Patriots, Politics, and the Oklahoma City Bombing (Cambridge Studies in Contentious Politics)

This book explores social movements by analyzing an escalating spiral of tension between the Patriot movement and the state centered on the mutual framing of conflict as 'warfare'. By examining the social construction of 'warfare' as a principal script or frame defining the movement-state dynamic, Stuart A. Wright explains how this highly charged confluence of a war narrative engendered a kind of symbiosis leading to the escalation of a mutual threat that culminated in the Oklahoma City bombing. Wright offers a unique perspective on the events leading up to the bombing because he served as a consultant to Timothy McVeigh's defense team for eighteen months and draws on primary data based on face-to-face interviews with McVeigh. The book contends that McVeigh was firmly entrenched in the Patriot movement and was part of a network of 'warrior cells' that planned and implemented the bombing. This Book Explores New Ground In Social Movements By Analyzing An Escalating Spiral Of Tension Between The Patriot Movement And The State Centered On The Mutual Framing Of Conflict As Warfare. By Examining The Social Construction Of Warfare As A Principal Script Or Frame Defining The Movement-state Dynamic, Stuart A. Wright Explains How This Highly Charged Confluence Of A War Narrative Engendered A Kind Of Symbiosis Leading To The Escalation Of A Mutual Threat That Culminated In The Oklahoma City Bombing. Wright Offers A Unique Perspective On The Events Leading Up To The Bombing Because He Served As A Consultant To Timothy Mcveigh's Defense Team And Draws On Primary Data Based On Face-to-face Interviews With Mcveigh. The Book Contends That Mcveigh Was Firmly Entrenched In The Patriot Movement And Was Part Of A Network Of Warrior Cells That Planned And Implemented The Bombing. As Such, The Bombing Must Be Viewed Through The Lens Of A Social Movement Framework In Order To Fully Understand The Incident And The Role Played By Mcveigh.--jacket. Codicil To A Patriot Profile -- Patriots, Political Process, And Social Movements -- The Historical Context Of Patriot Insurgency -- The Farm Crisis, Threat Attribution, And Patriot Mobilization -- State Mobilization : Building A Trajectory Of Contention -- The Gun Rights Network And Nascent Patriots : Rise Of A Threat Spiral -- Movement-state Attributions Of War : Ruby Ridge And Waco -- Patriot Insurgency And The Oklahoma City Bombing -- After Oklahoma City : Patriot Demobilization And Decline. Stuart A. Wright. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 219-232) And Index. This book explores an escalating spiral of tension between the Patriot movement and the state leading up to the Oklahoma City bombing in 1995. The author served as a consultant to Timothy McVeigh's defense team and draws on information based on face-to-face interviews with McVeigh. Wright contends that McVeigh was firmly entrenched in the Patriot movement and was part of a network of 'warrior cells' that planned and carried out the bombing. By examining the Patriot movement's history and subsequent reconfiguration of conflicts with the state, McVeigh's role in the bombing can be more fully understood. Codicil to a patriot profile Patriots, political process, and social movements Historical context of patriot insurgency The farm crisis, threat attribution, and patriot mobilization State mobilization : building the trajectory of contention The gun rights network and nascent patriots : rise of a threat spiral Movement-state attributions of war : Ruby Ridge and Waco Patriot insurgency and the Oklahoma City bombing Patriot movement demobilization and decline.