatically white nationalism. When black, lefties, Hispanics riot it’s just a protest. This is the kind of rhetoric that leads to conflict. The blame for everything only goes one direction, right and white all else is just over looked as it’s just them trying to express themselves. When I graduated university it was a great place to be with professors that knew things and lived thru hard times . Nowadays it seems most of these so called professors are all cut from the same know nothing activist cloth. Stating this is like trying to teach my horse to climb trees, they just look stupid and go back to eating grass.
By the way the same half dozen idiots will have some personal attack that’s only allowed on this site if the left does it.
Skibum says
Irony is alive and well. You are engaging in the very type of rhetoric that you say you are against. Sorry to have to bring a dose of reality to you, Al, but your laughable comment that “The blame for everything goes one direction”, if that is what you meant, is total nonsense!
Can’t people agree that violence, period, is wrong? It doesn’t matter, or at least it shouldn’t matter, whether it be the type of political violence directed toward the maga extremist president, or liberal democrat Minn. state legislators, or a riotous mob attack on the U.S. Capitol, or racially bigoted assaults on people of different races or ethnicities, or school mass murder of children… it doesn’t matter! It is wrong, it is against the law, and those who commit such crimes need to be put behind bars. And, by the way, NOT pardoned by an unhinged, convicted felon president who loves violence committed in his name by extremist supporters!!!
If you are unable to agree that violence happens on both sides of the political spectrum by wacked out idiots that need to be held accountable through our justice system, then you are part of the problem that allows this type of criminal behavior to continue, as long as the violent, illegal acts are committed against people you happen to disagree with, and that is NOT okay.
Michael Cocchiola says
AI… I’d guess you’re a proud white nationalist.
JimboXYZ says
How about an article on the Day Care Center frauds that are nationwide ?Racism is just the same end run of a distraction/diversion that it’s always been. Biden-Harris inflationary prosperity being exposed. DOGE probably exposed so much of what was going on under Biden. Not even prison cells to house all these frauds ? The only threat to Democracy was/is anything Biden-Harris. Crime seems to never sleep under Democrats. Screaming threat to Democracy is like what yelling Covid has become.
Who has time to suspect racism even remotely occurred with all the frauds stealing money like they are ?
The dude says
We can start with Rick Scott’s Medicare fraud…
Sunny says
DeSantis is right there with Rick Scott just no fine yet!
Skibum says
Yesterday was the five year anniversary of one of the biggest frauds in our history. Guess what? The “only threat to Democracy was/is anything Biden-Harris” is yet just another maga lie spouted in support of a convicted felon president who set his insurrectionist mob of misfits upon the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, then sat there on his ass for hours upon hours watching and relishing the horror unfold while 140 federal and local law enforcement officers were beaten and pummeled with all sorts of things used as weapons!
The orange terror in the WH didn’t even flinch when told that his mob had built a gallows outside the Capitol bldg and were screaming “HANG MIKE PENCE!” Even McConnel was pleading with him over the phone to call out the National Guard, but nope, even his own daughter and other family members’ pleas fell on deaf ears until hours into the violence when he finally, halfheartedly made a public statement that the violent insurrectionists were “patriots” and their mission was accomplished and they could go home… proud I suppose in the eyes of a convict himself, who absolutely adores those who commit violent crimes as long as it is done in his name!
So much for historical fraud and criminal behavior done by thousands, right Jimbo???
And BTW… if and when actual evidence of fraudulent money laundering involving anyone including daycare providers, no matter which state they are from, has been gathered, those responsible will be arrested and I hope convicted. They will not get personal presidential pardons like all of those federally convicted felons that the pedophile protecting, convicted felon prez ordered released from federal lock-ups back into society, free to laugh and celebrate having their crimes erased simply because they were done on the felon prez’ behalf!
There was no bigger hit to American democracy than what happened at the U.S. Capitol five years ago, no matter how often fauxinfotainment nuze morons and maga mush brains try to reinvent history!
Michael Cocchiola says
Hey, Jimbo… the MAGA is strong in you. Whatcha gonna do when they come for you?
melly says
So, George Floyd, white guy? And all those white congresspeople and senators on the left never, EVER foment violence from their own lips, ever, officially, on Twitter, or on TV?
