Deets On Accelerationism - Part 3
Sections
Accelerationism
Left-wing accelerationism
Effective Accelerationism (E/Acc)
Twitter and Accelerationism
Catastrophe Accelerationism
The Manson Family and Accelerationism
Accelerationism and The Great Replacement Theory
Right-Wing Accelerationism and Extremism
January 6th
Trump
Tops Friendly Market Shooting
Highland Park Shooting
Accelerationism and Disinformation
Accelerationism and The GRU
Dangers of Accelerationism
Decelerating Accelerationism
Deets On Accelerationism Timeline
Tops Friendly Market Shooting
The Tops Friendly Market shooting in Buffalo, New York, serves as a grim reminder of the dangers posed by accelerationist ideologies. Let’s explore the connections between this tragic event and the accelerationist movement:
The Buffalo Shooting Incident:
On May 14, 2022, an 18-year-old white male carried out a mass shooting at a Tops Friendly Market in Buffalo, New York. Ten people lost their lives, and three others were wounded in this horrific act of violence.
Authorities have labeled it a "racially motivated hate crime".
Accelerationism and Neo-Fascist Lone-Actor Violence:
Neo-fascist accelerationism is a subset of the broader accelerationist movement. It explicitly aims to destabilize existing systems by intensifying societal divisions, ultimately leading to their collapse.
Experts believe that neo-fascist accelerationism has inspired some of the deadliest acts of mass violence in recent U.S. history. Examples include attacks on Black churchgoers in Charleston, Jewish congregants in Pittsburgh and Poway, and Latino shoppers in El Paso.
Transnational Accelerationist Networks:
These networks are not based on formal material support but rather on shared ideologies and online communities.
They create an interconnected ecosystem for terrorists, making the threat picture more decentralized and amorphous.
Traditional counterterrorism approaches must adapt to address this new reality.
The Buffalo Suspect’s Manifesto and Discord Posts:
The suspect’s manifesto and online posts provide insight into his radicalization process.
He emulated Brenton Tarrant, the perpetrator of the Christchurch mosque attacks in New Zealand, who killed 51 people. The manifesto replicated portions of Tarrant’s writing, and the suspect’s weapon iconography echoed Tarrant’s actions.
The suspect’s writings also referenced white supremacist and antisemitic conspiracies, including the “great replacement theory” and the narrative of "no political solution”.
Ethical Considerations and Dangers:
Accelerationism, when taken to extremes, can lead to violence and loss of life.
The tragedy in Buffalo highlights the urgent need to address domestic terrorism more effectively.
Without changes in our approach, such incidents may continue to occur.
In summary, the Tops supermarket shooting underscores the real-world consequences of accelerationist ideologies. It serves as a stark reminder that radicalization fueled by extremist beliefs can have devastating effects on communities and individuals.
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The Highland Park Shooting
The Highland Park parade shooting, a tragic event that unfolded during an Independence Day parade in Highland Park, Illinois, United States, bears connections to the broader concept of accelerationism. Let’s explore these connections:
The Shooting Incident:
On July 4, 2022, at approximately 10:14 a.m. CDT, a mass shooting occurred during the parade, just 15 minutes after it had started.
The shooter, positioned on the rooftop of the Ross Cosmetics building, fired a Smith & Wesson M&P15 semiautomatic rifle at parade attendees and participants.
Seven people lost their lives, and forty-eight others were wounded by bullets or shrapnel.
Accelerationism and Ideological Motivation:
While the specific motivations of the Highland Park shooter are still under investigation, the act of mass violence aligns with the accelerationist ethos.
Accelerationism advocates for radical change, often through destabilization of existing systems. In this case, the shooter’s actions disrupted a peaceful community event, causing immense harm.
Randomness and Intentionality:
The shooting was both random and intentional. The gunman targeted innocent parade-goers, demonstrating a calculated act of violence.
Ethical Considerations and Dangers:
The Highland Park shooting underscores the dangers of extremist ideologies, whether explicitly tied to accelerationism or influenced by similar radical beliefs.
