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	])]]		</small><!-- Copyright 1999, Marilyn Humphries & Political Research Associates--> ]]
	'''John Foster "Chip" Berlet''' (born ], ]) is an American investigative journalist and researcher, who specializes in the study of ] movements in the ], particularly the ], ]s, ] groups, and ]. He also studies the spread of ] in the ] and on the ]. He is the senior analyst at ], a ] based in ], ], which tracks right-wing networks. He is known as one of the first researchers to draw attention to the efforts by white supremacist and ] groups to recruit ]s in the ] in the ] and ].

			'''John Foster "Chip" Berlet''' (born ], ]) is the co-author of ''Right–Wing Populism in America: Too Close for Comfort'' and editor of ''Eye’s Right! Challenging the Right Wing Backlash.'' He is a senior analyst at ], a ] based in ], ], which he joined in 1982. He specializes in the study of fringe political movements in the ], particularly the ], ]s, ] groups, and ]. He also studies the spread of ] in the mainstream media and on the ]. Much of his work is published on line at PRA's website.
	==Resumé==

		⚫	Berlet is a former vice-president of the ], and has served on the advisory board of the ] at ]. He currently sits on the advisory board of the ].
	Berlet is the co-author of ''Right–Wing Populism in America: Too Close for Comfort'' and editor of ''Eye’s Right! Challenging the Right Wing Backlash'', which both won a Gustavus Myers Center award. He has written for the ], ], ] and the ], and has appeared on ''ABC's ]'', ''NBC's ]'', ''CBS This Morning'', CNN, and '']''. In 1982, he was a Mencken Awards finalist in the best news story category for "War on Drugs: The Strange Story of Lyndon LaRouche," which was published in '']''. In addition to his journalistic work, Berlet has written for academic journals and encylopedias, and has given academic lectures in universities in the U.S., ], ], and ].

			In 1982, he was a Mencken Awards finalist in the best news story category for "War on Drugs: The Strange Story of ]," which was published in '']''.
⚫	He is a former vice-president of the ], has served on the advisory board of the ] at ] , ~~and~~ currently sits on the advisory board of the ]. .

	==Background==		==Background==
		⚫	Berlet attended the ] for three years, where he majored in ] with a ] minor. He left the university in ] to work as an alternative journalist. In the mid-70s, he went on to co-edit a series of books on student activism for the ] and ]. He also became an active shop steward with the National Lawyers' Guild.

		⚫	During the late 1970s, he became the ] bureau chief of '']'' magazine, and in 1979, he helped to organize citizens' hearings on FBI surveillance practices. From then until 1982, he worked as a ] investigator at the Better Government Association in Chicago, conducting research for an ] case, involving police ] by the Chicago police (which became known as the "Chicago Red Squad" case). . He also worked on cases filed against the FBI or police on behalf of the Spanish Action Committee of Chicago, the National Lawyers' Guild, the ], ], ], and the ], a ] group.
⚫	Berlet ~~was born and raised in ]. He was active in chuch-based politics as a teenager, and served as a delegate at ] meetings, before attending~~ the ] for three years, where he majored in sociology with a journalism minor. He left in ] to work as an alternative journalist. In the mid-70s, he co-~~edited~~ a series of books on student activism for the ] and ]. He became an active shop steward with the National Lawyers' Guild.

		⚫	In 1982, Berlet joined Political Research Associates, and in 1985, he founded the Public Eye BBS, the first computer ] aimed at challenging the spread of white-supremacist and ] material on the Web, and the first to provide an online application kit for requesting information under the U.S. ].
	Berlet and his wife, Karen, have a history of local activism. While living in ], ], they helped form a community group that fought a spate of racist attacks, which included physical assaults on ]s and the ] of black families' homes. Berlet was assaulted twice while monitoring ] and ] rallies in his neighborhood: once for helping someone who was being beaten, and a second time while photographing an attack on anti-racist protesters.

