Excavating the Underground: How to Study the Ideologies of Radical Groups

Studying the ideologies of radical groups presents unique methodological and practical challenges. Whereas political parties have published platforms, recognized leaders, and authorized spokespeople, radical groups tend to operate in decentralized and clandestine ways, under heavy cloaks of anonymity and pseudonymity. This chapter provides a brief how-to-guide for analyzing the ideologies of radical groups, drawing in part from my own experience researching anarchism, radical environmentalism, and anti-technology radicalism. It assesses the advantages and disadvantages of four kinds of sources—radical publications, online content, interviews, and archives—and suggests strategies for avoiding common pitfalls and problems.