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{{Short description|Movement of individuals or households preparing for emergencies and natural disasters}} | |||
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{{Outdated|date=March 2023}} | |||
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'''Survivalism''' is a ] of individuals or groups (called '''survivalists''', '''doomsday preppers''' or '''preppers'''<ref name="NYT-20200424" /><ref name="Senekal 2019">{{Cite journal |last=Senekal |first=BA |title=#doomsdayprepper: Analysing the online prepper community on Instagram |journal=Ensovoort: Tydskrif vir Kultuurstudies/Journal for Cultural Studies |language=Afrikaans, English |volume=40 |issue=11 |date=2019 |url=http://ensovoort.com/doomsdaypreppers/ |access-date=2020-11-10 |archive-date=2020-11-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201110103811/http://ensovoort.com/doomsdaypreppers/ |url-status=dead |issn=2616-7670}}</ref>) who proactively prepare for emergencies, such as ]s, and other disasters causing disruption to ] (that is, ]) caused by political or economic crises. Preparations may anticipate short-term scenarios or long-term, on scales ranging from personal adversity, to local disruption of services, to international or ]. There is no bright line dividing general ] from {{em|prepping}} in the form of survivalism (these concepts are a spectrum), but a qualitative distinction is often recognized whereby preppers/survivalists prepare especially extensively because they have higher estimations of the risk of catastrophes happening. Nonetheless, prepping can be as limited as preparing for a personal emergency (such as losing one's job, ] to one's home, or getting lost in wooded terrain), or it can be as extensive as a ] or ] with a devoted lifestyle. | |||
'''Survivalism''' is a commonly used (and often mis-used) term for the preparedness strategy and subculture of individuals or groups anticipating and making preparations for future possible disruptions in local, regional or worldwide social or political order. Survivalists often prepare for this anticipated disruption by learning skills (e.g., emergency medical training), stockpiling food and water, preparing for self-defense and ], and/or building structures that will help them to survive or "disappear" (e.g., a ] or ]). | |||
Survivalism emphasises self-reliance, stockpiling supplies, and gaining survival knowledge and skills. The stockpiling of supplies is itself a wide spectrum, from ]s (ready bags, bug-out bags) to entire ]s in extreme cases. | |||
The specific preparations made by survivalists depend on the nature of the anticipated disruption(s), some of the most common scenarios being: | |||
Survivalists often acquire ] and ]/]/] training, ] training (], ], ]), and ]/] training, and they often build structures (]s, ]s, etc.) or modify/] existing structures etc. that may help them survive a ] of society. | |||
# ] clusters, and patterns of apocalyptic planetary crises or ], such as ] bringing on ]es, ]s, ]s, ]s, and severe ]s, etc. | |||
# A disaster brought about by the activities of mankind: ] spills, release of ] materials, ], or an oppressive government. | |||
# General collapse of society, resulting from the unavailability of electricity, fuel, food, and water. | |||
# Monetary disruption or ], stemming from monetary manipulation, hyper-inflation or world-wide depression. | |||
# Widespread chaos, or some other unexplained ] event. | |||
Use of the term ''survivalist'' dates from the early 1980s.<ref>{{OEtymD|survivalist}}</ref> | |||
==History== | ==History== | ||
===1930s to 1950s=== | |||
The roots of the modern survivalist movement in the United States and Britain can be traced to several sources, including government policies, threats of ], religious beliefs, writers warning of social or economic collapse, ] and ]. | |||
]let '']'', a ] publication]] | |||
] | |||
], a ] publication]] | |||
The origins of the modern survivalist movement in the United Kingdom and the United States include government policies, threats of ], religious beliefs, and writers who warned of social or ] in both non-fiction and ].{{citation needed|date=May 2017}} | |||
The Cold War era government ] programs promoted public atomic bomb shelters, personal ], and training for children, such as the ] films. ] has long directed its members to store a year's worth of food for themselves and their families in preparation for such possibilities.<ref> info from LDS Gospel Library</ref> Also, the ] lives by the motto: "Be Prepared!" | |||
The ] era ] programs promoted public atomic bomb shelters, personal ]s, and training for children, such as the ] films. ] (LDS Church) has long directed its members to store a year's worth of food for themselves and their families in preparation for such possibilities,<ref name = lds>{{cite web|url = https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/topics/food-storage|title = Food Storage|work = Gospel Library|publisher = The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints|access-date = 2010-09-26|archive-date = 2023-12-03|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20231203141646/https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/gospel-topics/food-storage?lang=eng|url-status = live}}</ref> and the current teaching advises beginning with at least a three-month supply.<ref name = lds/> | |||
The ] that followed the ] is cited by survivalists as an example of the need to be prepared.<ref>{{cite book|page=41|title=The Ultimate Suburban Survivalist Guide: The Smartest Money Moves to Prepare for Any Crisis|author= Sean Brodrick|isbn=978-0470918197|year=2011|publisher=Wiley }}</ref><ref>{{cite book|page=17|title=Prepardness Now! An Emergency Survival Guide|author= Aton Edwards|isbn=978-1934170090|year=2009|publisher=Process }}</ref> | |||
===1960s=== | ===1960s=== | ||
], {{Circa|1957}}]] | |||
With the increasing inflation of the 1960s and the impending US monetary ] (predicted by ] in his 1970 book ''How You Can Profit from the Coming Devaluation''), as well as the continuing concern with a possible nuclear exchange between the US and the Soviet Union, and the increasing vulnerability of urban centers to supply shortages and other systems failures, a number of primarily conservative and ] thinkers began suggesting that individual preparations would be wise. Browne began offering seminars on how to survive a monetary collapse in 1967, with ], an architect, providing input on how to build and equip a remote ]. He provided a copy of his original ''Retreater's Bibliography'' for each seminar participant. | |||
The increased inflation rate in the 1960s, the US monetary ], the continued concern over a possible nuclear exchange between the US and the Soviet Union, and perceived increasing vulnerability of urban centers to supply shortages and other systems failures caused a number of primarily conservative and ] thinkers to promote individual preparations. ] began offering seminars on how to survive a monetary collapse in 1967, with ] (an architect) providing input on how to build and equip a remote ]. He gave a copy of his original ''Retreater's Bibliography'' to each seminar participant.{{citation needed|date=May 2017}} | |||
Articles on the subject appeared in |
Articles on the subject appeared in small-distribution libertarian publications such as ''The Innovator'' and ''Atlantis Quarterly''. It was during this period that Robert D. Kephart began publishing ''Inflation Survival Letter''<ref>{{cite web|url =http://www.interesting.com/Robert-Kephart|title =Robert D. Kephart (1934–2004)|publisher =Interesting.com|access-date =2010-09-26|archive-date =2010-09-07|archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20100907050413/http://www.interesting.com/Robert-Kephart/|url-status =live}}</ref> (later renamed ''Personal Finance''). For several years the newsletter included a continuing section on personal ] written by Stephens. It promoted expensive seminars around the US on similar cautionary topics. Stephens participated, along with James McKeever and other defensive investing, "]" advocates. | ||
===1970s=== | ===1970s=== | ||
].]] | |||
In the next decade ] also warned about socio-economic collapse in his 1974 book ''Famine and Survival in America''. Ruff's book was published during a period of rampant ] in the wake of the ]. Most of the elements of survivalism can be found there, including advice on storage of food. The book also championed the claim that precious metals, such as ] (such as South African ]s) and ], have an intrinsic worth that makes them more usable in the event of a socioeconomic collapse than ]. Ruff later published milder variations on the same themes, such as ''How to Prosper During the Coming Bad Years'', a best-seller in ]. | |||
In the next decade ] warned about socio-economic collapse in his 1974 book ''Famine and Survival in America''. Ruff's book was published during a period of rampant ] in the wake of the ]. Most of the elements of survivalism can be found there, including advice on food storage. The book championed the claim that precious metals, such as ] and ], have an intrinsic worth that makes them more usable in the event of a socioeconomic collapse than ]. Ruff later published milder variations of the same themes, such as ''How to Prosper During the Coming Bad Years'', a best-seller in 1979. | |||
Newsletters and books on the topic of survival followed the publication of Ruff's first book. In 1975, ] began publishing a tabloid-size newsletter called ''The Survivor'', which combined Saxon's editorials with reprints of ] and early ] writings on various ] skills and old technologies. Kurt Saxon used the term "survivalist" to describe the movement, and he claims to have coined the term.<ref>http://www.textfiles.com/survival/whatsurv</ref> | |||