		⚫	Berlet is also a photo-journalist. His photographs, particularly of Ku Klux Klan and neo-Nazi rallies, have been carried on the ] wire, have appeared on book and magazine covers, album covers and posters, and have been published in the Denver Post, ], and Chronicle of Higher Education.
⚫	~~Berlet gained a reputation during the ] and ] as a researcher into government abuses of ], and as a critic of ] and the ].~~ During the late 1970s, he became the ] bureau chief of '']'' magazine, and in ], he helped to organize citizens' hearings on FBI surveillance practices. From then until ], he worked as a ] investigator at the ] in Chicago, conducting research for an ] case involving police ] by the Chicago police (which became known as the "]" case). . He also worked on cases filed against the FBI or police on behalf of the ] of Chicago, the National Lawyers' Guild, the ], ], ], and the ], a ] group.

		⚫	In 1996, he acted as an advisor on the ] documentary mini-series ''With God on Our Side: The Rise of the Religious Right in America'', which was later published as a book by William Martin.
⚫	In ], Berlet joined Political Research Associates, and in ], he founded the ], the first computer ] aimed at challenging the spread of white supremacist and ] material on the Web, and the first to provide an online application kit for requesting information under the U.S. ].

		⚫	Berlet argues that the U.S. is currently undergoing a right-wing backlash that is the most sustained of its kind in ]. He argues that, although 95% of America's hate crimes are committed by people not affiliated with any group, they have nevertheless internalized a narrative developed and promoted by the right wing that demonizes certain groups, including blacks or ]s. He argues that the left must develop coalitions to find a way to counter-balance these narratives, instead of becoming isolated as another side of the "lunatic fringe."
⚫	Berlet is also a photo-journalist. His photographs, particularly of Ku Klux Klan and ~~Neo~~-Nazi rallies, have been carried on the ] wire, have appeared on book and magazine covers, album covers and posters, and have been published in the Denver Post, ], and Chronicle of Higher Education.

⚫	In ], he acted as an advisor on the ] documentary mini-series ''With God on Our Side: The Rise of the Religious Right in America'', which was later published as a book by William Martin.

	==Criticism of the left==
	During the ] ], Berlet began criticizing left-wing critics of the intelligence community as being channels — wittingly or otherwise — for conspiracy theories initiated by the extreme right. In articles in '']'' and '']'', Berlet criticized the ], , , ], and the so-called ] theory — which alleges that ]'s team made a deal with the ] government that the American hostages being held in ] should not be released before the 1980 presidential election.

	Political Research Associates published a report by Berlet in ] entitled "Right Woos Left," in which he wrote that, though these conspiracy theories are embraced by the left, their origins lie with the extreme political right. His book ''Right-Wing Populism in America'', published in 2000, continues to explore the relationship between racism, anti-Semitism, conspiracism, and what Berlet calls "apocalypticism".

⚫	Berlet ~~believes~~ that ~~the right-wing backlash he says~~ the U.S. is currently ~~experiencing~~ is the most sustained in American history. He argues that, although 95% of America's hate crimes are committed by people not affiliated with any group, they have nevertheless internalized a narrative developed and promoted by the right wing that demonizes certain groups, ~~like~~ blacks or ]s. He argues that the left must develop coalitions to find a way to counter-balance these narratives, instead of becoming isolated as another side of the "lunatic fringe."

	==Criticism of Berlet==		==Criticism of Berlet==
	Some critics of Berlet consider his actions during the 90s to have been unfair to left-wing activists in America. In 1991, Berlet mostly limited his criticism to groups on the left who were prepared to form alliances with organizations considered to be ], neo-Nazi, or ], such as ] and the ]. However, Berlet later extended his criticism to those willing to work with the conservative ] and with industrialist ]. Berlet also criticized ], ], and ], who work with public figures on the right on common issues of concern, such as ], but who seldom raise questions, Berlet argues, about the racism, sexism, or homophobia, as he sees it, of their right-wing coalition partners. Berlet argues that left-wing activists in such coalitions need to maintain a position of principled criticism and not sweep issues of bigotry under the rug. This hardline stance has attracted criticism.

	Daniel Brandt, a left-wing activist who maintains the Googlewatch and Namebase websites, writes of Berlet:

⚫	~~:''~~"He isn't critical of conspiracy thinking on the basis of the evidence, but waits until the theorist can be shown to have incorrect political associations. Berlet doesn't fit anywhere on our spectrum; he's running his own show."''

	Laird Wilcox, an American researcher and civil libertarian who studies fringe groups, makes a similar criticism of ]. Mr. Wilcox says most "watchdog groups" have a tendency to use what he calls "links and ties" to imply connections between individuals and groups:

	:''"It's kind of like three Catholics hold up a bank in San Francisco, and you blame the Pope,"'' Wilcox told the ''The Washington Times''.