Yeah, maybe try again, folks.
Michael Cocchiola says
Melly… I cannot remember a recent instance when a white leftist Congressperson or Senator has called for violence. I do recall Trump and his chief goons doing so.
There will be more blood as long as Trump’s ICE Brownshirts exist.
Pogo says
@How many professors
… does it take to screw in a bug light to attract the local klavern?
https://www.google.com/search?q=local+klavern
Apparently, 3 will suffice — and one more to carry their soapbox.
Well, the Jets are mostly here — Sharks, where are you?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uzuFqrCl_4M&list=RD1MZ2QwXbvTo&index=4
Meanwhile, pay no attention, to the ordinary monsters behind their curtains:
On with the show
https://www.google.com/search?q=richest+media+owners
Lights, camera — action
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=richest+media+owners
Skibum says
As of this month, one year in since the convicted felon president began his latest immigration purge which has, by his own administration’s admission rounded up and deported hundreds of thousands of undocumented immigrant families including babies, children and women, along with men and records showing more than 80% of the undocumented individuals had no criminal records at all! But according to the hitleresque convicted felon-in-chief and his maga sycophants who were supposed to be targeting “the worst of the worst”, instead raided schools, churches, neighborhood restaurants, Home Depot locations, and target entire families, many of whom have lived in this country, in peace, for decades.
The lies about all of these undocumented purges being important to stop crime and hold “criminals” accountable is a complete fantasy that should be in a book of fairytales. The felon-in-chief granted full pardons to 1,500 actual criminals on day 1 of his second term a year ago, and now thousands of felons who were tracked down, arrested by the FBI and charged with federal crimes that included insurrection and serious assaults on law enforcement officers roam free among us, laughing at the U.S. justice system because their violence was smiled upon and excused by a vile man who is himself an adjudicated sexual abuser and a convicted felon who has no business holding the highest office in the nation!
America would be so much better off (and safer) if ALL of the deported immigrant families were returned to the U.S. and instead the convicted felon and all of the Jan. 6 insurrectionists were expelled from the U.S.
Sherry says
@ melly. . . please post “credible evidence” for your claims. BTW. . . calling for protests is not inciting violence.
Laurel says
There is no “credible evidence.” That’s why the commenter clams up when asked.
Kennan says
The most glaring issue with White Nationalism is political discourse in this country being used as an identifier. The political divide in this country is being used to identify people, not as Americans, but as red or blue. Conservative or leftist. If we are being honest, the conservative party or Republicans have been taken over and replaced by the Trump party. Donald Trump has successfully fearmonger his way into demonizing, black, brown, and Arab people. It is a completely radical notion that feeds into this false narrative that minorities and /or black and brown people, as well as immigrants are invading our country. Bringing drugs in. Murdering and raping our citizens. A complete and unbridled lie.
Our crimes committed? Do rapes happen? Of course. Immigrants documented or not have consistently had lower incarceration rates compared to US born individuals. A trend that has held true for over 150 years.
Analysis by the Cato Institute found that US born citizens were:
Over two times more likely to be arrested for violent crimes.
2.5 times more likely to be arrested for drug crimes.
Four times more likely to be arrested for property crimes.
Historically, as the immigrant share of the US population has increased, the national total crime rate has generally decreased. This suggests a lack of correlation between increased immigration and higher crime rates.
Let’s talk about our lack gun laws in this country. The National Rifle Association(NRA) used to be tethered to gun safety. The NRA is now a full-blown gun runner. A arms dealer that thinks owning assault rifles is a good idea. These are guns that are made for killing people not defense explanation. This mindset is tailor-made for militant US thugs like:
“ The Proud Boys”, League of The South”
“Vanguard America”( Neo Nazi group)
Nationalist Socialist Movement(prominent neo Nazi organization) among others have become wholly inebriated by the rhetoric of the Trump administration. Trump, MAGA, and the intertwining of Christian nationalism that assert that the US should be a Christian nation.