Firearms instructor and survivalist Colonel ] wrote on hardening retreats against ] fire. In an article titled "Notes on Tactical Residential Architecture" in Issue #30 of P.S. Letter (April 1982), Cooper suggested using the "] Principle", whereby projecting bastion corners would prevent miscreants from being able to approach a retreat's exterior walls in any blind spots. Depending on the size of the group needing shelter, design elements of traditional European ] architecture, and Chinese ] and Mexican walled courtyard houses, have been suggested for survival retreats. | |||
In the previous decade, preparedness consultant, survival bookseller and author ] from ], had popularized the term "retreater" to describe those in the movement, referring to preparations to leave the cities for a remote place of haven or ] when/if society breaks down. In 1976, before moving to the ], he and his wife authored and published ''The Survivor's Primer & Up-dated Retreater's Bibliography''. | |||
] on the economy.]] | |||
] and ] have both written extensively on integrating fallout shelters into retreat homes, but they put less emphasis on ballistic protection and exterior perimeter security than Cooper and Rawles. | |||
For a time in the 1970s, the terms "survivalist" and "retreater" were used interchangeably. While the term "retreater" eventually "fell below the public radar", many who subscribed to it saw "retreating" as the more rational, conflict-avoidance, remote "invisibility" approach. "Survivalism", on the other hand, tended to take on a more media-sensationalized, combative, "shoot-it-out-with-the-looters" image. <ref></ref> | |||
Other newsletters and books followed in the wake of Ruff's first publication. In 1975, ] began publishing a monthly ] newsletter called ''The Survivor'', which combined Saxon's editorials with reprints of 19th century and early 20th century writings on various ] skills and old technologies. Kurt Saxon used the term ''survivalist'' to describe the movement, and he claims to have coined the term.<ref name="Saxon">{{cite web| url = http://www.textfiles.com/survival/whatsurv| title = What is a Survivalist?| first = Kurt| last = Saxon| access-date = 2010-09-26| archive-date = 2010-11-20| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20101120033317/http://www.textfiles.com/survival/whatsurv| url-status = live}}</ref> | |||
Another important newsletter in the 1970s was the ''Personal Survival Letter'' published by ], who also authored the books ''Survival Guns'' and ''Tappan on Survival''. Newsletters functioned as important networking tools for the survivalist movement before the information age. | |||
In the previous decade, preparedness consultant, survival bookseller, and California-based author Don Stephens popularized the term ''retreater'' to describe those in the movement, referring to preparations to leave cities for remote havens or survival retreats should society break down. In 1976, before moving to the ], he and his wife authored and published ''The Survivor's Primer & Up-dated Retreater's Bibliography''. | |||
In 1980, ] published the book ''The Alpha Strategy''. It was on the ] bestseller list for nine weeks in 1981.<ref>http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,950566,00.html?promoid=googlep</ref><ref>http://www.biorationalinstitute.com/zcontent/alpha_strategy.pdf</ref> Even after 28 years in circulation, ''The Alpha Strategy'' is considered a standard reference on stocking up on food and household supplies as a hedge against ] and future shortages. This has made the book popular with ]s.<ref>http://www.survivalblog.com/2008/04/time_for_retreat_logistics_sta.html</ref><ref>http://www.survivalblog.com/2007/12/coping_with_inflationsome_stra.html</ref> | |||
For a time in the 1970s, the terms ''survivalist'' and ''retreater'' were used interchangeably. While the term ''retreater'' eventually fell into disuse, many who subscribed to it saw retreating as the more rational approach to conflict-avoidance and remote "invisibility". ''Survivalism'', on the other hand, tended to take on a more media-sensationalized, combative, "shoot-it-out-with-the-looters" image.<ref name="Saxon"/> | |||
In addition to hard copy newsletters, in the 1970s survivalists got their first online presence with ]<ref></ref> and ] forums dedicated to survivalism and survival retreats. | |||
One newsletter deemed by some to be one of the most important on survivalism and survivalist retreats in the 1970s was the ''Personal Survival ("P.S.") Letter'' (circa 1977–1982). Published by ], who also authored the books ''Survival Guns'' and ''Tappan on Survival''. The newsletter included columns from Tappan himself and notable survivalists such as ], ], ], ], J.B. Wood (author of several gunsmithing books), ], Janet Groene (travel author), ], ], and C.G. Cobb (author of ''Bad Times Primer''). The majority of the newsletter revolved around selecting, constructing, and logistically equipping survival retreats.<ref>{{cite web|url =http://www.frfrogspad.com/persurv.htm|title =Magazine Articles By Jeff Cooper|author =]|access-date =2010-09-26|archive-date =2019-04-04|archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20190404232421/http://www.frfrogspad.com/persurv.htm|url-status =live}}</ref> Following Tappan's death in 1980, Karl Hess took over publishing the newsletter, eventually renaming it ''Survival Tomorrow''. | |||
===1980s=== | |||
Interest in the first wave of the survivalist movement peaked in the early 1980s, on the momentum of Ruff's ''How to Prosper During the Coming Bad Years'' and the publication in 1980 of the book ''Life After Doomsday'' by ]. Clayton's book, coinciding with a renewed ] between the ] and ], marked a shift in emphasis in preparations made by survivalists away from economic collapse, famine, and energy shortages which were concerns in the 1970s, to ]. Also in the early 1980s, science fiction writer ] was an editor and columnist for ''Survive'', a ] magazine, and he was considered influential in the survivalist movement.<ref></ref> ]'s 1982 book ''Live Off The Land In The City And Country'' suggested rural ] as both a preparedness measure and as a conscious change of lifestyle. | |||
In 1980, ] published the book ''The Alpha Strategy''. It was on ] for nine weeks in 1981.<ref>{{cite magazine| url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,950566,00.html?promoid=googlep | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121024031340/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,950566,00.html?promoid=googlep | url-status=dead | archive-date=October 24, 2012 | magazine=] | title=Fiction: Best Sellers: Jun. 22, 1981 | date=1981-06-22 | access-date=2010-04-09}}</ref><ref name="autogenerated2">'' {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051125122350/http://www.biorationalinstitute.com/zcontent/alpha_strategy.pdf |date=2005-11-25 }}''.</ref> After 28 years in circulation, ''The Alpha Strategy'' remains popular with survivalists, and is considered a standard reference on stocking food and household supplies as a hedge against inflation and future shortages.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.survivalblog.com/2008/04/time_for_retreat_logistics_sta.html |title=SurvivalBlog.com |publisher=SurvivalBlog.com |access-date=2010-08-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121016073012/http://www.survivalblog.com/2008/04/time_for_retreat_logistics_sta.html |archive-date=2012-10-16 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.survivalblog.com/2007/12/coping_with_inflationsome_stra.html |title=SurvivalBlog.com |publisher=SurvivalBlog.com |date=2007-03-26 |access-date=2010-08-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121006165958/http://www.survivalblog.com/2007/12/coping_with_inflationsome_stra.html |archive-date=2012-10-06 |url-status=dead }}</ref> | |||
===1990s=== | |||
Interest in the movement peaked again in 1999 in its second wave, triggered by fears of the ]. Although extensive efforts were made to rewrite computer programming code in response, some writers such as ] nonetheless anticipated widespread power outages, food and gasoline shortages, and other emergencies to occur. While a range of authors responded to this wave of concern, two of the most survival-focused offerings were ''Boston on Y2K'' (1998) by ], and ''The Hippy Survival Guide to Y2K'' by Mike Oehler. The latter is an ] advocate, who also authored ''The $50 and Up Underground House Book''. | |||
In addition to hardcopy newsletters, in the 1970s survivalists established their first online presence with ]<ref>{{cite web | |||
===2000-present=== | |||
|title = Survival Bill : Survival & Bushcraft & Preppers Forums • Index page | |||
The third and most recent wave of the Survivalist movement began after the ] in ] in ] and similar attacks in ], ], and ]. This resurgence of interest in survivalism appears to be as strong as the first wave in the 1970s. The fear of a war or ] against the West, combined with an increase in awareness of ]s and global ], energy shortages resulting from ], coupled with the vulnerability of humanity after the ] ] in the ] and ] on the U.S. ] and ] has once again made survivalism popular. Preparedness is once more paramount in the concerns of many people, who now seek to stockpile or cache supplies, gain useful skills, develop contacts with others of similar outlooks and gather as much advice and information as possible. | |||
|url = http://www.survivalbill.ca/ | |||
|date = 2012-09-11 | |||
|archive-url = https://archive.today/20120911211754/http://www.survivalbill.ca/ | |||
|archive-date = 2012-09-11 | |||
|url-status = dead | |||