Accelerationism, when taken to extremes, can lead to violence and loss of life. It challenges us to consider the ethical implications of pushing societal boundaries too far.
Community Context:
Highland Park, an affluent suburban community with a significant Jewish population, experienced this tragedy during a celebratory event.
In summary, the Highland Park shooting serves as a stark reminder that ideologies advocating for rapid change must be critically examined. While accelerationism encompasses a wide spectrum of beliefs, extreme manifestations can have devastating consequences for individuals and communities.
Accelerationism and Disinformation
Accelerationism and disinformation intersect in complex ways, shaping narratives, ideologies, and societal dynamics. Let’s explore these connections:
Accelerationism and Its Strategy:
Accelerationism advocates for radical change by destabilizing existing systems. It holds that the modern democratic state is deeply corrupt and inept, necessitating a violent insurrection to hasten its destruction.
Disinformation as a Catalyst:
Disinformation plays a crucial role in accelerationist strategies. False narratives, conspiracy theories, and hateful propaganda are disseminated to foment divisiveness and polarization.
Examples of Accelerationist Disinformation:
Pandemic Conspiracy Theories: Accelerationists have seized on the COVID-19 pandemic. They spread disinformation accusing Jews and migrants of starting and spreading the virus.
False Election Claims: During the 2020 U.S. presidential election, disinformation about election fraud fueled accelerationist sentiments. The “Stop the Steal” movement exemplified this convergence.
Seth Aaron Pendley’s Case:
Seth Aaron Pendley, a January 6 protester, embraced accelerationism. He plotted to blow up an Amazon data center, believing it would disrupt federal agencies and provoke a reaction from the ruling “oligarchy.”
Ethical Implications:
Accelerationist disinformation threatens social cohesion, public trust, and democratic institutions.
In summary, the interplay between accelerationism and disinformation underscores the need for responsible information dissemination and critical thinking to safeguard against violent extremism.
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Accelerationism and The GRU
The Main Directorate of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation (GRU) has indeed engaged in online influence operations, including those related to accelerationism. Let’s explore how the GRU leveraged social media for its purposes:
Narrative Laundering and Pseudo-Think Tanks:
The GRU employed a tactic known as narrative laundering. This involves moving narratives from state-run origins to the wider media ecosystem through aligned publications, fabricated personas, and a network of accounts.
To achieve this, the GRU created pseudo-think tanks and media outlets as initial content drops. These served as platforms for disseminating their narratives.
Additionally, the GRU fabricated fake online identities (personas) to act as authors, lending credibility to their content.
Distribution via Social Media Platforms:
The GRU used a network of accounts to distribute content across platforms like Twitter and Reddit.
By strategically posting content, they aimed to reduce skepticism and increase the reach of their narratives.
Examples of Content Spread:
An example involves an NBene Group piece about the annexation of Crimea. It was cited in an American military law journal article, demonstrating how GRU-created content can spread across different channels.
Ethical Implications:
The GRU’s use of social media for accelerationist narratives raises ethical concerns.
Disseminating false information and manipulating public discourse can exacerbate societal divisions and undermine trust in media and institutions.
In summary, the GRU’s engagement with accelerationism via social media highlights the convergence of intelligence operations and ideological narratives in the digital age.
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Dangers of Accelerationism
Accelerationism, in its various forms, poses several significant threats and challenges:
1. Social Instability and Conflict
Accelerating societal tensions or exacerbating existing problems can lead to increased social instability. Deliberately worsening economic inequalities, racial divisions, or political conflicts can intensify social unrest, potentially leading to violence or civil strife.
2. Ethical Dilemmas and Human Suffering
The deliberate exacerbation of societal problems, as proposed by some accelerationist ideologies, raises ethical concerns. Intensifying issues like poverty, inequality, or environmental degradation could lead to widespread human suffering, contradicting principles of social justice and ethics.
3. Escalation of Extremism
Accelerationism, especially in its extreme forms, might fuel radical ideologies and extremist movements. It can provide a breeding ground for extremist groups seeking to exploit societal vulnerabilities, potentially leading to acts of violence or terrorism.