	Wilcox has criticized Berlet over an incident involving the Rev. Francis S. Strykowski, a 76-year-old Catholic priest, who was forced to resign after Berlet identified him as having attended an anti-communist meeting at which a former Klan leader spoke. The Rev. Strykowski maintained that he had not realized what kind of meeting it was. The problem with watchdog groups, argues Wilcox, is that they are "operating as intelligence networks for the FBI and other law enforcement bodies, but their information is highly prejudiced by their political outlook. The danger inherent in this arrangement is that these groups compile lists of organizations and individuals for police intelligence divisions, and then the police are expected to use that information to keep tabs on such people, who may have done nothing more than express a political view the ‘watchdogs’ disagree with," Wilcox told ''The New American'', which is published by the ].

		⚫	Berlet has been criticized by '']'' for having accused the ], in a 1993 op-ed piece for the '']'', of down-playing the right-wing threat while focusing on left-wing groups.
	In response to Wilcox's comments about the Rev. Strykowski, Berlet said that Wilcox had mischaracterized PRA's activities. "Laird Wilcox is not an accurate or ethical reporter," Berlet told the ''Washington Times''. "He simply can't tolerate people who are his competition in this field."

			In 2003, Berlet was criticized over an article he wrote for the ] (SPLC) entitled "Into the Mainstream", which named conservative activist ]'s Center for the Study of Popular Culture (CSPC) as one of an "array of right-wing foundations and think tanks support efforts to make bigoted and discredited ideas respectable," for passages pertaining to Horowitz's writings against slavery reparations and affirmative action. In an open letter to SPLC president ], Horowitz urged Dees to remove the article from the SPLC website, alleging that it was "so tendentious, so filled with transparent misrepresentations and smears that if you continue to post the report you will create for your Southern Poverty Law Center a well-earned reputation as a hate group itself." Dees declined to remove the article. Since then, Horowitz's ''Front Page Magazine'' has carried a response from Berlet accusing Horowitz and the CSPC of using "inflammatory, mean-spirited, and divisive language that dismisses the idea that there are serious unresolved issues concerning racism and white supremacy in the United States," , a further rejoinder from Horowitz addressed to Dees, and an article by Chris Arabia harshly critical of Berlet in which he claims that Berlet's work creates the "false illusion that conservatism and racism walk hand-in-hand" and "has squashed vigorous debate and discourse," including among the political left.
⚫	Berlet has ~~also~~ been criticized by ''The New American'' for ~~accusing~~ the ], in a 1993 op-ed piece for the ], of down-playing the right-wing threat while focusing on left-wing groups.

		⚫	], a internet activist who maintains the ] and ] websites, writes of Berlet, "He isn't critical of conspiracy thinking on the basis of the evidence, but waits until the theorist can be shown to have incorrect political associations. Berlet doesn't fit anywhere on our spectrum; he's running his own show."
	The political movement headed by controversial American fringe politician ] has also published material critical of Berlet. Berlet wrote articles on LaRouche in the 70s and 80s, in which he called LaRouche an anti-Semite and fascist, and alleged, with journalists ] and Russ Bellant, that LaRouche was involved in illegal fundraising activities. LaRouche sued Berlet and King, as well as '']'' and the Anti-Defamation League, but lost the case. During LaRouche's 2004 presidential campaign, a LaRouche network publication called Berlet and King "lower-level operatives of the MK-Ultra-created drug legalization lobby."