}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Forbes |first1=Jim |year=1985 |title=BBS Offers Forum for Survivalists |journal=InfoWorld |issue=9/16/1985 |page=1 |url=http://www.alwaysprepared.info/misc/InfoWorld(1985-09-16).pdf |access-date=2012-08-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160308015307/http://alwaysprepared.info/misc/infoworld(1985-09-16).pdf |archive-date=2016-03-08 |url-status=dead }}</ref> and ] forums dedicated to survivalism and survival retreats. | |||
===1980s=== | |||
Many books have been published in the past few years offering survival advice for various potential disasters, ranging from an energy shortage and crash to nuclear or biological terrorism. In addition to reading the 1970s-era books on survivalism, ]s (such as SurvivalBlog) and Internet forums are popular ways of disseminating survivalism information. Online survival websites and blogs discuss survival vehicles, ] and emerging threats, and list survivalist groups.<ref></ref> | |||
Further interest in the survivalist movement peaked in the early 1980s, with Howard Ruff's book '']'' and the publication in 1980 of '']'' by ]. Clayton's book, coinciding with a renewed ] between the ] and ], marked a shift in emphasis in preparations made by survivalists away from economic collapse, famine, and energy shortages—which were concerns in the 1970s—to nuclear war. In the early 1980s, science fiction writer ] was an editor and columnist for ''Survive'', a survivalist magazine, and was influential in the survivalist movement.<ref>{{cite web|url =http://jerrypournelle.com/reports/jerryp/Survive1.html|title =Notes from a Survival Sage|access-date =2010-09-26|archive-date =2010-11-24|archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20101124210413/http://jerrypournelle.com/reports/jerryp/Survive1.html|url-status =live}}</ref> ]'s 1982 book ''Live Off The Land In The City And Country'' suggested rural survival retreats as both a preparedness measure and conscious lifestyle change. | |||
===1990s=== | |||
Economic troubles emerging from the credit collapse triggered by the 2007 US subprime mortgage lending fiasco and global grain shortages<ref>http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/europe/04/20/survival.feat/</ref><ref>http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/04/28/2228908.htm</ref><ref>http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/06/fashion/06survival.html?_r=1&oref=slogin</ref><ref>http://www2.nysun.com/article/74994</ref> have prompted a wider cross-section of the populace to get prepared.<ref>http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/06/fashion/06survival.html</ref> ], the editor of SurvivalBlog was quoted by the ''New York Times'' in April of 2008 that "interest in the survivalist movement 'is experiencing its largest growth since the late 1970s'”. | |||
] for use on Y2K.gov]] | |||
Interest in the movement picked up during the ] due in part to the debate surrounding the ] and the ban's subsequent passage in 1994. The interest peaked again in 1999 triggered by fears of the ]. Before extensive efforts were made to rewrite computer programming code to mitigate the effects, some writers such as ], ], ],<ref name="y2k2">{{cite web|url=http://kunstler.com/mags_y2k.html|title=My Y2K – A Personal Statement|access-date=2006-12-12|publisher=Kunstler, Jim|year=1999|author=Kunstler, Jim|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927062527/http://kunstler.com/mags_y2k.html|archive-date=2007-09-27}}</ref> and investments' advisor Ed Yardeni anticipated widespread power outages, food and gasoline shortages, and other emergencies. North and others raised the alarm because they thought Y2K code fixes were not being made quickly enough. While a range of authors responded to this wave of concern, two of the most survival-focused texts to emerge were ''Boston on Y2K'' (1998) by ], and Mike Oehler's ''The Hippy Survival Guide to Y2K''. Oehler is an ] advocate, who also authored ''The $50 and Up Underground House Book'',<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.undergroundhousing.com/book.html |title=$50 and Up Underground House Book; Underground Housing and Shelter |publisher=Undergroundhousing.com |access-date=2010-08-13 |archive-date=2010-07-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100730165421/http://www.undergroundhousing.com/book.html |url-status=live }}</ref> which has long been popular in survivalist circles. | |||
==Common preparations== | |||
Common preparations sometimes include preparing a clandestine or defensible ']' or 'safe place' (Bug Out Location or BOL) and stockpiling non-perishable food, water, water-purification equipment, clothing, seed, defensive weapons, ammunition, and agricultural equipment. Some survivalists do not make such extensive preparations but instead incorporate a "]" outlook into their everyday life. | |||
===2000s=== | |||
Many survivalists also have a bag of gear that is often referred to as a ] (BOB) or Get Out of Dodge (G.O.O.D.) kit<ref>http://www.survivalblog.com/glossary.html#G.O.O.D.</ref>, holding basic necessities and useful items weighing anywhere up to as much as the owner can carry. | |||
] lies in ruin after the ].]] | |||
Another wave of survivalism began after the ] and subsequent bombings in ], ], and ]. This resurgence of interest in survivalism appears to be as strong as the 1970s era focus on the topic. The fear of war, ], energy shortages, ]s, and global ], coupled with economic uncertainty and the apparent vulnerability of humanity after the ] and ], have increased interest in survivalism topics.<ref name="Survivalism Trends">{{cite web |url=https://www.signalsurvival.com/blog/survivalism-trends/ |work=Signal Survival |title=Survivalism Trends |access-date=2015-02-15 |archive-date=2016-03-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303211722/https://www.signalsurvival.com/blog/survivalism-trends/ |url-status=live }}</ref> | |||
Survivalists aim to remain ] for the duration of the breakdown of social order, or perhaps indefinitely if the breakdown is predicted to be permanent (a "Third Dark Age"), a possibility popularized in the 1960s by Roberto Vacca of the ]. Survivalists allow for the contingency that they cannot prevent this breakdown, and prepare to survive in small communal groups ("group retreats") or "covenant communities." | |||
Many books were published in the wake of the ] from 2008 and later offering survival advice for various potential disasters, ranging from an energy shortage and crash to ] or ]. In addition to the 1970s-era books, ]s and Internet forums are popular ways of disseminating survivalism information. Online survival websites and blogs discuss survival vehicles, survival retreats, emerging threats, and list survivalist groups. | |||
===Changing concerns and preparations=== | |||
Survivalists' concerns and preparations have changed over the years. During the 1970s, survivalists feared economic collapse, ], and ], and prepared by ] and constructing ] in the country which could be farmed. Some survivalists stockpiled ] and ]able goods (such as common caliber ammunition) because they assumed that paper currency would become worthless. During the early 1980s, nuclear war became a common fear, and some survivalists constructed ]s. | |||
In both his book ''Rawles on Retreats and Relocation'' and in his survivalist novel, '']'', James Wesley Rawles describes in great detail retreat groups "upgrading" brick or other masonry houses to that of a ] with steel reinforced window shutters and doors, excavating anti-vehicular ditches, installing ]s, constructing ] obstacles and ]s, and setting up listening post/]s (LP/OPs.) Rawles is a proponent of including a ] foyer at survival retreats, an architectural element that he calls a "crushroom".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.survivalblog.com/2009/06/the_meme_of_crushroom_a_key_re.html |title=The Meme of Crushroom: A Key Retreat Architecture Element |publisher=Survivalblog.com |date=2009-06-26 |access-date=2013-11-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121007005423/http://www.survivalblog.com/2009/06/the_meme_of_crushroom_a_key_re.html |archive-date=2012-10-07 |url-status=dead }}</ref> | |||
In 1999, many people purchased electric generators, water purifiers, and several months or years worth of food in anticipation of widespread power outages because of the ] computer-bug. Instead of moving or making such preparations at home, many people also make plans to remain in their current locations until an actual breakdown occurs, when they will-in survivalist parlance- ] or "get out of Dodge" to a safer location. | |||
Economic troubles emerging from the credit collapse triggered by the 2007 ] and global grain shortages<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/europe/04/20/survival.feat/ | work=CNN | title=Survivalists get ready for meltdown | access-date=2010-04-09 | date=2008-05-02 | archive-date=2018-11-12 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181112092739/http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/europe/04/20/survival.feat/ | url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="autogenerated1">{{cite web |author=business editor Peter Ryan |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/04/28/2228908.htm |title=Global food crisis sparks US survivalist resurgence |publisher=Abc.net.au |date=2008-04-28 |access-date=2012-01-27 |archive-date=2012-10-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121025233959/http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/04/28/2228908.htm |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Williams">{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/06/fashion/06survival.html?_r=1&oref=slogin | work=The New York Times | title=Duck and Cover: It's the New Survivalism | first=Alex | last=Williams | date=2008-04-06 | access-date=2010-04-09 | archive-date=2011-12-05 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111205013904/http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/06/fashion/06survival.html?_r=1&oref=slogin | url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Survivalism Trends"/> prompted a wider cross-section of the populace to prepare.<ref name="Williams"/><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/27244465 |title=In hard times, some flirt with survivalism |publisher=NBC News |date=2008-10-21 |access-date=2012-01-27 |archive-date=2013-10-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131011022522/http://www.nbcnews.com/id/27244465 |url-status=dead }}</ref> | |||