4. Lack of Clear Solutions
Accelerationism often lacks a clear roadmap for what comes after the collapse it anticipates. The focus on accelerating systemic failures might not offer viable alternatives or solutions, leaving societies in a state of chaos without a clear path toward constructive change.
5. Risk of Backlash and Authoritarianism
Intentionally destabilizing systems may not necessarily lead to progressive change. Instead, it could create opportunities for authoritarian regimes to emerge, exploiting the chaos to consolidate power and suppress freedoms, undermining the pursuit of democratic values.
6. Disruption of Societal Progress
Accelerationist strategies might hinder or reverse societal progress. Rather than fostering positive change, exacerbating issues could impede efforts toward meaningful reforms and societal advancements.
7. Ethical and Environmental Consequences
Proposals to exacerbate environmental crises or manipulate ethical boundaries for the sake of societal transformation could have severe consequences. Accelerationist approaches to environmental issues might lead to irreversible ecological damage, impacting future generations.
8. Polarization and Division
Accelerationism can deepen societal divisions by amplifying existing fault lines. Instead of fostering unity and cooperation, deliberate exacerbation of societal problems might lead to further polarization, hindering collective efforts to address shared challenges.
Conclusion
The threats posed by accelerationism underscore the complexity and ethical dilemmas associated with deliberately intensifying societal problems to provoke change. While some proponents advocate for radical strategies to prompt societal transformation, the risks of instability, suffering, extremism, and ethical conflicts associated with such approaches raise significant concerns. Addressing societal issues requires comprehensive and responsible strategies that prioritize ethical considerations, collaboration, and positive societal progress.
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Decelerating Accelerationism
Halting the spread of accelerationism involves multifaceted approaches addressing its underlying causes, countering its narratives, and fostering societal resilience:
1. Addressing Root Causes
Understanding the root causes that drive individuals toward accelerationist ideologies is crucial. Addressing socioeconomic inequalities, political disenfranchisement, and cultural divisions can mitigate the appeal of radical ideologies seeking to exploit these vulnerabilities.
2. Promoting Education and Critical Thinking
Education plays a pivotal role in countering radicalization. Teaching critical thinking skills, media literacy, and fostering a nuanced understanding of political ideologies can help individuals discern and resist extremist narratives.
3. Combatting Disinformation and Misinformation
Efforts to combat disinformation and misinformation are essential. Promoting fact-checking, supporting trustworthy sources of information, and enhancing media literacy can reduce the influence of false narratives that fuel accelerationist beliefs.
4. Strengthening Community Engagement
Building strong, inclusive communities fosters resilience against extremist ideologies. Community engagement programs, dialogue initiatives, and platforms for constructive discussions can counter isolation and polarizing influences.
5. Providing Support and Alternatives
Addressing grievances and providing legitimate channels for addressing concerns can divert individuals away from extremist ideologies. Offering social support, economic opportunities, and inclusive platforms for civic engagement can reduce susceptibility to radicalization.
6. Collaborative Efforts and Policies
Cross-sector collaboration involving governments, civil society organizations, tech companies, and communities is crucial. Implementing policies that address societal issues, support mental health, and promote social cohesion can mitigate the conditions conducive to accelerationist beliefs.
7. Empowering Resilient Narratives
Promoting narratives of resilience, tolerance, and cooperation counters the divisive messages of accelerationism. Highlighting success stories, emphasizing shared values, and championing inclusive ideologies can weaken the appeal of extremist ideologies.
8. Early Intervention and Support
Identifying individuals vulnerable to radicalization and providing early intervention and support mechanisms, including mental health services, can prevent the escalation of extremist beliefs.
Conclusion
Stopping the spread of accelerationism requires a comprehensive, multifaceted approach that addresses societal vulnerabilities, promotes critical thinking, fosters inclusive communities, and provides alternatives to radical narratives. It's a collective effort involving education, policy interventions, community engagement, and support networks aimed at fostering resilience against extremist ideologies.
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