A Singaporean Chinese saw himself as a white supremacist. 'Angry maleness' and racial misbeliefs could be why
In light of the case of the radicalised 16-year-old, one expert is calling on communities to better appreciate diverse religious and cultural identities.
SINGAPORE: It started with the boy chancing upon videos by American white supremacist Paul Nicholas Miller.
It led to him also identifying as a white supremacist and pro-white sympathiser, convinced that non-white communities should be driven away from white-majority countries.
His goal, by the time he turned 16, was to be recruited by white supremacist groups to "fight for the whites" and carry out violent attacks.
He was also a Singaporean of Chinese ethnicity.
The Secondary 4 student eventually got on the radar of Singapore's Internal Security Department (ISD) and was issued a restriction order, the agency revealed on Wednesday (Jan 24).
This was the second Singaporean - both teenagers - to be picked up by the ISD for being radicalised by far-right, extremist ideologies.
These ideologies could appeal to any majority group that believes they are superior, said counterterrorism and extremism expert Munira Mustaffa.
“This perspective is centred on the belief that the protection and preservation of a dominant in-group's interests and survival necessitate the exclusion or expulsion of an out-group due to the fear of lost privileges or demographic decline,” she added.
Ms Munira, who is executive director of consulting firm Chasseur Group, explained that beyond white supremacist beliefs, far-right ideologies cover a broad spectrum of views including racism, misogyny, antisemitism, Islamophobia and xenophobia.
These often manifest in ethnonationalism - where nation and nationality are defined in terms of ethnicity - or advocating for racial purity, she continued.
“They are grounded in an exceptionalist mindset that embraces the concept of ‘might is right’, justifying the subjugation and use of violence against other population groups, especially minorities.”
The 16-year-old, who was not named, also subscribed to the Great Replacement Theory commonly referenced by far-right terrorists like Christchurch attacker Brenton Tarrant and which propagates the idea that the indigenous white population in Western countries were in danger of being replaced by non-white immigrants.
Tarrant was also an influence on the first Singaporean to be detained for subscribing to far-right ideologies - a Protestant Christian of Indian ethnicity and also aged 16 at the time. He has since been released.
Terrorism researcher Bilveer Singh noted that white supremacists were associated with Christianity as a base, just as jihadism is linked to Islam.
“It is not the skin colour that matters as much as the ideological basis," said the deputy head of the political science department at the National University of Singapore.
ANGRY YOUNG MEN?
Young men - like both of Singapore's far-right cases - are especially at risk of radicalisation as they navigate aspects of masculinity that shape their identities and self-worth, said Ms Munira.
Online settings can also exacerbate complex issues such as entrenched notions of toxic masculinity, extreme nationalism and chauvinism, she added.
Ms Munira said a key factor in Tarrant's appeal was that of “angry aggrieved maleness" - an overlooked yet potent force that transcends racial and ethnic boundaries.
Counterterrorism expert Kumar Ramakrishnan said that young, impressionable and isolated individuals could also be drawn to extremist groups that have a shared purpose and charismatic leaders.
“They have clear answers to societal issues – basically they blame it on immigrants coming in and taking over everything," said the dean of the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies.
"To some young people who may be searching for answers, to find some meaning in their lives – they can be attractive.”
BEYOND MEME CULTURE
While far-right ideologies have been a latent presence in Asia for decades, its growing prominence is mainly attributed to the advent of social media, said Ms Munira.
She pointed to how Tarrant’s influence could be chalked up to how he mixed video game aesthetics into his deadly attacks, and this has notably resonated with certain demographics.
His material has since been integrated into supremacist-themed Internet meme culture, which transcends language barriers and is widely shared.
Dr Shashi Jayakumar, executive director of the SJK Geostrategic Advisory, agreed that social media can make the issue worse.
"That particular world, which we older people consider the online and virtual worlds, is actually for many intents and purposes the real world to them.”
However, Ms Munira cautioned against placing excessive blame on social media or gaming platforms.
“It may be more worth investigating the fundamental causes of grievances that fuel right-wing extremism, such as economic anxieties, diminished self-worth and identity, or the erosion of humanitarian values,” she stressed.
“This approach requires engaging in complex conversations about the inherent flaws in liberal democratic institutions that can provoke far-right responses.”
When asked about best practices in dealing with the range of far-right radicalisation issues, one expert said the community, including schools, family and friends, should practise and observe inclusive activities with those of diverse backgrounds.
This will help individuals to recognise and understand the sensitivity of each other’s religious and cultural identities, said Dr Jolene Jerard, executive director at public safety and management consultancy firm Centinel.
“Communities need to work towards having discussions that are non-judgmental, and that these discussions lead to positive understanding of issues,” she added.
In Singapore, one of the fundamental pillars of counter-terrorism efforts is addressing ideological drivers of terrorism, said Dr Jerard.
Ideological drivers need not only be based on religion, she stressed.
“The present structures have shown to be robust and adaptable enough to meet new challenges on the horizon.”