===Religious beliefs=== | |||
Other survivalists have more specialized concerns, often related to an adherence to ] religious beliefs. Some ]rs anticipate a forthcoming arrival of catastrophic ] and prepare to survive them. Some ] ] hold to an interpretation of ] ] known as a ], in which Christians will have to go through a seven-year period of war and global dictatorship known as the "]." Jim McKeever helped popularize survival preparations among this branch of evangelical Christians with his 1978 book ''Christians Will Go Through the Tribulation, and How To Prepare For It'' (ISBN 0-931608-02-3). | |||
The advent of ] in 2009 piqued interest in survivalism, significantly boosting sales of preparedness books and making survivalism more mainstream.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/books/article6204279.ece | work=The Times | location=London | title=Swine flurecessionshould we all be reading Neil Strauss to survive | date=2009-05-02 | access-date=2010-04-09 | first=Kate | last=Muir | archive-date=2009-05-08 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090508090825/http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/books/article6204279.ece | url-status=dead }}</ref> | |||
The ] has an official policy of food storage for its members. This is more of a precaution for emergencies rather than in preparation for some apocalyptic event. Some very small religious sects have also been known for their belief in a coming apocalypse and the adoption of some survivalist practices. Among the best known of these groups are the ]s, an offshoot of the ]. | |||
These developments led ], founder of the Trends Research Institute, to identify a trend that he calls "neo-survivalism". He explained this phenomenon in a radio interview with ] on December 18, 2009:<ref>{{cite web|first=Jim |last=Puplava |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D9cPNu6tUjg | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120902070339/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D9cPNu6tUjg| archive-date=2012-09-02 | url-status=dead|title=Celente 2010 trends: economics and neo-survivalism |publisher=FinancialSense.com |access-date=2012-01-27}}</ref> {{Quotation|When you go back to the last depressing days when we were in a survival mode, the last one the Y2K of course, before the 1970s, what had happened was you only saw this one element of survivalist, you know, the caricature, the guy with the AK-47 heading to the hills with enough ammunition and pork and beans to ride out the storm. This is a very different one from that: you're seeing average people taking smart moves and moving in intelligent directions to prepare for the worst. (...) So survivalism in every way possible. Growing your own, self-sustaining, doing as much as you can to make it as best as you can on your own and it can happen in urban area, sub-urban area or the ex-urbans. And it also means becoming more and more tightly committed to your neighbors, your neighborhood, working together and understanding that we're all in this together and that when we help each other out that's going to be the best way forward.}} This last aspect is highlighted in ''The Trends Research Journal'': "Communal spirit intelligently deployed is the core value of Neo-Survivalism".<ref name="Neo Survivalism">{{cite journal |url=http://www.trendsresearch.com/SubscriberArea/wp-content/2010-Q2/neo-survivalism.pdf |title=Neo Survivalism |publisher=The Trends Journal |date=Winter 2010 |access-date=2012-01-27 |archive-date=2017-11-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171109235508/http://www.trendsresearch.com/SubscriberArea/wp-content/2010-Q2/neo-survivalism.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> | |||
===Mainstream emergency preparations=== | |||
People who are not part of survivalist groups or apocalyptic-oriented religious groups also make preparations for emergencies. This can include, depending on the location, preparing for earthquakes, ], ]s, blizzards, ]s, ]s, ] accidents, ] spills, tornadoes, and hurricanes. These preparations can be as simple as following ] and ] recommendations by keeping a first aid kit, shovel, and extra clothes in the car, or maintaining a small kit of emergency supplies in the home and car, containing emergency food, water, a space blanket and other essentials. | |||
===2010s=== | |||
Mainstream economist and financial adviser ] is a proponent of preparedness. In his 2008 book ''Wealth, War and Wisdom'', Biggs has a gloomy outlook for the economic future, and suggests that investors take ] measures. In the book, Biggs recommends that his readers should “assume the possibility of a breakdown of the civilized infrastructure.” he goes so far as to recommend setting up ]: “Your safe haven must be self-sufficient and capable of growing some kind of food,” Mr. Biggs writes. “It should be well-stocked with seed, fertilizer, canned food, wine, medicine, clothes, etc. Think Swiss Family Robinson. Even in America and Europe there could be moments of riot and rebellion when law and order temporarily completely breaks down.”<ref>http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/06/fashion/06survival.html</ref> | |||
Television shows such as the ]'s '']'' emerged to capitalize on what '']'' entertainment contributor Mary McNamara dubbed "today's ] of fear of a world-changing event".<ref name="latimes1">{{cite news|last=McNamara|first=Mary|title=Survivalist themes in TV shows, movies tap into fear of the big fall|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/tv/showtracker/la-et-st-tv-film-revolution-hunger-games-fear-m-story.html|newspaper=LA Times|access-date=15 January 2013|archive-date=25 February 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130225181321/http://articles.latimes.com/2012/dec/15/entertainment/la-et-st-tv-film-revolution-hunger-games-fear-20121216|url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
After the 2012 ], the "prepper" community worried they would face public scrutiny after it was revealed the perpetrator's mother was a survivalist.<ref name="Survivalists">{{cite news|url=https://news.yahoo.com/blogs/lookout/survivalists-worry-preppers-scapegoated-newtown-shooting-213541985.html|work=Yahoo news|title=Survivalists worry 'preppers' will be scapegoated for Newtown shooting|last=Goodwin|first=Liz|date=December 19, 2012|access-date=December 19, 2012|archive-date=January 17, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130117052620/http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/lookout/survivalists-worry-preppers-scapegoated-newtown-shooting-213541985.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Earlier that year, a double homicide was committed by survivalist Peter Keller, who admitted to killing his wife and daughter in a video diary. He killed himself while evading capture in a ] he built in ] in ].<ref>{{Cite news |author=Green |first=Sara Jean |date=2012-07-12 |title=Peter Keller, killer of wife, daughter said: 'I can always shoot myself' |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/peter-keller-killer-of-wife-daughter-said-i-can-always-shoot-myself/ |access-date=2013-01-31 |work=] |language=en-US |archive-date=2015-08-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150827055311/http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/peter-keller-killer-of-wife-daughter-said-i-can-always-shoot-myself/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="sciencemonitor">{{Cite news |last=Jonsson |first=Patrick |date=2013-02-02 |title=Alabama bunker standoff: Did politics set Jimmy Dykes off? |language=en-US |work=] |url=https://www.csmonitor.com/USA/2013/0202/Alabama-bunker-standoff-Did-politics-set-Jimmy-Dykes-off |access-date=2023-12-01 |issn=0882-7729 |archive-date=2023-06-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230601073041/https://www.csmonitor.com/USA/2013/0202/Alabama-bunker-standoff-Did-politics-set-Jimmy-Dykes-off |url-status=live }}</ref> Both were cited by '']'' as examples of survivalism being tied to violence.<ref name="sciencemonitor" /> | |||
==Extremist groups== | |||
Some survivalists take a militaristic approach and have a strong concern about government involvement in their affairs. This is most common (though still rare compared to the total population) in rural parts of the ], where a world view occasionally develops that growing interference from the ] and the ] (perceived to be, or to be aiming for, a ]), is best countered through distancing oneself from society, adopting a survivalist stance, and the acquisition of suitable small arms. However, not all who take military matters into their own hands are survivalists. | |||
===2020s=== | |||
], who besides publishing a survival newsletter is also the author of a book on improvised weapons, '']'', is perhaps the best known proponent of this approach to survivalism. Saxon's writings on survival tend toward ], with survivalism defined by Saxon as "Looking out for #1" and a need to be sufficiently armed to defend one's refuge and belongings from hungry people who might demand that others share them if society breaks down. | |||
