Deterrence and Denial: The Impact of Sanctions and Designations on Violent Far-Right Groups
Supported by Airey Neave Trust
The Soufan Center, with the support of the Airey Neave Trust, is undertaking a project in Spring 2022 to deepen understanding about the impact of sanctions and proscriptions on terrorist groups, with a focus on violent far-right actors. Through research, interviews, and consultations with key stakeholders, TSC will assess whether the measures taken by several states – in particular, the U.K., Canada, and other Five Eyes partners – have had the desired impacts, whether on a legal, political, or operational level. To address different dimensions of the issue and offer concrete action-oriented findings and suggestions for practitioners, policymakers, and researchers, TSC will produce a series of Issue Briefs and host events to identify key challenges and successes, as well as lessons learned from other counterterrorism sanctions regimes – in particular, those aimed at ISIS and al-Qaeda. The final briefs are expected in Summer 2022.
This project builds on our project in 2021, supported by Airey Neave Trust, that led to the development of the October 2021 research report, “A Perfect Storm: Insurrection, Incitement, and the Violent Far-Right Movement.” This research in 2021 examined the transnational aspects of the violent far-right movements in the United States and the United Kingdom, exploring their history, relationship, and trajectories following the U.S. Capitol insurrection on January 6, 2020.
TSC Project Team:
- Naureen Chowdhury Fink, Executive Director, The Soufan Center
- Colin P. Clarke, Senior Research Fellow, The Soufan Center
- Jason Blazakis, Senior Research Fellow, The Soufan Center
- Mollie Saltskog, Research Fellow, The Soufan Center
- Amanda Schmitt, Program and Communications Officer, The Soufan Center
Project Advisors:
- Jessica Davis, Visiting Senior Fellow, The Soufan Center; President and Principal Consultant, Insight Threat Intelligence; and President, Canadian Association for Security and Intelligence Studies
- Sue Eckert, Non-Resident Senior Adviser on Sanctions and Humanitarian Action, International Peace Institute
Learn more about the Airey Neave Trust here
ISSUE BRIEF SERIES: DETERRENCE AND DENIAL: THE IMPACT OF SANCTIONS AND DESIGNATIONS ON VIOLENT FAR-RIGHT GROUPS
This series of four Issue Briefs are part of a project undertaken by The Soufan Center, with the support of the Airey Neave Trust in London, United Kingdom, to deepen understanding about the impact of sanctions and proscriptions on terrorist groups, with a focus on violent far-right actors. Through research, interviews, and consultations with key stakeholders, TSC considered whether the measures taken by several states – in particular, the U.K., Canada, and other “Five Eyes” members – have had the desired impacts, whether on a legal, political, or operational level. Throughout the process, the team has had the opportunity to speak with government officials representing several countries, both “Five Eyes” states and others, who have grappled with the challenge of far-right terrorism, as well as UN officials, experts, and practitioners. To facilitate some discussions, TSC organized two roundtables, one in Washington D.C. and one engaging participants from the United Kingdom, and benefitted greatly from the insights shared. We are grateful to all these interlocutors for their time and feedback.
THE SOUFAN CENTER ROUNDTABLE: “DETERRENCE AND DENIAL: THE IMPACT OF SANCTIONS AND DESIGNATIONS ON VIOLENT FAR-RIGHT GROUPS”
Virtual Event
On June 29, 2022, The Soufan Center hosted a virtual roundtable discussion on responding to violent far-right groups through sanctions and proscriptions, as part of an ongoing TSC project, supported by the Airey Neave Trust (U.K.). Through research, interviews, and consultations with key stakeholders, TSC is reviewing and considering whether and how the measures taken by several states – in particular, the U.K., Canada, and other Five Eyes partners – have had the desired impacts, whether on a legal, political, or operational level. In this roundtable discussion, TSC shared initial findings and draft policy recommendations for discussion and feedback from participants. These discussions will inform the analyses and recommendations developed through this project.READ MORE EVENT SUMMARY
THE SOUFAN CENTER ROUNDTABLE: “DETERRENCE AND DENIAL: THE IMPACT OF SANCTIONS AND DESIGNATIONS ON VIOLENT FAR-RIGHT GROUPS”
National Press Club, Washington, D.C.
On May 24, 2022, The Soufan Center hosted a roundtable discussion in Washington, D.C. at the National Press Club on responding to violent far-right groups through sanctions and proscriptions, as part of an ongoing TSC project, supported by the Airey Neave Trust (U.K.).