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This paper combines qualitative and quantitative content analysis to map and analyze the “Incel” worldview shared by members of a misogynistic online community ideologically linked to several recent acts of politically motivated violence, including Alek Minassian’s van attack in Toronto (2018) and Elliot Rodger’s school shooting in Isla Vista (2014). Specifically, the paper analyses how support and motivation for violence results from the particular structure this worldview presents in terms of social categories and causal narratives.

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Stephane J. Baele

Stephane J. Baele is Senior Lecturer in International Studies at the University of Exeter’s Department of Politics, where he is the deputy director of the Centre for Advanced International Studies. His research focuses on International Relations theories and political violence, particularly the linguistic dimension of terrorism and extremism. His multidisciplinary research has appeared in Journal of Conflict Resolution, Studies in Conflict & Terrorism, Political Psychology, European Journal of International Security, and Journal of Language & Social Psychology, among others. With Travis Coan and Katharine Boyd he is the co-editor of the book IS Propaganda, forthcoming at Oxford University Press. Lewys Brace is an Associate Lecturer in Data Analysis at the University of Exeter, where he is part of the Q-Step centre. His research focuses on terrorism and radicalisation as well as the application of computational methods. His research has previously appeared in Artificial Life. Travis G. Coan is Senior Lecturer in Quantitative Politics at the University of Exeter, where he is the co-director of the Q-Step Centre. His research focuses on environmental and political communication, specifically in the areas of climate change and violent extremism. Travis research has appeared in Climatic Change, Global Environmental Change, Electoral Studies, International Studies Quarterly, and Social Networks, among others.With Stephane Baele and Katharine Boyd he is the co-editor of the book IS Propaganda, forthcoming at Oxford University Press.