During the ongoing ], which was declared a ] by the ] in early 2020<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.who.int/news-room/detail/30-01-2020-statement-on-the-second-meeting-of-the-international-health-regulations-(2005)-emergency-committee-regarding-the-outbreak-of-novel-coronavirus-(2019-ncov) |title=Statement on the second meeting of the International Health Regulations (2005) Emergency Committee regarding the outbreak of novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) |date=30 January 2020 |work=] (WHO) |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200131005904/https://www.who.int/news-room/detail/30-01-2020-statement-on-the-second-meeting-of-the-international-health-regulations-(2005)-emergency-committee-regarding-the-outbreak-of-novel-coronavirus-(2019-ncov) |archive-date=31 January 2020 |access-date=30 January 2020}}</ref> and the ], survivalism has received renewed interest, even by those who are not traditionally considered preppers.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Garrett|first=Bradley|title=Living with bunker builders: doomsday prepping in the age of coronavirus|url=http://theconversation.com/living-with-bunker-builders-doomsday-prepping-in-the-age-of-coronavirus-136635|access-date=2021-03-11|website=The Conversation|date=14 May 2020|language=en|archive-date=2021-01-31|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210131083948/https://theconversation.com/living-with-bunker-builders-doomsday-prepping-in-the-age-of-coronavirus-136635|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-07-20|title=What Preppers Can Teach Us During this COVID-19 Pandemic|url=https://qrius.com/what-preppers-can-teach-us-during-this-covid-19-pandemic/|access-date=2021-03-11|website=Qrius|language=en-GB|archive-date=2020-08-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200807100422/https://qrius.com/what-preppers-can-teach-us-during-this-covid-19-pandemic/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Pinho|first=Faith E.|title=COVID-19 caught us off guard. Here's what disaster preppers say we needed to do all along|url=https://www.detroitnews.com/story/life/2020/07/06/covid-19-caught-us-off-guard-heres-what-disaster-preppers-say-we-needed-do-all-along/5354712002/|access-date=2021-03-11|website=The Detroit News|language=en-US|archive-date=2020-08-13|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200813031901/https://www.detroitnews.com/story/life/2020/07/06/covid-19-caught-us-off-guard-heres-what-disaster-preppers-say-we-needed-do-all-along/5354712002/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|date=2020-12-10|title=Why 'preppers' are going mainstream|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/business-55249590|access-date=2020-12-11|archive-date=2020-12-11|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201211003453/https://www.bbc.com/news/business-55249590|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last1=Thomasson |first1=Emma |last2=Soderpalm |first2=Helena |date=2022-03-16 |title=Ukraine war sparks Europe rush to buy survival gear and food |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/ukraine-war-sparks-europe-rush-buy-survival-gear-food-2022-03-16/ |access-date=2023-03-10 |archive-date=2023-03-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230310073028/https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/ukraine-war-sparks-europe-rush-buy-survival-gear-food-2022-03-16/ |url-status=live }}</ref> | |||
==Outline of scenarios and outlooks== | |||
Such a militaristic approach is not shared by many survivalists, and is indeed condemned by many survivalists. Nevertheless, its prominence in popular depictions results in the term "survivalism" being sometimes used interchangeably with ] reactionarism. In particular, the mainstream media tends to loosely label many militants and miscellaneous extremists as "survivalists", whether or not they are actively preparing to survive. | |||
Survivalism is approached by its adherents in different ways, depending on their circumstances, mindsets, and particular concerns for the future.<ref name="press.uchicago.edu">{{cite web |url=http://www.press.uchicago.edu/Misc/Chicago/532445in.html |title=Mitchell, Dancing at Armageddon, interview |publisher=Press.uchicago.edu |access-date=2010-08-13 |archive-date=2010-09-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100917104247/http://www.press.uchicago.edu/Misc/Chicago/532445in.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The following are characterizations, although most (if not all) survivalists fit into more than one category: | |||
;Safety-preparedness-oriented | |||
While some survivalists believe in long-term viability of Western civilization, they learn principles and techniques needed for surviving life-threatening situations that can occur at any time and place. They prepare for such calamities that could result in physical harm or requiring immediate attention or defense from threats. These disasters could be biotic or abiotic. Survivalists combat disasters by attempting to prevent and mitigate damage caused by these factors.<ref name="peakoil.blogspot.com">{{cite web |url=http://peakoil.blogspot.com/2006/11/enlightened-survivalism.html |title=Peak Oil News: Enlightened Survivalism |publisher=Peakoil.blogspot.com |date=2006-11-07 |access-date=2010-08-13 |archive-date=2021-01-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210115003557/http://peakoil.blogspot.com/2006/11/enlightened-survivalism.html |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://be4real.com/ScoutingStuff/MeritBadgeBooks/Emergency%20Preparedness%20Merit%20Badge%20Pamphlet.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2018-05-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180329075253/http://be4real.com/ScoutingStuff/MeritBadgeBooks/Emergency%20Preparedness%20Merit%20Badge%20Pamphlet.pdf |archive-date=2018-03-29 |url-status=dead }}</ref> | |||
Some governments have encouraged citizens to prepare for emergency situations, including a situation which would result in breakdown of the infrastructure. The government of ] with its long-standing ] system, mandatory construction of ]s in all newly-constructed multi-unit housing, and its network of ] fortresses is one of the best prepared. An earlier ] effort in the United States during the 1950s and 1960s fell into disrepair by the 1970s. These included the designation of structures as official ]s, and ] drills in schools. A booklet released by the office of the ] of the ] shortly after the start of the cold war called ] depicts the nature of the early civil defense initiatives. | |||
;Wilderness survival emphasis | |||
The U.S. government civil defense program was minimal during the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s, despite efforts by a few including Christian Dominionist writer ] to lobby the government to resume civil defense efforts and build fallout shelters. Gary North co-wrote a book, ''Fighting Chance'' to advocate for the return of the civil defense program. A renewal of U.S. government interest in preparedness and training did not happen until after the ] and ]. This renewed interest is typified by ] (CERT) organizations. | |||
] ] gathers firewood during winter ].]] | |||
This group stresses being able to stay alive for indefinite periods in life-threatening wilderness scenarios, including plane crashes, shipwrecks, and being lost in the woods. Concerns are: thirst, hunger, climate, terrain, health, stress, and fear.<ref name="peakoil.blogspot.com"/> The rule of 3 is often emphasized as common practice for wilderness survival. The rule states that a human can survive: | |||
3 minutes without air, | |||
3 hours without shelter, | |||
3 days without water, | |||
3 weeks without food.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.backcountrychronicles.com/wilderness-survival-rules-of-3/|title=Wilderness Survival Rules of 3 – Air, Shelter, Water & Food|website=www.backcountrychronicles.com|date=29 May 2012|access-date=7 May 2018|archive-date=7 May 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180507222244/http://www.backcountrychronicles.com/wilderness-survival-rules-of-3/|url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
;Self-defense-driven | |||
Official government preparedness training has often been ridiculed or discounted by those in the survivalist movement. This goes in particular for the 1950s/1960s era duck and cover drills. One main tenet of the survivalist movement has been that people should prepare on their own or with like-minded people, not rely on the government to take care of them in emergencies. On the other hand, there is a growing body of thought in favor of community based efforts, widespread involvement in CERTs, and working together with ]s. Many of those in favor of this approach reject the term "survivalist" <ref></ref> because they see preparing in conjunction with government agencies, and preparing completely apart from the government, as two separate things; also because they emphasize that they do not anticipate any permanent or long-term breakdown of society which they say survivalists do. | |||
This group focuses on surviving brief encounters of violent activity, including personal protection and its legal ramifications, danger awareness, ]'s cycle (also known as the ]—observe, orient, decide and act), ], martial arts, ], Melee weapons, self-defense tactics and tools (both lethal and non-lethal). These survivalist tactics are often firearm-oriented, in order to ensure a method of defense against attackers or ]. | |||
;Natural disaster, brief | |||
==Survivalism worldwide== | |||
