About the Guide
CARR’s Security Guide brings researchers at the ‘coal face’ of studying the radical right the practical tools and strategies needed to mitigate and react to potential security threats (such as harassment, intimidation and abuse) that might arise during the course of such research. It takes a threat-modelling approach – starting with the positionality of the researcher, the problem that might have occurred and the counter-strategies that might be employed in reacting to such threats.
The guide is ordered from what could be considered more ‘benign’ threats (e.g. negative comments and intimidation) through to ‘more serious’ threats that might impinge on the physical security of a researcher. (There is also a useful branch diagram in Appendix C to help with practical decision-making and a set of tips in Appendix A about accessing security sensitive content.) Such an approach is especially taken to inform Early Career Researchers about the escalating severity of such threats but also to give individuals the ability to target information most relevant to their situation. The core takeaway from this guide is to remain aware, ready and vigilant but also to put in place measures that give researchers sufficient distance from their research subject that they don’t become unnecessarily worried, anxious or overwhelmed in their field of research.
Guide Authors
Dr William Allchorn, CARR Associate Director, email: w.e.c.allchorn@leeds.ac.uk
Bàrbara Molas, Head of Doctoral Fellows, email: molas.barbara@gmail.com