	==Books by Berlet==		==Books by Berlet==
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	==Selected papers and articles by Berlet==		==Selected papers and articles by Berlet==
	*(2004), "Mapping the Political Right: Gender and Race Oppression in Right-Wing Movements," in Abby Ferber, ed, ''Home-Grown Hate: Gender and Organized Racism," New York: Routledge.		*(2004), in Abby Ferber, ed, ''Home-Grown Hate: Gender and Organized Racism'', New York: Routledge.
	*(2002), “Encountering and Countering Political Repression,” in ''The Global Activists Manual: Local Ways to Change the World'', edited by Mike Prokosch, Laura Raymond, and Michael Prokosch, New York: Thunder Mouth Press/Nation Books		*(2002), in ''The Global Activists Manual: Local Ways to Change the World'', edited by Mike Prokosch, Laura Raymond, and Michael Prokosch, New York: Thunder Mouth Press/Nation Books
	*(2002), “Anti-Masonic Conspiracy Theories: A Narrative Form of Demonization and Scapegoating,” ''Heredom'', Vol. 10, pp. 243-275.		*(2002), “Anti-Masonic Conspiracy Theories: A Narrative Form of Demonization and Scapegoating,” ''Heredom'', Vol. 10, pp. 243-275.
	*(2001), “Hate Groups, Racial Tension and Ethnoviolence in an Integrating Chicago Neighborhood 1976-1988.” In Betty A. Dobratz, Lisa K. Walder, and Timothy Buzzell, eds., ''Research in Political Sociology, Volume 9: The Politics of Social Inequality'', pp. 117–163.		*(2001), In Betty A. Dobratz, Lisa K. Walder, and Timothy Buzzell, eds., ''Research in Political Sociology, Volume 9: The Politics of Social Inequality'', pp. 117–163.
			*(2000) with Matthew N. Lyons, , New York: Guiford Press.
			*(1999)
	*(1998), “Who’s Mediating the Storm? Right–wing Alternative Information Networks,” in Linda Kintz & Julia Lesage, eds., ''Culture, Media, and the Religious Right'', Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press		*(1998), “Who’s Mediating the Storm? Right–wing Alternative Information Networks,” in Linda Kintz & Julia Lesage, eds., ''Culture, Media, and the Religious Right'', Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press
	*(1998), “Following the Threads: A Work in Progress," in Amy Elizabeth Ansell, ed., ''Unraveling the Right: The New Conservatism in American Thought and Politics," New York: Westview		*(1998), “Following the Threads: A Work in Progress," in Amy Elizabeth Ansell, ed., ''Unraveling the Right: The New Conservatism in American Thought and Politics,'' New York: Westview
	*(1998), “Y2K and Millennial Pinball: How Y2K Shapes Survivalism in the U.S. Christian Right, Patriot and Armed Militia Movements, and Far Right", presented at the annual symposium, Center for Millennial Studies, Boston University		*(1998), , presented at the annual symposium, Center for Millennial Studies, Boston University
	*(1998), “Mad as Hell: Right–wing Populism, Fascism, and Apocalyptic Millennialism," presented at the 14th World Congress of Sociology, International Sociological Association, Montreal		*(1998), “Mad as Hell: Right–wing Populism, Fascism, and Apocalyptic Millennialism," presented at the 14th World Congress of Sociology, International Sociological Association, Montreal
	*(1998), “The Ideological Weaponry of the American Right: ‘Dangerous Classes’ and ‘Welfare Queens’", presented at the international symposium, The “American Model:” an Hegemonic Perspective for the End of the Millennium?, Group Regards Critiques, University of Lausanne, Switzerland.		*(1998), “The Ideological Weaponry of the American Right: ‘Dangerous Classes’ and ‘Welfare Queens’", presented at the international symposium, The “American Model:” an Hegemonic Perspective for the End of the Millennium?, Group Regards Critiques, University of Lausanne, Switzerland.
	*(1998), with Matthew N. Lyons, “One Key to Litigating Against Government Prosecution of Dissidents: Understanding the Underlying Assumptions,.” Police Misconduct and Civil Rights Law Report, in two parts, Vol. 5, No. 13, Vol. 5, No. 14, West Group.		*(1998), with Matthew N. Lyons, , ” ''Police Misconduct and Civil Rights Law Report'', in two parts, Vol. 5, No. 13, Vol. 5, No. 14, West Group.
	*(1997), “Fascism’s Franchises: Stating the Differences from Movement to Totalitarian Government," presented to the American Sociological Association, Toronto		*(1997), “Fascism’s Franchises: Stating the Differences from Movement to Totalitarian Government," presented to the American Sociological Association, Toronto
