Faces of Right Wing Extremism

The increase in right-wing radicalism was made painfully apparent by the 1995 bombing of the federal building in Oklahoma City, with its consequent slaughter of 169 workers and children. In this revealingly detailed catalogue of right-wing groups, Marks, a social worker who has been an active investigator of child-abuse cases, traces the rise of the radical right over the past 25 years. She points out that not all right-wing groups are violent, but some, like the John Birch Society, are ""often a breeding ground and starting point for those who then move on to more radical action."" Marks scrutinizes the Klan network, Neo-Nazi units, skinheads, Christian Identity, the militia movement, White American Homeland and others. More than older extremist organizations, new groups are more likely to align with one another, says Marks, and thereby pose greater threats to society. Their ideologies range from anti-taxation and anti-gun control to outright racism and impending foreign invasions. While there is some redundancy, the book does illustrate how the groups interact and share money (sometimes from robberies). Marks understands some of their concerns (if not their methods) and ends by suggesting the government needs to be more forthcoming (""show the citizens of the United States why there are Russian tanks on American soil, why bar codes are on road signs and embedded in currency"") if it wants to prevent disaffected citizens from becoming armed militias. (Apr.)