One disgusting fascist tributary that flows under the governmental umbrella of the current administration is ICE.
Unless you have been living under a rock for the last few hours, you must know about the woman in Minnesota that was murdered by an ICE terrorist. An observer of ICE activities in a Minnesota neighborhood. A ICE agent was attempting to open her car door. She was backing her SUV up to turn around and leave. A second ICE agent ran up to the side of the vehicle and unloaded at least six shots into her head. She then lost control of the vehicle and hit a utility pole, slumped over, and then died!
It was just a matter of time before these Keystone cops, these untrained hacks, these masked terrorist killed someone. I hope they put that ICE terrorist that pulled the trigger in jail for the rest of his life. I hope the woman’s family sues the government AKA the Trump administration for $100 million dollars!
Democracy is fragile, and this is the political, governmental, and ultimately fascist violence you voted for.
Kennan says
Renée Nicole Good 37. Shot in cold blood in Minnesota. described by Neighbor is an amazing human being and mother.
This administration wants you to be afraid. They want you to be afraid to vote. They want you to be afraid to protest.
I am having trouble, real trouble processing this. This is really happening. This is happening in the United States of America.
Now our president and Dipshit Christie Nohm, wearing her stupid cowboy hat are trolling around, trying to cover their asses.
This piece of shit said, ICE officers were trying to get their car out of the snow And this woman attempted to ram them with her car. The biggest bullshit story ever told. Watch the video America! When you are done, watch the video again! Lies! Blatant lies to our face.
Try to spin this one MAGA! I dare you!
My God! I have a passport, and if I had the financial means…. I would leave the country now. Live on an island and quietly live out my life.
This is what all the intertwining of white nationalism, fascism, racism, and the overall dereliction of law gets you.
DISGUSTING.
Laurel says
Before the U.S. citizen’s body was cold, Kristian Kristy Noem was demonizing her. Trump did too. The party of lies are attacking truth and reality, so redistricting is necessary for the oppression to continue. Otherwise, it would be voted out, and the nasties know it.
It is truly is disgusting, and yes, it’s hard to believe this shit is happening in our country.
Kennan says
That’s a very good point about the redistricting Laurel. These guys are losing so much that they have to do these type of things so they can continue to pedal their bullshit.
Skibum says
With my long and extensive law enforcement background, it is easier for me than many people to be able to tell that these ICE officers are either 1) poorly trained prior to hitting the streets, or 2) just unprepared and operating way out of their normal course of duties and operational policies, or 3) strictly ordered by higher ups to be as thuggish and violent as possible when confronting people as some type of “deterrent” effect. Or it could be a combination of all three, who knows. What I do know for sure is that federal law enforcement agencies have never, ever in the past exhibited such outlandish and sometimes unprofessional behavior as well as totally unwarranted actions that leave even experienced law enforcement personnel aghast and shaking their heads in bewilderment.
Yet this is what we see in incident after incident with ICE agents in Los Angeles, Portland, Washington D.C. and other cities where the felon-in-chief has ordered them to go incite violence among the citizenry as if that is how ICE has traditionally performed their duties, which they have certainly NOT handled their law enforcement responsibilities like they are doing now at anytime during my career! I didn’t just crawl out from under a rock… I have worked with federal agencies many times in the past and know how they have always operated and conducted themselves, which is 100% opposite of the aggressive nature seen recently. So, I have to believe that is intentional, it is ordered from above, without caring how citizens are treated or handled by federal authorities.
It will take a LONG time, if ever, before public trust in federal law enforcement agents is regained. The sad part is that this affects how citizens treat and react to their local law enforcement as well, deserved or not. Local law enforcement agencies depend on citizens to cooperate and be part of the solution to crime in our local communities, and when that trust is broken, people stop calling 911, witnesses stop coming forward to give helpful information or refuse to testify at trials, and criminals feel more emboldened… and crime increases. That is not the type of community anyone wants to live in.
The convicted felon in the WH doesn’t give a rat’s ass about any of that because he doesn’t have to live in dangerous, crime ridden cities where he has only made the crime problem worse. The federal agents being directed to surge into these cities probably don’t live there either, and don’t have any local law enforcement contacts, and zero concern about how the residents feel, and it is almost like the feds are treating the citizens of those cities they are raiding as not even human beings, and if one gets out of line… just shoot ’em!