	*(1997), “An Introduction to Propaganda Analysis," in ''Uncovering the Right on Campus: A Guide to Resisting Conservative Attacks on Equality and Social Justice,'' Cambridge, MA: Center for Campus Organizing.		*(1997), in ''Uncovering the Right on Campus: A Guide to Resisting Conservative Attacks on Equality and Social Justice,'' Cambridge, MA: Center for Campus Organizing.
	*(1996), “Three Models for Analyzing Conspiracist Mass Movements of the Right,” in Eric Ward, ed., ''Conspiracies: Real Grievances, Paranoia, and Mass Movements'', Seattle: Northwest Coalition Against Malicious Harassment .		*(1996), “Three Models for Analyzing Conspiracist Mass Movements of the Right,” in Eric Ward, ed., ''Conspiracies: Real Grievances, Paranoia, and Mass Movements'', Seattle: Northwest Coalition Against Malicious Harassment .
	*(1995), with Margaret Quigley, “Theocracy & White Supremacy", in Chip Berlet, ed., ''Eye’s Right! Challenging the Right Wing Backlash'', Boston, South End Press.		*(1995), with Margaret Quigley, , in Chip Berlet, ed., ''Eye’s Right! Challenging the Right Wing Backlash'', Boston, South End Press.
	*(1995), “Uniting to Defend the Four Freedoms," in Chip Berlet, ed., ''Eye’s Right! Challenging the Right Wing Backlash'', Boston, South End Press.		*(1995), in Chip Berlet, ed., ''Eye’s Right! Challenging the Right Wing Backlash'', Boston, South End Press.
	*(1995), “The Violence of Right-Wing Populism.” Peace Review, Vol. 7, Nos. 3 & 4, pp. 283288. Oxford: Journals Oxford Ltd.		*(1995), “The Violence of Right-Wing Populism.” Peace Review, Vol. 7, Nos. 3 & 4, pp. 283288. Oxford: Journals Oxford Ltd.
	*(1990), Review of ''The False Prophet: Rabbi Meir Kahane FBI Informant to Knesset Member'', ''Z Magazine''		*(1990), Review of ''The False Prophet: Rabbi Meir Kahane FBI Informant to Knesset Member'', ''Z Magazine''
	*(1987) Review of ''Inventing Reality: The Politics of Mass Media'' by Michael Parenti, in ''The Library Quarterly'', Vol. 57 No. 2, April		*(1987) Review of ''Inventing Reality: The Politics of Mass Media'' by Michael Parenti, in ''The Library Quarterly'', Vol. 57 No. 2, April
	*(1984), with Russ Bellant “LaRouche Loses Libel Suit,” ''The Guardian'', NY, November 14, 1984		*(1984), with Russ Bellant “LaRouche Loses Libel Suit,” ''The Guardian'', NY, November 14, 1984
	*(1982), with Russ Bellant and Dennis King, “LaRouche Cult Continues to Grow: Researchers Call for Probe of Potentially Illegal Acts,” ''The Public Eye'', Vol. III, Issues 3 & 4		*(1982), with Russ Bellant and Dennis King, ''The Public Eye'', Vol. III, Issues 3 & 4
	*(1982) “Private Spies: A New Threat To Constitutional Rights,” ''The Public Eye'', Vol. III, Issues 3 & 4, 1982.		*(1982) “Private Spies: A New Threat To Constitutional Rights,” ''The Public Eye'', Vol. III, Issues 3 & 4, 1982.
	*(1981) “Ever Hear of Lyndon LaRouche? He May be Keeping Tabs on You,” ''Des Moines Register'', September 23, 1981.		*(1981) “Ever Hear of Lyndon LaRouche? He May be Keeping Tabs on You,” ''Des Moines Register'', September 23, 1981.
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	*		*
	*, Political Research Associates		*, Political Research Associates
	*, Boston University
	*, Center for Millennial Studies		*, Center for Millennial Studies
	*		*
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	*, Political Research Associates		*, Political Research Associates
	* by Chip Berlet, ''Columbia Journalism Review'', May-June 1993		* by Chip Berlet, ''Columbia Journalism Review'', May-June 1993
	*, IMDb entry, ~~citing~~ ~~Chip Berlet~~		*"With God On Our Side: The Rise of the Religious Right in America", ,
	*, Amazon entry for book by William Martin
	*, brief description of Chip Berlet's work, Faith in Action dept., Unitarian Universality Association, 1999		*, brief description of Chip Berlet's work, Faith in Action dept., Unitarian Universality Association, 1999
	*, Daniel Brandt
	*, Daniel Brandt
	* by Daniel Brandt, Namesbase Newsline, April-June 1993		* by Daniel Brandt, Namesbase Newsline, April-June 1993
	*, LaRouche in 2004, no byline, undated, retrieved January 7, 2005		*, LaRouche in 2004, no byline, undated, retrieved January 7, 2005
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	*“The A.D.L. Under Fire: It’s Shift to Right Has Led to Scandal," by Dennis King and Chip Berlet, ''The New York Times'', May 28, 1993, p. A29 (Op-Ed).		*“The A.D.L. Under Fire: It’s Shift to Right Has Led to Scandal," by Dennis King and Chip Berlet, ''The New York Times'', May 28, 1993, p. A29 (Op-Ed).

