Executive Summary

We assess that the surge in anti-government militias—often loosely organized, with mixed ideologies, and yet increasingly violent—pose a rising threat to democratic institutions in the West. Thriving on conspiracy theories and radical ideologies, they seek to spread their content online to recruit new members and coordinate their actions. Some groups, particularly in the US, actively target military and law enforcement professionals for recruitment Militias value their tactical expertise but this also poses the potential a national security risk from insider threats. 

Absent crackdowns on the movements, we expect that this kind of anti-government paramilitarism will remain an increasing source of violence and social unrest in the foreseeable future.

Image Sourced From: Anthony Crider