Abstract
This paper considers the threat to Australian national security posed by the growing ‘sovereign citizen’ movement. It identifies the key characteristics exhibited by those who may be associated with the ‘sovereign citizen’ movement, briefly outlining the origins and manifestation of these beliefs and actions. It concludes that despite the various and disparate actions of sovereign citizens adherents, its fundamental challenge to the legitimacy of government and its propensity to interact directly with law makers and enforcers, as well as the legal system, makes it an emerging threat to national security. This threat is exacerbated by the spread of sovereign citizen beliefs across online platforms and its cross-pollinisation with other movements such as QANON. The paper will then consider pathways to detect, vaccinate and rehabilitate sovereign citizens to remediate the threat posed to Australian society.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | 2022 Technology Surprise Forum |
| Subtitle of host publication | Research Papers compiled by the National Security College Futures Hub |
| Publisher | ANU National Security College |
| Pages | 19-28 |
| Number of pages | 10 |
| Publication status | Published - 2022 |
| Event | Technology Surprise Forum - Australian National University, Canberra, Australia Duration: 1 May 2022 → 1 May 2022 |
Conference
| Conference | Technology Surprise Forum |
|---|---|
| Country/Territory | Australia |
| City | Canberra |
| Period | 1/05/22 → 1/05/22 |
| Other | The 2022 Technology Surprise Forum (TSF), following on from the success of the forum held in 2019, highlighted a range of high-impact future technologies that could exert an influence on the Australian national security environment over the next five to ten years. By sharing insights into fresh ideas, concepts and emerging technologies, we have the potential to drive significant changes in the way Australia’s national security agencies go about achieving their missions. The Forum brought together researchers and practitioners from across academia and government agencies to strengthen communities of interest that will continue to work together on research in areas relevant to national security. In a time of great change in technological advancements, we are presented with a range of opportunities but also challenges. In the futures field there is an adage - we underestimate what today’s technology can achieve and over-estimate the impact of tomorrow's technology. Technology disruption occurs because we have underestimated the reach and impact of technologies that are on the verge of transitioning from innovations to new business opportunities. Technology is the result of accumulated knowledge and application of science skills and methods to produce a new capability. Technology surprise might also be the creative application of existing technologies. Often relying on bringing together many different fields of study to converge into a new opportunity. The objective of this forum was to crowd source ideas about technologies, or creative application of technologies, that need to be considered for National Security. The forum and this report connects those people who are in need of Science and Technology (S&T) solutions with the people whose bright ideas can help them overcome their challenges. Leveraging our networks across the S&T ecosystems to forge links between Australia’s national security agencies and researchers in Australian universities and other research organisations. |
Keywords
- National security
- Sovereign Citizen Movement
- Domestic terrorism
- Conspiracy theorists
