 1st edition (Storm Books) cover | |
| Editor | Michael J. Moynihan |
|---|---|
| Author | James Mason |
| Language | English (translated into several languages) |
| Subject | Terrorism,neo-Nazism |
| Published | 1992 (Storm Books, 1st) 2003 (Black Sun Publications, 2nd) 2015 (3rd,Iron March) 2018 (4th edition) 2021 (5th edition) |
| Publication place | United States |
| Media type | Print (hardcover andpaperback) |
| Pages | 434 (first edition) |
| ISBN | 0-9724408-0-1 2nd edition |
| OCLC | 43098249 |
Siege (sometimes stylised asSIEGE), originally published asSiege: The Collected Writings of James Mason, is an anthology of essays by the neo-NaziJames Mason. After growing disillusioned with the mass movement approach ofneo-Nazi movements, Mason began advocating for white revolution throughterrorism. Mason originally wrote the essays from 1980 to 1986 for theNational Socialist Liberation Front newsletter of the same name, which was itself the revival of a 1970s periodical created byJoseph Tommasi. The essays were published and edited in a single volume byMichael J. Moynihan in 1992. It has since been republished and reedited multiple times.
Though the book was reviewed in several periodicals upon its release and was praised and distributed by the influential white supremacistTom Metzger, most neo-Nazis of the time either ignored or criticized the book. It was not influential for many years, though was occasionally discussed in academic literature. In the 2010s the book found a new audience online among younger neo-Nazis due to the book's republication by the neo-fascist forumIron March. In addition to its promotion of neo-Nazism, it lionizes serial killers, mass murderers, andCharles Manson.Siege advocates neo-Nazilone wolf terrorism, and has been tied to numerous terrorist groups.
James Mason (born 1952) had been aneo-Nazi since he was 14, initially joiningGeorge Lincoln Rockwell'sAmerican Nazi Party (by then renamed the National Socialist White People's Party), before he joined a militant splinter of that group, theNational Socialist Liberation Front (NSLF).[1][2]Siege emerged out of the faction of the NSWPP that wished for explicit revolutionary violence. Another former member of this wing of the ANP wasWilliam Luther Pierce, who wroteThe Turner Diaries.[3]
The NSLF was launched byJoseph Tommasi in 1974, after he was kicked out of the NSWPP.[4] While James Mason did not initially follow Tommasi in leaving the NSWPP, he grew increasingly dissatisfied with it, and observed Tommasi's group with interest. He later left the NSWPP some time after.[5] The NSLF took credit for several bombings,arsons, and shootings.[6]
One of the NSLF's periodicals was namedSiege, created by Tommasi.[7] The origin of the name of the originalSiege periodical is disputed; Mason claimed Tommasi took the name from a book about theWeather Underground. However, there is no book by this name about the Weather Underground.Spencer Sunshine proposed that Tommasi had actually taken the title from the bookMiami and the Siege of Chicago byNorman Mailer, which discussed a conflict between the Weather Underground's predecessor group and the police.[7] Tommasi was murdered by a member of the NSWPP in 1975, and was treated as a martyr by the NSLF.[8]
When he joined the NSLF, Mason became the editor of a revival of the originalSiege.[2][9] TheSiege newsletter ran each month from August 1980 until June 1986.[10] Each issue was six pages and was almost always written by Mason.[10] Mason's writings frequently built off the ideologies ofGeorge Lincoln Rockwell, Joseph Tommasi,Adolf Hitler, and William Luther Pierce. The newsletter also sometimes came in the form of reprints and writing byJoseph Tommasi, Perry Warthan, andFrank Spisak.
