The Soufan Center (TSC) hosted a webinar on 28 July 2022, entitled, “Deterrence and Denial: The Impact of Sanctions and Designations on Violent Far-Right Groups,” to mark the launch of a series of publications focused on the current and potential roles of sanctions/proscriptions in addressing the threat of extreme right-wing terrorism. This event marked the culmination of a TSC project, generously supported by the Airey Neave Trust in London. Through research, interviews, and consultations with key stakeholders, the project examined whether and how the measures taken by several states—in particular, the U.K., Canada, and other Five Eyes (FVEY) partners—have had their desired impacts, whether on a legal, political, or operational level, drawing also on lessons learned from other countries with similar experiences. TSC Executive Director Naureen Fink and Airey Neave Trust Vice Chairman and Trustee Hugh Tilney’s opening remarks were followed by briefings presented by the four Issue Brief authors—TSC Senior Research Fellow Colin P. Clarke, TSC Senior Research Fellow Jason Blazakis, TSC Research Fellow Mollie Saltskog, and TSC Senior Visiting Fellow and Project Advisor Jessica M. Davis. Their comments and a full recording of the webinar can be found above.
This project builds on an earlier report by TSC, “A Perfect Storm: Insurrection, Incitement, and the Violent Far-Right Movement,” examining the transnational aspects of the violent far-right movement in the U.S. and the U.K., exploring their history, relationship, and potential trajectories following the insurrection in Washington, D.C., on January 6, 2021. We are grateful to the Airey Neave Trust for also supporting that project.