	==Further reading ==		==Further reading==
	*, by Chip Berlet, ''New Internationalist'', October 2004		*, by Chip Berlet, ''New Internationalist'', October 2004
	*, by Chip Berlet, Political Research Associates website, February 22, 1994		*, by Chip Berlet, Political Research Associates website, February 22, 1994
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	* by Chip Berlet, Political Research Associates website, undated, retrieved January 7, 2005		* by Chip Berlet, Political Research Associates website, undated, retrieved January 7, 2005
	*, by Dan Friedman, ''National Alliance'', May 5, 1994		*, by Dan Friedman, ''National Alliance'', May 5, 1994
			*
			*, By Chris Arabia, ''FrontPageMagazine.com'', October 16, 2003
	*, by Lenora Fulani, no publication name, September 20, 1994		*, by Lenora Fulani, no publication name, September 20, 1994
	*, by Adam Parfrey, ''Alternative Press Review'', Winter 1996		*, by Adam Parfrey, ''Alternative Press Review'', Winter 1996
	*, by Ace Hayes, ''Portland Free Press'', July/August 1997		*, by Ace Hayes, ''Portland Free Press'', July/August 1997

⚫	]
	]		]
		⚫	]
			]

Revision as of 03:36, 19 December 2005

Chip Berlet.
Used with permission, © 1999 MH/PRA

John Foster "Chip" Berlet (born November 22, 1949) is the co-author of Right–Wing Populism in America: Too Close for Comfort and editor of Eye’s Right! Challenging the Right Wing Backlash. He is a senior analyst at Political Research Associates, a non-profit organization based in Somerville, Massachusetts, which he joined in 1982. He specializes in the study of fringe political movements in the United States, particularly the religious right, white supremacists, homophobic groups, and paramilitary organizations. He also studies the spread of conspiracy theories in the mainstream media and on the Internet. Much of his work is published on line at PRA's website.

Berlet is a former vice-president of the National Lawyers Guild, and has served on the advisory board of the Center for Millennial Studies at Boston University. He currently sits on the advisory board of the National Committee Against Repressive Legislation.

In 1982, he was a Mencken Awards finalist in the best news story category for "War on Drugs: The Strange Story of Lyndon LaRouche," which was published in High Times.

Background

Berlet attended the University of Denver for three years, where he majored in sociology with a journalism minor. He left the university in 1971 to work as an alternative journalist. In the mid-70s, he went on to co-edit a series of books on student activism for the National Student Association and National Student Educational Fund. He also became an active shop steward with the National Lawyers' Guild.

During the late 1970s, he became the Washington, D.C. bureau chief of High Times magazine, and in 1979, he helped to organize citizens' hearings on FBI surveillance practices. From then until 1982, he worked as a paralegal investigator at the Better Government Association in Chicago, conducting research for an American Civil Liberties Union case, involving police surveillance by the Chicago police (which became known as the "Chicago Red Squad" case). . He also worked on cases filed against the FBI or police on behalf of the Spanish Action Committee of Chicago, the National Lawyers' Guild, the American Indian Movement, Socialist Workers Party, Christic Institute, and the American Friends Service Committee, a Quaker group.

In 1982, Berlet joined Political Research Associates, and in 1985, he founded the Public Eye BBS, the first computer bulletin board aimed at challenging the spread of white-supremacist and neo-Nazi material on the Web, and the first to provide an online application kit for requesting information under the U.S. Freedom of Information Act.

Berlet is also a photo-journalist. His photographs, particularly of Ku Klux Klan and neo-Nazi rallies, have been carried on the Associated Press wire, have appeared on book and magazine covers, album covers and posters, and have been published in the Denver Post, Washington Star, and Chronicle of Higher Education.

