The role of social affiliation in incitement: A social semiotic approach to far-right terrorists’ incitement to violence

Abstract One key aspect of threat in terrorists’ language is incitement to violence. Contributing a fuller understanding how terrorists use encourage people join their cause, this article examines the role evaluative strategies used by far-rightist align with and alienate particular social groups. The Affiliation framework (Knight 2010a; Zappavigna 2011; Etaywe & 2021; 2022a), as grounded systemic functional linguistics, understand values bonds are leveraged process incitement, explored manifesto published online Brenton Tarrant, preceding his 2019 terrorist attack on two mosques New Zealand. findings reveal main affiliation for incitement: communion (forging solidarity alignments) alienation. These function construct opposing groups discourse, condemned positioned threat, hostility legitimated morally reasonable, violence warranted. (Far-right extremism, hate crimes, affiliation, morality terrorism, forensic conspiracy theory discourse)