Active Clubs

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"A counter-extremist group has warned a Senate committee a fast-growing, global far-right extremism group has infiltrated Australia.

Known as 'Active Clubs', the hearing was told the group thrives on social media, and exists to build a "shadow militia" while evading law enforcement scrutiny.

Alexander Ritzmann, Counter Extremism Project Counter Extremism Project"

Date
July 24, 2024
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CEP and CEP Senior Advisor Alexander Ritzmann remarks to Australian Parliament quoted: "A counter-extremist group has warned a Senate committee a fast-growing, global far-right extremism group has infiltrated Australia. Known as 'Active Clubs', the hearing was told the group thrives on social media, and exists to build a "shadow militia" while evading law enforcement scrutiny."

Date
July 24, 2024
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“Extremism researchers have been taken aback by the growth of the active club movement. According to a recent report from the Counter Extremism Project, since its establishment in 2021, the network has grown to 104 known cells worldwide.”

Date
July 20, 2024
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CEP Senior Director Dr. Hans-Jakob Schindler interviewed: ""Their role model is the Sturmabteilung (SA) of the Nazis": in an interview with t-online shortly before the European Football Championship, terrorism expert Hans-Jakob Schindler warned of a new right-wing extremist phenomenon in Germany, the so-called "Active Clubs". Schindler also expressed fears that these clubs could make their first public appearance at the European Championships - for example by deliberately provoking fights."

Date
June 20, 2024
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Friday, May 17, 2024

(Mis)Understanding the Transnational Violent Extreme-Right Active Club Strategy | Alexander Ritzmann

Alexander Ritzmann
Author of the CEP report on Active Clubs
Senior Advisor, Counter Extremism Project (CEP)

In September 2023, CEP published the first comprehensive report on the Active Club network and strategy: https://counterextre.me/transnationalRWEactiveclubs
 

Further CEP research looked into the militant nature of the network and addressed the important difference between Active Clubs and other right-wing extremist groups doing combat sports:
https://www.accresearch.org/shortanalysis/dont-get-fooledthe-extreme-right-active-club-network-is-not-about-combat-sports https://www.counterextremism.com/blog/misunderstanding-transnational-violent-extreme-right-active-club-strategy 

 

On May 17, 2024, CEP hosted a webinar to discuss the latest developments around the white supremacist Active Club network in the U.S. and Europe. Active Clubs are arguably the largest and fastest growing violent extreme-right network with more than 100 groups in North America and Europe.

The underlying strategy was developed in the U.S. in 2020 with the aim to build a shadow militia. To hide in plain sight, Active Clubs are supposed to present a friendly face to the public with a focus on sports and brotherhood to avoid law enforcement interventions. This less aggressive and more mainstream looking strategy is also meant to help grow the network. 

In September 2023, CEP published the first comprehensive report on the Active Club network and strategy. Further CEP research looked into the militant nature of the network and addressed the important difference between Active Clubs and other right-wing extremist groups doing combat sports. 

The Swedish EXPO Foundation published a detailed report on the local Active Club network in November 2023, while the Dutch weekly magazine The Groene Amsterdammer investigated the scene in the Netherlands in February 2024. 

Remote video URL
Friday, May 17, 2024

Active Clubs in The Netherlands and Belgium | Or Goldenberg

Or Goldberg
Investigative journalist for the Dutch weekly magazine De Groene Amsterdammer

The Dutch weekly magazine The Groene Amsterammer investigated the scene in the Netherlands in February 2024:
https://www.groene.nl/artikel/witte-strijders-werven

 

On May 17, 2024, CEP hosted a webinar to discuss the latest developments around the white supremacist Active Club network in the U.S. and Europe. Active Clubs are arguably the largest and fastest growing violent extreme-right network with more than 100 groups in North America and Europe.

The underlying strategy was developed in the U.S. in 2020 with the aim to build a shadow militia. To hide in plain sight, Active Clubs are supposed to present a friendly face to the public with a focus on sports and brotherhood to avoid law enforcement interventions. This less aggressive and more mainstream looking strategy is also meant to help grow the network. 

In September 2023, CEP published the first comprehensive report on the Active Club network and strategy. Further CEP research looked into the militant nature of the network and addressed the important difference between Active Clubs and other right-wing extremist groups doing combat sports. 

The Swedish EXPO Foundation published a detailed report on the local Active Club network in November 2023, while the Dutch weekly magazine The Groene Amsterdammer investigated the scene in the Netherlands in February 2024. 

Remote video URL
Friday, May 17, 2024

Active Clubs: The Case of Sweden 2020-2024 | Morgan Finnsiö

Morgan Finnsiö 
Researcher, EXPO Foundation

The Swedish EXPO Foundation published a detailed report on the local Active Club network in November 2023: https://expo.se/nyhet/har-tranar-nazisterna-i-kommunens-traningshall/

On May 17, 2024, CEP hosted a webinar to discuss the latest developments around the white supremacist Active Club network in the U.S. and Europe. Active Clubs are arguably the largest and fastest growing violent extreme-right network with more than 100 groups in North America and Europe.

The underlying strategy was developed in the U.S. in 2020 with the aim to build a shadow militia. To hide in plain sight, Active Clubs are supposed to present a friendly face to the public with a focus on sports and brotherhood to avoid law enforcement interventions. This less aggressive and more mainstream looking strategy is also meant to help grow the network. 

In September 2023, CEP published the first comprehensive report on the Active Club network and strategy. Further CEP research looked into the militant nature of the network and addressed the important difference between Active Clubs and other right-wing extremist groups doing combat sports. 

The Swedish EXPO Foundation published a detailed report on the local Active Club network in November 2023, while the Dutch weekly magazine The Groene Amsterdammer investigated the scene in the Netherlands in February 2024. 

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"Australian white supremacists and neo-Nazis are encouraging members to undergo combat sports training and law enforcement avoidance under the banner of “Active Clubs”, a parliamentary inquiry into right-wing extremism heard from the Counter Extremism Project (CEP)."

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April 12, 2024
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cep blog active club april 2024

(Mis)Understanding the transnational violent extreme-right Active Club Strategy

In early April 2024, CEP submitted a report to the inquiry of the Parliament of Australia into right-wing extremist movements. This blog summarizes the contribution of CEP´s senior adviser Alexander Ritzmann to the CEP report, where he analyzes the...

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