During this time, Mason's neo-Nazi ideology remained ardent, but also fluctuated. For example, he ultimately proclaimed Christianity as an important facet of neo-Nazism in the last years of the publication.[10] Another fluctuation during this newsletter was his support for violent activism. In the beginning, Mason wrote fondly of violent tactics from leftists andblack nationalists. Later, however, his support for this sort of activism — even more broadly — waned. Through and through, theSIEGE Newsletter remained anti-system, even rejecting notions of being conservative or right-wing. It advocated "a TOTAL WAR" and advocated acts that would end in a "total and complete revolution" against the establishment, what it called "the Jew-Capitalist System!!"[10] While writingSiege, he became increasingly disillusioned by neo-Nazi group organization, and in favor of self-directed action; he initially promoted openguerrilla warfare but came to see this as insufficient.[11][12]
In terms of violent activism, Mason was drawn to state and civilian clashes such as the1981 Brink's robbery and the1985 MOVE bombing. However, he advised that the neo-Nazis should let black nationalists and leftists fight this fight with the state and that the neo-Nazi movement should deactivate any violent activism.[13] The newsletter ended when Mason received harsh criticism over his views from other neo-Nazis for his support ofCharles Manson.[2] During its run, the newsletter had a circulation of less than 100 copies.[14]
With the ending of theSiege newsletter, other figures in the American neo-Nazi movement such asMichael J. Moynihan encouraged Mason to create an anthology of sorts that included his earlier works.[15] TheAbraxas Foundation, of which Moynihan was a part, had a large amount of involvement in the popularization of Mason's works and the book's publication.[16] After years of struggling to find someone who would publish the book, it came out in 1992, entitledSIEGE: The Collected Writings of James Mason. Mason dedicated the book to Charles Manson.[17][12][18] The first edition was published by Moynihan under the Storm Books imprint.[2][18] Moynihan also edited the book.[19]
Siege's first edition was 434 pages long.[20] The cover of this first edition, based of Mason's original suggestion, is simple, with a red title and black background, with the spine and the back displaying a thunderbolt and shield symbol, the logo of the publisher. The initial cover design was more complicated, featuring Rockwell, Tommasi, Manson, and Hitler.[21] The book's front matter notes that "The Publisher/Author assume no liability for any use or misuse of the material presented herein", and says the book does not claim to represent the views of Charles Manson or his associates.[21] The contents in the book are arranged by theme, not chronologically, with Mason's materials from different periods put together, in addition to illustrations.[11][21] Some text was changed from the newsletter, though largely only to correct grammatical or typography mistakes.[21]
A second edition was released in 2003 by Ryan Schuster's Black Sun Publications.[22][23] Schuster wrote the preface to the second edition, declaring its intention "to be used as a cookbook and a guide".[23] This edition was digitized by the white supremacist website Solar General, which spread the book online.[24] When the neo-Nazi forumIron March rediscovered the book, they republished it in a third edition in 2015.[25] John Cameron Denton, the leader of theAtomwaffen Division, published a fourth edition in 2018.[2][26] The fourth edition was 684 pages long.[20] A fifth was published in 2021, with a new preface by Mason.[2][27] A sixth edition came in 2023, issued by an Atomwaffen splinter group and cell of theOrder of Nine Angles; this, the "666 edition", was the single edition to be denounced by Mason.[28][27] This edition has a new introduction that denounces Mason as having grown too weak for his earlier ideology. Mason, in turn, accused the publishers of being an FBI front.[28][27]
Siege has been translated into several languages.[27] The various editions entailed changes in content, and later editions were substantially longer. Images, prefaces, and appendices were added to later editions. These additions included speeches from influential neo-Nazi figures, other magazine articles, and propaganda posters.[20]
The first edition has a thanks section from the publisher, which was removed from the second edition and was not included in any later editions. This section thanks "James Mason for his complete cooperation, Jo for the hospitality in Ohio, Ed Reynolds,T. Thorn,Anton La Vey,Adam Parfrey,The Black Flame,US West Communications andR. Ward for typesetting assistance".[29][30] Moynihan himself ended up writing the introduction, under the pseudonym Michael M. Jenkins, to theSIEGE book.[15][17] It begins: "James Mason is a radical extremist. He has actively dedicated the better part of his life to principles which the average member of society would find terrifying, violent and vicious, if not outright insane." Moynihan recounted Mason's background and origins.[31] Further, Moynihan wrote of the book that:[17]
The SIEGE volume you hold in your hands is intended both as a guide and a tool. For the observer, or the curious, it serves as a guide through the netherworld of extremist political thought.... this book offers a unique and direct access-point to understanding the philosophy, tactics, and propaganda of an increasingly militant and uncompromising brand of National Socialism. [...] Secondly, and more importantly, this book is meant to serve as a practical tool. A majority of readers will hopefully not be mere sociologists or researchers, but rather that small faction of people who may be already predisposed towards these ideas. this certainly does not only refer to National Socialists, but revolutionaries and fanatics of all stripes.