I am almost beyond words pissed off at what I am witnessing on TV news almost daily, because of the callousness of the man-child in the WH who is preying on American citizens with what he thinks are his own private army of cops to act like they are unaccountable to anyone no matter what the do or how many people they have to kill, because the man-child in the WH will cover for them.
People must be clear… this is NOT how American law enforcement is trained or expected to operate in the U.S. under any presidential administration. That is, unless it is a criminal mob mentality enterprise like we currently have in our nation today masquerading as a federal administration.
Lastly, citizens would be well advised, if you choose to involve yourself in some type of protest activity against ICE and the feds, DON’T put yourself in harm’s was like the woman in the SUV did. I question the justification of her being shot after watching the video myself, but I wasn’t there. What she did was stupid, and it ended up costing her life, and now her kids are without a mother. And for what? People need to be smart about how they choose to protest against ICE.
Kennan says
Great points Skibum!
Really well put and presented! We should take heed, listen, and be safe. It could save our lives.
Thank you.
Atwp says
White nationalists have always been here. Under different names, same deadly demonic consequences against my people. My mom told me years ago, the whites didn’t like us because of the color of our skin, as I aged I saw she was telling the truth. What is interesting is the whites hate me because I’m dark but they set in the sun to tan their skin. Some of them act like they want to be dark like me, tans, tanning lotions, never understood their thinking, hate me because I’m dark but they try to get dark. At least mine is natural and beautiful. They also hates us because we made some progress in this country. I guess they will always hate us because we will continue to progress regardless of their hatred towards us dark skinned beautiful people.
Laurel says
Atwp: You are generalizing a whole group of people by the color of their skin, and referring to a separate group of people as “my people.” That is the definition of bigotry, and separatism.
Why continue to promote such thought? You hate it and use it at the same time. Maybe it’s time to let it go.
BillC says
To castigate Atwp over his experience of racism makes sense if you ignore the history of blacks in America.
Laurel says
BillC: I have not ignored racism, and my comment clearly states that. There are close, “black” members of our family, and I know what they still go through, and I am concerned for their safety in this current environment. Our family members are way above average in intelligence, and have big hearts to boot! But they do not carry a grudge. They are still open to friendships and love. Many people who have suffered do not go around with a chip on their shoulder for life. That would not benefit them, or anyone else.
You assume a lot, and come to the supposed rescue of someone who didn’t ask. You are the very person Geode argues about.
BillC says
Atwp was addressing white nationalists, not carrying a grudge… clearly doesn’t need rescue from anyone. You’re telling Atwp how to think, feel and behave, to not be “the definition of bigotry”.
“I don’t see color. People tell me I’m white and I believe them.”
— Stephen Colbert
Allyn Susan Feinsetin says
Riiighhttt. Because everybody can see that there’s no violence emanating from the Far Left towards targets of their own choosing.
The political extremists on both ends of our political spectrum are like cracked mirror Doppelgangers of each other. And politicians on both sides of the political aisle are continually pouring gasoline on the fire.
BillC says
@ Feinsetin There was a time when women knew their place- secretaries, housemaids, typists, cleaners, clerks, telephone operators, cooks. Would you like to go back there?
BillC says
PS Ohhh, and women couldn’t vote either.
Joe Black says
We got Black nationalist (BLM, Black Panthers), Mexican Nationalist (La Raza), Puerto Rican (FALN), Muslim (CAIR, Muslim Brotherhood, Nation of Islam)……and the only threat you see if something called “White Nationalism”. Maybe you should look at what exactly is causing the balkanization of the US and stop blaming Europeans.
Pierre Tristam says
Joe Black should look up the definition of nationalism before splattering us with his salad of bigotries.
Laurel says
“Meet Joe Black.”
The meaning of “Black Lives Matter” has not yet filtrated into Joe’s bubble.
Be wary.
Skibum says
Hmmm… Joe Black but white’s right?! Huh, Joe?