In 1996, he acted as an advisor on the Public Broadcasting Service documentary mini-series With God on Our Side: The Rise of the Religious Right in America, which was later published as a book by William Martin.

Berlet argues that the U.S. is currently undergoing a right-wing backlash that is the most sustained of its kind in American history. He argues that, although 95% of America's hate crimes are committed by people not affiliated with any group, they have nevertheless internalized a narrative developed and promoted by the right wing that demonizes certain groups, including blacks or gays. He argues that the left must develop coalitions to find a way to counter-balance these narratives, instead of becoming isolated as another side of the "lunatic fringe."

Criticism of Berlet

Berlet has been criticized by The New American for having accused the Anti-Defamation League, in a 1993 op-ed piece for the New York Times, of down-playing the right-wing threat while focusing on left-wing groups.

In 2003, Berlet was criticized over an article he wrote for the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) entitled "Into the Mainstream", which named conservative activist David Horowitz's Center for the Study of Popular Culture (CSPC) as one of an "array of right-wing foundations and think tanks support efforts to make bigoted and discredited ideas respectable," for passages pertaining to Horowitz's writings against slavery reparations and affirmative action. In an open letter to SPLC president Morris Dees, Horowitz urged Dees to remove the article from the SPLC website, alleging that it was "so tendentious, so filled with transparent misrepresentations and smears that if you continue to post the report you will create for your Southern Poverty Law Center a well-earned reputation as a hate group itself." Dees declined to remove the article. Since then, Horowitz's Front Page Magazine has carried a response from Berlet accusing Horowitz and the CSPC of using "inflammatory, mean-spirited, and divisive language that dismisses the idea that there are serious unresolved issues concerning racism and white supremacy in the United States," , a further rejoinder from Horowitz addressed to Dees, and an article by Chris Arabia harshly critical of Berlet in which he claims that Berlet's work creates the "false illusion that conservatism and racism walk hand-in-hand" and "has squashed vigorous debate and discourse," including among the political left.

Daniel Brandt, a internet activist who maintains the Googlewatch and Namebase websites, writes of Berlet, "He isn't critical of conspiracy thinking on the basis of the evidence, but waits until the theorist can be shown to have incorrect political associations. Berlet doesn't fit anywhere on our spectrum; he's running his own show."

Books by Berlet

(2000), with Matthew N. Lyons, Right–Wing Populism in America: Too Close for Comfort, Guilford Press, New York; paperback edition ISBN 1572305622
(1995), (ed.), Eye’s Right! Challenging the Right Wing Backlash, South End Press, Boston; paperback edition ISBN 0896085236