This group consists of people who live in tornado, hurricane, flood, wildfire, earthquake or heavy snowfall-prone areas and want to be prepared for possible emergencies.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.slate.com/id/2148772/entry/2148775/ |title=How to survive a disaster. |author=David Shenk |date=6 September 2006 |publisher=Slate.com |access-date=2010-08-13 |archive-date=2010-08-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100809104118/http://www.slate.com/id/2148772/entry/2148775/ |url-status=live }}</ref> They invest in material for fortifying structures and tools for rebuilding and constructing temporary shelters. While assuming the long-term continuity of society, some may have invested in a custom-built shelter, food, water, medicine, and enough supplies to get by until contact with the rest of the world resumes following a natural emergency.<ref name="peakoil.blogspot.com"/> | |||
Survivalist groups and forums--both formal and informal--are popular worldwide, most visibly in Australia<ref></ref>, Belgium<ref>http://healingweb.blogspot.com/</ref>, Canada<ref></ref>, France<ref></ref>, Germany (often organized under the guise of "paintball" and "adventuresport" clubs)<ref>http://www.dmoz.org/World/Deutsch/Freizeit/Outdoor/Survival/</ref>, New Zealand<ref>http://hislink2.proboards53.com/index.cgi</ref>, Sweden<ref></ref><ref>http://swedishsurvivalist.egetforum.se/forum/index.php</ref>, and the United States<ref></ref>. | |||
;Natural disaster, prolonged | |||
==Other groups related to survivalism== | |||
This group is concerned with weather cycles of 2–10 years, which have happened historically and can cause crop failures.<ref name="autogenerated1"/> They might stock several tons of food per family member and have a heavy-duty greenhouse with canned non-hybrid seeds.<ref>{{cite web |last=Huus |first=Kari |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna27244465 |title=In hard times, some flirt with survivalism. |publisher=NBC News |date=2008-10-21 |access-date=2010-08-13 |archive-date=2013-10-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131011022522/http://www.nbcnews.com/id/27244465 |url-status=live }}</ref> | |||
Adherents of the ], which has been sporadically popular in the United States, especially in the ] inspired by ], and more recently in the ], as exemplified by '']'' magazine, share many of the same interests in self-sufficiency and preparedness with survivalists. They differ from most survivalists in that they have a greater interest in ], and sometimes the ], than most survivalists do. ''The Mother Earth News'' was, as a result, widely read by survivalists as well as back-to-the-landers during that magazine's early years, and there was some overlap between the two movements. | |||
;Natural disaster, indefinite/multi-generational | |||
==In fiction== | |||
] ]]] | |||
===Novels=== | |||
This group considers an end to society as it exists today under possible scenarios including ], ], ],<ref name="Williams"/> warming or cooling of gulf stream waters, or a period of severely cold winters caused by a ], an ], or ]. | |||
'']'' by ] (1949), deals with one man who finds most of civilization has been destroyed by a plague. Slowly a small community forms around him as he struggles to start a new civilization and preserve knowledge and learning. | |||
;Bio-chem scenario | |||
]'s 1951 novel '']'' is the story of the survival of a small group of people in a post-apocalyptic world dominated by carnivorous plants. | |||
This group is concerned with the spread of fatal diseases, biological agents, and nerve gases, including ], ], '']'', ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], and ].<ref name="depauw.edu">{{cite web |url=http://www.depauw.edu/sfs/backissues/61/broderick61art.htm |title=Mick Broderick – Surviving Armageddon: Beyond the Imagination of Disaster |publisher=Depauw.edu |access-date=2010-08-13 |archive-date=2012-02-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120220084436/http://www.depauw.edu/sfs/backissues/61/broderick61art.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> In response, they might own NBC (nuclear, biological and chemical) full-face respirators, polyethylene coveralls, PVC boots, ], plastic sheeting and ]. | |||
;Monetary disaster investors | |||
]'s novel ''Tomorrow'' (1954) is the story of two American cities weathering a nuclear attack. One was prepared with an extensive civil defense plan while the other was not. | |||
] American Union Bank during a 1931 ] early in the ]]] | |||
Monetary disaster investors believe the ] system is fundamentally flawed. Newsletters suggest hard assets of gold and silver bullion, coins, and other precious-metal-oriented investments such as mining shares. Survivalists prepare for paper money to become worthless through hyperinflation. As of late 2009 this is a popular scenario.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.oregonlive.com/news/index.ssf/2009/09/the_new_survivalists_oregon_pr.html |title=The new survivalists: Oregon 'preppers' stockpile guns and food in fear of calamity |work=OregonLive.com |access-date=2010-08-13 |date=2009-09-05 |archive-date=2010-09-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100917110411/http://www.oregonlive.com/news/index.ssf/2009/09/the_new_survivalists_oregon_pr.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.newsvine.com/_news/2009/07/23/3056084-suburban-survivalists-stock-up-for-armageddon |title=Suburban survivalists stock up for Armageddon |publisher=Newsvine |date=2009-07-23 |access-date=2010-08-13 |archive-date=2012-02-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120225001604/http://www.newsvine.com/_news/2009/07/23/3056084-suburban-survivalists-stock-up-for-armageddon |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Hammer |first=Mike |url=http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/32108020/ns/today-today_people/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090725112222/http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/32108020/ns/today-today_people/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=2009-07-25 |title=Suburban survivalists stock up for Armageddon |publisher=] |date=2009-07-23 |access-date=2010-08-13}}</ref> Many will stockpile bullion in preparation for a market crash that would destroy the value of global currencies. | |||
;Biblical eschatologist | |||
] used survivalism as a theme in much of his science fiction. '']'' (1955) explores issues of survivalism and social interactions in an unfamiliar environment. '']'' (1964) begins as a story of survivalism in a nuclear war. Heinlein also wrote essays such as ''How to be a Survivor'' <ref></ref> which provide advice on preparing for and surviving a nuclear war. | |||
These individuals study ] prophecy and believe that one of various scenarios might occur in their lifetime. While some Christians (and even people of other religions) believe that the ] will follow a period of ], others believe that the Rapture is imminent and will precede the Tribulation ("Pre-Trib Rapture"). There is a wide range of beliefs and attitudes in this group. They run the gamut from pacifist to armed camp, and from having no food stockpiles (leaving their sustenance up to God's providence) to storing decades' worth of food. Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are counseled to store up to two years' worth of food and supplies to aid in the event of a natural disaster or long-term economic hardship, such as unemployment. | |||
;Peak-oil doomers | |||
'']'' by ] (1959) is a story dealing with life in Florida after a nuclear war with the USSR. Pat Frank also authored the non-fiction book ''How To Survive the H Bomb And Why''. (J. B. Lippincott Company, Philadelphia, 1962.) | |||
This group believes that ] is a near term threat to Western civilization,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://elitesurvival.club/environmental-survivalists-prepare-for-peak-oil-decline/ |title=Environmental survivalists prepare for 'peak oil' decline |publisher=.elitesurvival.club |date=2008-05-25 |access-date=2010-08-13 |archive-date=2019-07-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190724165533/https://elitesurvival.club/environmental-survivalists-prepare-for-peak-oil-decline/ |url-status=live }}</ref> and take appropriate measures,<ref name="energybulletin.net">{{cite web |url=http://www.energybulletin.net/node/47360 |title=Survivalism: For peak oilers and ecotopians too? |publisher=Energy Bulletin |date=2008-11-29 |access-date=2010-08-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110614140135/http://www.energybulletin.net/node/47360 |archive-date=2011-06-14 |url-status=dead }}</ref> usually involving relocation to an agriculturally self-sufficient survival retreat.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://transitionculture.org/2006/10/03/communities-refuges-and-refuge-communities-a-survivalist-response-by-zachary-nowak/ |title=Communities, Refuges, and Refuge-Communities – a Survivalist Response by Zachary Nowak. |publisher=Transition Culture |date=2006-10-03 |access-date=2010-08-13 |archive-date=2010-06-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100620163307/http://transitionculture.org/2006/10/03/communities-refuges-and-refuge-communities-a-survivalist-response-by-zachary-nowak/ |url-status=live }}</ref> | |||
;Legal-continuity-oriented | |||
'']'' by ] writer ] (1972) describes refurbishing a medieval castle, and its use as a survivalist stronghold in the aftermath of a full-scale nuclear war. The novel was adapted into a 1981 film directed by Christian de Chalonge and starring ], ], ] and ] . | |||