In addition to the materials from Mason, works from Rockwell, Tommasi, and Perry Warthan are included in the book.[21] The first edition contains 8 sections and five appendixes of various other topics and documents. The appendix section totals about 60 pages.[31] The book contains several images.[31] Tommasi is repeatedly discussed inSiege; the first edition included about 20 photos of him or the NSLF,[8] the most of anyone in the book.[31] The book could be ordered from Storm Books for $22.[32]
Upon its release, it received a review in the right-wing music magazineThe Fifth Path, a review in the zineOhm Clock, a shorter review inWelcomat, an alternative weekly based in Philadelphia, and in theChurch of Satan's magazineThe Black Flame.[33] It also received reviews or promotions in the explicitly racist periodicalsPlexus,Heretic,Revolutionary Nationalist,Greystorm, andResistance.[34] The book was heavily promoted by two individuals: the influential white supremacistTom Metzger, andPeter Gilmore of the Church of Satan. Metzger praised the book and was largely responsible for the spread of the book in its first edition, promoting it in his periodicals and selling it directly. Mason later credited Metzger for a large amount of the book's distribution.[35] Gilmore spoke of his praise forSiege and recommended it to Satanists.[35] He called it a "monumental achievement" and said that Mason's writing was "filled with clarity", "the unvarnished thinking of an American radical".[36]
The first publication of the book was mostly successful. Despite this, it did not receive much attention and received criticism from other neo-Nazis, or was ignored. Both Moynihan and Mason came to see it as having been "blacklisted" by most neo-Nazis, though they understated the amount of attention it did receive. Mason attributed this to jealousy of the book's quality and an unwillingness to accept his "truth".[34] Spencer Sunshine said it was likely Mason's praise of murderers, obsession with Manson, and "personal alienation" from most neo-Nazi leaders of the time that contributed to the initial obscurity of the book.[34]Siege was not greatly influential until many years later.[37]
Siege received little scholarly attention prior to the 2010s, with the exception of two scholars of the far-right:Jeffrey Kaplan andNicholas Goodrick-Clarke, who had studied it earlier, prior to the release of its second edition. Kaplan had discussed it briefly in a 1995 article entitled "Right Wing Violence in America" and in a 1997 article entitled "'Leaderless Resistance'", while Goodrick-Clarke covered it in his 2002 bookBlack Sun, where he gave the first substantial scholarly analysis of the work.[38] Due to its rise in influence it gained substantially more scholarly attention in the 2010s.[39]
Siege idolizesAdolf Hitler, and adheres to what it describes as terroristicNational Socialism; Mason describes Hitler as "the greatest personality in all of history" and "the LAST CHANCE for the revival of Western Civilization".[40] The tone is deeply pessimistic about the state of society.[40] It includes the idea of The System, which is a conspiracy of the government, Jews and capitalists acting against white interests.[41][42] Mason describes the American government as the enemy, saying it is "by every standard of measure, the most evil thing that has ever existed on earth", and argues any act against it is justified. Itdenies the Holocaust, employs several antisemitic conspiracies, and defends theManson murders.[40] In addition to Manson and Hitler, it lionizes Tommasi and the occultistSavitri Devi.[42]Siege does not use the termaccelerationism but Manson employs similar ideas.[43]
Scholars Bethan Johnson and Matthew Feldman described it as "unrepentantly and unflinchingly racist, antisemitic,white supremacist, and anti-democratic", but that it was rather distinguished from other neo-Nazi works by "the terroristic extremity ofSiege's call for violence".[44] It celebrates violence, chronicles real-world attacks by far-right extremists, even of people otherwise innocent; it is argued that there can be no innocents or those considered noncombatants in a "race war". Anyone who disagrees with this is considered an enemy, whether it is a "comrade, friend, family member [...] it doesn't matter."[45] It celebrates various serial killers and mass murderers, some of whom he had known personally, and even terrorist attacks committed by leftists.[12][46]