Selected papers and articles by Berlet

(2004), "Mapping the Political Right: Gender and Race Oppression in Right-Wing Movements," in Abby Ferber, ed, Home-Grown Hate: Gender and Organized Racism, New York: Routledge.
(2002), “Encountering and Countering Political Repression,” in The Global Activists Manual: Local Ways to Change the World, edited by Mike Prokosch, Laura Raymond, and Michael Prokosch, New York: Thunder Mouth Press/Nation Books
(2002), “Anti-Masonic Conspiracy Theories: A Narrative Form of Demonization and Scapegoating,” Heredom, Vol. 10, pp. 243-275.
(2001), “Hate Groups, Racial Tension and Ethnoviolence in an Integrating Chicago Neighborhood 1976-1988.” In Betty A. Dobratz, Lisa K. Walder, and Timothy Buzzell, eds., Research in Political Sociology, Volume 9: The Politics of Social Inequality, pp. 117–163.
(2000) with Matthew N. Lyons, Right-Wing Populism in America: Too Close for Comfort, New York: Guiford Press.
(1999) "Abstaining from Bad Sects: Understanding Sects, Cadres, and Mass Movement Organizations"
(1998), “Who’s Mediating the Storm? Right–wing Alternative Information Networks,” in Linda Kintz & Julia Lesage, eds., Culture, Media, and the Religious Right, Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press
(1998), “Following the Threads: A Work in Progress," in Amy Elizabeth Ansell, ed., Unraveling the Right: The New Conservatism in American Thought and Politics, New York: Westview
(1998), “Y2K and Millennial Pinball: How Y2K Shapes Survivalism in the U.S. Christian Right, Patriot and Armed Militia Movements, and Far Right", presented at the annual symposium, Center for Millennial Studies, Boston University
(1998), “Mad as Hell: Right–wing Populism, Fascism, and Apocalyptic Millennialism," presented at the 14th World Congress of Sociology, International Sociological Association, Montreal
(1998), “The Ideological Weaponry of the American Right: ‘Dangerous Classes’ and ‘Welfare Queens’", presented at the international symposium, The “American Model:” an Hegemonic Perspective for the End of the Millennium?, Group Regards Critiques, University of Lausanne, Switzerland.
(1998), with Matthew N. Lyons, “One Key to Litigating Against Government Prosecution of Dissidents: Understanding the Underlying Assumptions, ” Police Misconduct and Civil Rights Law Report, in two parts, Vol. 5, No. 13, Vol. 5, No. 14, West Group.
(1997), “Fascism’s Franchises: Stating the Differences from Movement to Totalitarian Government," presented to the American Sociological Association, Toronto
(1997), “An Introduction to Propaganda Analysis," in Uncovering the Right on Campus: A Guide to Resisting Conservative Attacks on Equality and Social Justice, Cambridge, MA: Center for Campus Organizing.
(1996), “Three Models for Analyzing Conspiracist Mass Movements of the Right,” in Eric Ward, ed., Conspiracies: Real Grievances, Paranoia, and Mass Movements, Seattle: Northwest Coalition Against Malicious Harassment .
(1995), with Margaret Quigley, “Theocracy & White Supremacy", in Chip Berlet, ed., Eye’s Right! Challenging the Right Wing Backlash, Boston, South End Press.
(1995), “Uniting to Defend the Four Freedoms," in Chip Berlet, ed., Eye’s Right! Challenging the Right Wing Backlash, Boston, South End Press.
(1995), “The Violence of Right-Wing Populism.” Peace Review, Vol. 7, Nos. 3 & 4, pp. 283288. Oxford: Journals Oxford Ltd.
(1990), Review of The False Prophet: Rabbi Meir Kahane FBI Informant to Knesset Member, Z Magazine
(1987) Review of Inventing Reality: The Politics of Mass Media by Michael Parenti, in The Library Quarterly, Vol. 57 No. 2, April
(1984), with Russ Bellant “LaRouche Loses Libel Suit,” The Guardian, NY, November 14, 1984
(1982), with Russ Bellant and Dennis King, “LaRouche Cult Continues to Grow: Researchers Call for Probe of Potentially Illegal Acts,” The Public Eye, Vol. III, Issues 3 & 4
(1982) “Private Spies: A New Threat To Constitutional Rights,” The Public Eye, Vol. III, Issues 3 & 4, 1982.
(1981) “Ever Hear of Lyndon LaRouche? He May be Keeping Tabs on You,” Des Moines Register, September 23, 1981.
(1980) “Lyndon LaRouche and the U.S. Labor Party: Cult Fanaticism and the Politics of Paranoia,” Chicago Reader, March 7, 1980.

References

Political Research Associates
Biography of Berlet, Political Research Associates
Biography of Berlet, Center for Millennial Studies
National Committee against Repressive Legislation
Chicago Historical Society
History of the Public Eye Electronic Forums, Political Research Associates
"Big Stories, Spooky Sources" by Chip Berlet, Columbia Journalism Review, May-June 1993
"With God On Our Side: The Rise of the Religious Right in America", IMDb entry, Amazon
"Race, Class and Gender: Justice in the Intersections", brief description of Chip Berlet's work, Faith in Action dept., Unitarian Universality Association, 1999
"Clinton, Quigley, and Conspiracy: What's going on here?" by Daniel Brandt, Namesbase Newsline, April-June 1993
"The John Train Salon", LaRouche in 2004, no byline, undated, retrieved January 7, 2005
"Lyndon LaRouche", Disinfopedia, Center for Media & Democracy; describes the John Train allegations, undated, no byline, retrieved January 7, 2005
"Researcher Says 'Watchdogs' Exaggerate Hate Group Threat" by Robert Stacy McCain, The Washington Times, May 9, 2000
"Propagandizing the Police" by William Norman Grigg, The New American, November 9, 1999
“The A.D.L. Under Fire: It’s Shift to Right Has Led to Scandal," by Dennis King and Chip Berlet, The New York Times, May 28, 1993, p. A29 (Op-Ed).