This group has a primary concern with maintaining some form of legal system and social cohesion after a breakdown in the technical infrastructure of society. They are interested in works like '']'' by ],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://davidbrin.blogspot.mx/2012/11/the-postman-re-appraisal-and-readers.html |title=Contrary Brin: Looking Toward the Future |date=11 November 2012 |access-date=2015-06-19 |archive-date=2015-06-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150620024235/http://davidbrin.blogspot.mx/2012/11/the-postman-re-appraisal-and-readers.html |url-status=live }}</ref> ]'s '']'',<ref>{{cite web |url=http://factor-tech.com/feature/starting-scratch-reboot-society-apocalypse/ |title=Starting from Scratch: How to Reboot Society after an Apocalypse |publisher=Factor Magazine |access-date=2015-06-15 |archive-date=2015-06-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150620025516/http://factor-tech.com/feature/starting-scratch-reboot-society-apocalypse/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> or Marcus B. Hatfield's ''The American Common Law: The Customary Law of the American Nation''.<ref>{{cite book |last=Hatfield |first=Marcus |date=2015 |title=The American Common Law:The Customary Law of the American Nation |publisher=createspace |isbn=978-1514618691}}</ref> | |||
==Common preparations== | |||
]'s 1975 novel '']'', about the secession of the ] from the United States to form a ] based on ], named the political party governing the new country the Survivalist Party. However in his 1981 sequel to the book, ''Ecotopia Emerging'', he qualified that choice of name by having the party leader state that the name Survivalist referred to the survival of the planet's ecosystems, rather than to people who prepare for an economic or political collapse. | |||
] "ready to go" preparedness kit]] | |||
Common preparations include the creation of a clandestine or defensible retreat, haven, or ] (BOL) in addition to the stockpiling of non-perishable food, water (i.e. using ]s), water-purification equipment, clothing, seed, firewood, defensive or hunting weapons, ammunition, ], and medical supplies.<ref name="Senekal 2019"/> Some survivalists do not make such extensive preparations, and simply incorporate a "]" outlook into their everyday life. | |||
'']'' by ] and ] (1977) is about a cataclysmic comet hitting the Earth, and various groups of people struggling to survive the aftermath in southern California. Their similarly themed "]" (1985) is about aliens bombarding Earth using controlled meteorite strikes to exterminate life. | |||
A bag of gear, often referred to as a "]" (BOB) or "get out of dodge" (G.O.O.D.) kit,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.survivalblog.com/glossary.html#G.O.O.D |title=Glossary |publisher=Survivalblog.com |access-date=2010-08-13 |archive-date=2014-02-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140228043919/http://www.survivalblog.com/glossary.html#G.O.O.D |url-status=live }}</ref> can be created which contains basic necessities and useful items. It can be of any size, weighing as much as the user is able to carry. | |||
]'s 1980 novel '']'' is about small bands of people in the Phoenix, Arizona area trying to fend off the rise of a military dictatorship after the collapse of the economy and government. | |||
===Changing concerns and preparations=== | |||
'']'' is the title of a series of 29 paperback novels by ] first published between 1981 and 1993. | |||
Survivalists' concerns and preparations have changed over the years. During the 1970s, fears were economic collapse, hyperinflation, and ]. Preparations included ] and survival retreats in the country which could be farmed. Some survivalists stockpiled ]s and ]able goods (such as common-caliber ammunition) because they assumed that paper currency would become worthless. During the early 1980s, nuclear war became a common fear, and some survivalists constructed fallout shelters. | |||
'']'' by ] (1985) is set in a time after a massive plague and political fracture result in a complete collapse of society. It gives a very unflattering portrayal of survivalists as one of the causes behind the collapse. The quasi-survivalist "Holnist" characters are despised by the remaining population. The Holnists follow a totalitarian social theory idolizing the powerful who enforce their perceived right to oppress the weak. However later Brin stated that when he was writing the book survivalist was the best term to describe the militia movement. | |||
In 1999, many people purchased ]s, water purifiers, and several months or even years worth of food in anticipation of widespread power outages because of the ]. Between 2013 and 2019, many people purchased those same items in anticipation of widespread chaos following the ] and the events leading up to the ]. | |||
''Patriots: Surviving the Coming Collapse'' by ] (1998) is a novel about a full-scale socio-economic collapse and subsequent invasion of the US. The novel describes in detail how the lead characters establish a self-sufficient survival retreat in north-central ]. | |||
Instead of moving or making such preparations at home, many people also make plans to remain in their current locations until an actual breakdown occurs, when they will—in survivalist parlance—"bug out" or "get out of Dodge" to a safer location. | |||
'']'', the first book in ] of post-apocalyptic fiction by alternate history author ]. The story takes shape in a universe where electricity, guns, explosives, internal combustion engines, and steam power no longer work. More books follow in the series and flesh out the story-line in a survivalist post-Change world of agriculture, clan-based life and conflict. | |||
===Religious beliefs=== | |||
"World Made By Hand" by ] (2008) is a "cosy catastrophe" set in upstate New York. The time is the near future, and the novel depicts an America that has economically collapsed as a result of the combined impact of ], ], ], and ]. The characters struggle to reclaim lost skills, maintain order, and redevelop a pre-] lifestyle in an ] village. In part, the novel explores the question of what happens when modern technology, based on electricity, is no longer available. | |||
]'', depicted in a ] by ] ({{Circa}} 1497–98), ride forth as a group, with an angel heralding them, to bring Death, Famine, War and Plague unto man.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/works-of-art/19.73.209| title=Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse| publisher=The Metropolitan Museum of Art| access-date=December 2, 2011| archive-date=December 8, 2011| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111208111539/http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/works-of-art/19.73.209| url-status=live}}</ref>]] | |||
Other survivalists have more specialized concerns, often related to an adherence to ] religious beliefs. | |||
===Television programs=== | |||
Two made-for-TV movies made during the 1980s, '']'' in the US and '']'' in the UK, portray a nuclear war and its aftermath of social chaos and economic collapse. Both movies were, at the time, among the most controversial ever made for television. | |||
Some ] ] hold to an interpretation of Bible ] known as the ], in which the world will have to go through a seven-year period of war and global dictatorship known as the "]". Jim McKeever helped popularize survival preparations among this branch of evangelical Christians with his 1978 book ''Christians Will Go Through the Tribulation, and How To Prepare For It''. | |||
"]" is a TV series about a federal agent named ] and his attempts foil terrorist plots in Los Angeles. During Season 2 Jack's daughter, ], is on the run from the law and finds shelter with a survivalist. | |||
Similarly, some Catholics are preppers, based on ]s which speak of a great chastisement of humanity by God, particularly those associated with ] and ] (which states "fire will fall from the sky and will wipe out a great part of humanity"). | |||
'']'' (2006) is a TV series that portrays a small town in ] after a series of nuclear explosions across the United States. In the series, the character ] uses his prior planning and survival skills in preparation of the attacks. Most of the episodes center around the sudden collapse of American society resulting in a six way split of the country. The town usually must fight an outside enemy in order to preserve their food and supplies. | |||
===Mainstream emergency preparations=== | |||
'']'', a group of crash survivors are stranded on an island with little food and only the remains of the aircraft and baggage to survive with. Over the course of the series, the survivors adapt to life on the jungle isle while some even welcome it. One of the main characters of the series, ], appears to be a survivalist even before the events of the crash, both carrying knives with him as baggage, hunting and ] skills, and was part of a pseudo-survivalist commune earlier in life. | |||
People who are not part of survivalist groups or apolitically oriented religious groups also make preparations for emergencies. This can include (depending on the location) preparing for earthquakes, ], ]s, blizzards, ]s, ]s, terrorist attacks, ] accidents, ] spills, tornadoes, and hurricanes. These preparations can be as simple as following Red Cross and U.S. ] (FEMA) recommendations by keeping a first aid kit, shovel, and extra clothes in the car, or by maintaining a small kit of emergency supplies, containing emergency food, water, a space blanket, and other essentials. | |||
Mainstream economist and financial adviser ] is a proponent of preparedness. In his 2008 book ''Wealth, War and Wisdom'', Biggs has a gloomy outlook for the economic future, and suggests that investors take survivalist measures. In the book, Biggs recommends that his readers should "assume the possibility of a breakdown of the civilized infrastructure." He goes so far as to recommend setting up survival retreats:<ref>{{cite web|url =http://www.survivalebooks.com/goldminesurvivalretreat.htm|title =Gold Mine Survival Retreat; Real life retreat|access-date =2010-09-27|archive-date =2010-05-10|archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20100510211643/http://www.survivalebooks.com/goldminesurvivalretreat.htm|url-status =live}}</ref> "Your safe haven must be self-sufficient and capable of growing some kind of food," Mr. Biggs writes. "It should be well-stocked with seed, fertilizer, canned food, medicine, clothes, etc. Think '']''. Even in America and Europe, there could be moments of riot and rebellion when law and order temporarily completely breaks down."<ref name="Williams"/> | |||