Siege explicitly advocatedlone wolf terrorism, as opposed to group terrorism. It was noted as the first text to do so; later,William Luther Pierce would espouse similar ideas in the novelHunter, andLouis Beam published his better-known essay "Leaderless Resistance", which may have been influenced by Mason.[47][48] It advises against group planning due to the risk of detection. This is the work's main message, advising of lone wolf terror to "an all-consuming extent".[49] To this end, it extensively glorifies past lone wolf terrorists, creating a "canon" of them. It particularly presents this as a benefit to those who have experienced social rejection, presenting their rejection by society is actually a virtue, as Mason claims "to be outside this society is a marked badge of honor", and attempts to convince such a reader that by becoming terrorists they will be immortalized and respected. Johnson and Feldman notedSiege's rhetoric as "a near perfect execution" of the radicalization and indoctrination technique of "reorientation of personal trauma".[50]
Siege is an obligatory read for those within the contemporary neo-Nazi movement today, and Mason is considered by some to be the most important fascist revolutionary alive.[51] WriterSpencer Sunshine described it as "the bible of the most extreme wing of the new generation of neo-Nazis", and noted it as "a strange book, mixing National Socialism with serial killers and a veneration of Charles Manson".[3]Nicholas Goodrick-Clarke wrote of the work in 2002 that it "preached violence, racial strife and an all-out war against the hated 'System'", and that it paid "extravagant" tribute to many neo-Nazis.[46]
Readership of theSiege newsletter was not large while it was in circulation,[10] and the book was largely obscure. This changed in the 2010s when it was rediscovered by the neo-Nazi forumIron March, who published another edition in 2015.[14][52] As a result, Mason’s writings have inspired a global spike in militant neo-Nazi activity. Especially for younger neo-Nazis, since 2015Siege has been a foundational text, arguably rivallingMein Kampf. Counter-terrorists experts have found this concerning becauseSiege is at the "'shamelessly terroristic' end of right-wing extremism".[53] According to theSPLC, the new generation of neo-Nazis are going through "total immersion in Mason’s teleology [...] they are challenging the established far-right and far-left with their eagerness to perpetrate violence."[54] According to theInternational Centre for Counter-Terrorism it has "a radicalising effect on right-wing extremists".[55] Although fringe ideology even among right-wing extremists, "Siege Culture has underpinned many of the recent counter terrorism cases linked to the extreme-right in the UK" according to Centre for Research and Evidence on Security Threats.[41]
The meme "ReadSiege" and hashtag #ReadSiege became popular with neo-Nazis, especially after theUnite the Right rally in 2017.[56] Various terms grew out of the movement around the book.[57] The subculture "Siege Culture" by neo-Nazis and counter-extremism experts alike.[58][57] Other members of the far-right derided those interested in the book as "Siege Fags", and convincing others to adopt the book's ideology was called "Siege Pilling".[57] Within Siege Culture, Fascism is the highest truth and the natural state in which whites dominate all others. As a result, Siege Culture believes that any softening of the message to increase their appeal is impossible, and that any form of compromise is inherently flawed. Siege Culture is critical of other right-wingers who are seen as being uncommitted and resulting in a belief that they represent arevolutionary vanguard with access to special truths.[41]Siege has also been distributed byNordic Resistance Movement and theAmerican Futurist founded by former Atomwaffen members.[59][60][61]
Globally, Siege Culture has been connected to innumerable terror plots. TheCounter Extremism Project connected Siege Culture to 25 terrorists in 2020 alone.[1] For example, in Finland in 2021 five men who according to the Finnish security services adhered to Siege Culture werearrested with weapons and explosives.[62][63][64] As a result of his writing ofSiege, Mason has been designated a terrorist entity in Canada.[65]
According toTASS, the Primorsky court of St. Petersburg declared on August 14, 2023 that "The court recognized [Siege] by James Mason as extremist material prohibited from distribution on the territory of the Russian Federation". The court recognized thatSiege had inspired, among others, anAtomwaffen Division cell inBuryatia that planned attacks against racial minorities and drug users. The court banned 11 websites that hosted and distributedSiege.[66]
In a memo, the FBI mentions a "Siege network," which they describe as a "global network of online channels and real-world groups that cooperate with each other in analog reality."[67] LikewiseEuropol noted on "Terrorist Situation and Trend Report" for 2022 that "SIEGE and Accelerationism, both with significant potential for inciting violence, were the most prominent ideologies in 2021, especially attracting young people radicalised online."[68]
Quotations related toJames Mason at Wikiquote