The BBC TV series ] from 1975-1977 suggested a UK view of survivalism with a small band of survivors emerging from a biological apocalypse. Following the success of the new series of '']'' the BBC are rumoured to be looking at Terry Nation's other works and are considering a remake of the show.<ref></ref> | |||
For ] the costs of ] become impractical for most of the population<ref>Y. Bang, What to Eat After the Apocalypse. ''Nautilus Magazine''. 2014. http://nautil.us/issue/101/in-our-nature/what-to-eat-after-the-apocalypse {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191102222737/http://nautil.us/issue/101/in-our-nature/what-to-eat-after-the-apocalypse |date=2019-11-02 }}</ref> and for some such catastrophes conventional agriculture would not function due to the loss of a large fraction of sunlight (e.g. during ] or a ]). In such situations, alternative food is necessary, which is converting ] and ] fiber to human edible food.<ref>David Denkenberger and Joshua Pearce, '']'': Managing Food Security After Global Catastrophe, Academic Press, San Diego (2015).</ref> | |||
'']'' (2000-present) is a ] ] which places a group of contestants in remote location and awards a prize to the one which lasts the longest. Generally, the game is structured such that a player's social skills are more important to winning than survival skills. | |||
==Survivalist terminology== | |||
In the ] TV series '']'', one of the characters' (]) delusions manifests itself as a form of survivalism, and he becomes terrified that a number of apocalyptic or damaging events, ranging from nuclear war and the disappearance of water to earthquakes, are imminent and takes precautions against it, much to the horror of his wife- who realizes that it is beyond cautious and is becoming obsessive. | |||
] (EDC)]] | |||
Survivalists maintain their group identity and subculture by using specialized terminology/slang etc not generally understood outside their circles. They often use government/military/paramilitary acronyms such as ] and ], and terminology common among adherents to ] or the ]. They also use terms that are unique to their own survivalist groups; common acronyms include: | |||
'']'' (2008) is a ] show involving time travel with lead characters that take survivalist steps to prepare for, or possibly prevent, a future nuclear war. | |||
*7 S's: Shape, Skyline, Silhouette, Speed, Shine, Sound, Shade | |||
*]: | |||
*Ad hoc: A usually improvised/temporary stand-in. | |||
*]: Level of danger/threat etc. | |||
*Alpha strategy: The practice of storing extra consumable items, as a hedge against inflation, and for use in barter and charity. Coined by John Pugsley.<ref name="survivalblog.com">{{cite web|title=A Glossary of Survival and Preparedness Acronyms/Terms|url=http://www.survivalblog.com/glossary.html|work=SurvivalBlog.com|publisher=SurvivalBlog|access-date=2008-05-16|archive-date=2014-02-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140228043919/http://www.survivalblog.com/glossary.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.biorationalinstitute.com/zcontent/alpha_strategy.pdf |title=book2 preface |access-date=2010-08-13 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051125122350/http://www.biorationalinstitute.com/zcontent/alpha_strategy.pdf |archive-date=2005-11-25 }}</ref> | |||
*Ballistic ]: Ammunition stored for barter purposes. Coined by Jeff Cooper.<ref name="survivalblog.com"/><ref>{{cite web |url=http://goldismoney.info/forums/archive/index.php/t-7875.html |title=Gold is Money – The Premier Gold and Silver Forum |publisher=Goldismoney.info |access-date=2012-01-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090627070541/http://goldismoney.info/forums/archive/index.php/t-7875.html |archive-date=2009-06-27 |url-status=dead }}</ref> | |||
*Blockhouse: A type of fortified house/shelter. | |||
*BOB: Bug-out bag. A pack containing everything needed to leave your home and get to a safe location until able to return safely to your home or residence. Whether heading to a BOL, Retreat, MAG, MAC or Redoubt.<ref name="survivalblog.com"/><ref>{{cite web |url=http://survivormagazine.blogspot.com/2008/01/ultimate-bob-bug-out-bag.html |title=Survivor Magazine: The Ultimate BOB (Bug-Out Bag) |publisher=Survivormagazine.blogspot.com |date=2008-01-12 |access-date=2010-08-13 |archive-date=2009-06-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090618150207/http://survivormagazine.blogspot.com/2008/01/ultimate-bob-bug-out-bag.html |url-status=live }}</ref> | |||
*BOL: Bug-out location/bunker/]/safe house etc.<ref name="survivalblog.com"/><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thesurvivalpodcast.com/tag/bug-out-location |title=Bug Out Location |publisher=The Survival Podcast |access-date=2010-08-13 |archive-date=2011-07-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110717033956/http://www.thesurvivalpodcast.com/tag/bug-out-location |url-status=live }}</ref> | |||
*BOV: ].<ref name="survivalblog.com"/><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.alpharubicon.com/bovstuff/bovstuff.htm |title=Alpha: Bug Out Vehicles |publisher=Alpharubicon.com |access-date=2010-08-13 |archive-date=2010-01-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100125033159/http://www.alpharubicon.com/bovstuff/bovstuff.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> | |||
*]: A peak oil adherent who believes in a ]-scale social collapse.<ref name="survivalblog.com" /><ref>{{cite web|title=Definition for "Doomer"|url=http://nicedefinition.com/Definition/Word/doomer/doomer.aspx|publisher=NiceDefinition|access-date=2013-09-07|archive-date=2013-11-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131101061319/http://nicedefinition.com/Definition/Word/doomer/doomer.aspx|url-status=dead}}</ref> | |||
*]: Chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear. | |||
*Code name/Handle: For CB radio/Walkie talkie usage. Used with ]/]s and ]. | |||
*]: | |||
*]: A dead drop or dead letter box is a method of espionage tradecraft used to pass items or information between two individuals using a secret location. By avoiding direct meetings, individuals can maintain operational security. This method stands in contrast to the live drop, so-called because two persons meet to exchange items or information. | |||
*]/SERE: Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape. | |||
*EDC: ]. What one carries at all times in case disaster strikes while one is out and about. Also refers to the normal carrying of a pistol for self-defense, or (as a noun) the pistol which is carried. | |||
*EOTW: End of the world<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.survival-spot.com/survival-blog/survival-glossary/ |title=Survival Glossary | The Survival Spot Blog |publisher=Survival-spot.com |access-date=2010-08-13 |archive-date=2010-08-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100820091007/http://www.survival-spot.com/survival-blog/survival-glossary/ |url-status=live }}</ref> | |||
*EROL: Excessive rule of law. Describes a situation where a government becomes oppressive and uses its powers and laws to control citizens. Sometimes this is used interchangeably with ]<ref name="299days">{{cite web|last1=Tate|first1=Glen|title=E&WROL ("excessive and without rule of law"): not a contradiction, but what's likely coming|url=http://299days.com/ewrol-excessive-and-without-rule-of-law-not-a-contradiction-but-whats-likely-coming/|website=299 Days|date=20 January 2013|publisher=299days.com|access-date=21 September 2017|archive-date=22 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170922001924/http://299days.com/ewrol-excessive-and-without-rule-of-law-not-a-contradiction-but-whats-likely-coming/|url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
*Ersatz: A "better than nothing" substitute. | |||
*] | |||
*]: An entity set up by and controlled by another organization. | |||
*]: To slog on tenaciously through hard times | |||
*Goblin: A criminal miscreant, coined (in the survivalist context) by Jeff Cooper.<ref name="survivalblog.com"/><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.scribd.com/doc/2535383/Jeff-Coopers-Commentaries-7 |title=Jeff Cooper's Commentaries #7 |publisher=Scribd.com |date=2008-04-14 |access-date=2010-08-13 |archive-date=2012-02-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120208225336/http://www.scribd.com/doc/2535383/Jeff-Coopers-Commentaries-7 |url-status=live }}</ref> | |||
*Golden/Zombie horde: The anticipated large mixed horde of refugees and looters that will pour out of the metropolitan regions when SHTF. Coined (in the survivalist context) by James Wesley, Rawles.<ref name="survivalblog.com"/><ref name="rmactsc">{{cite web|title=List of Prepper Acronyms|date=24 February 2012|url=https://rmactsc.wordpress.com/acronyms/|publisher=RMACTSC|access-date=7 September 2013|archive-date=2 October 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131002213816/http://rmactsc.wordpress.com/acronyms/|url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
*G.O.O.D.: Get out of Dodge (city). Fleeing urban areas in the event of a disaster. Coined by James Wesley Rawles.<ref name="survivalblog.com"/><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.survivaldigest.com/2008/04/get-out-of-dodge/ |title=Get Out Of Dodge « Survival Digest |publisher=Survivaldigest.com |access-date=2010-08-13 |archive-date=2010-01-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100129070129/http://www.survivaldigest.com/2008/04/get-out-of-dodge/ |url-status=live }}</ref> | |||
*G.O.O.D. kit: Get out of Dodge kit. Synonymous with bug-out bag (BOB). Sometimes referred to as Go Bag. <ref name="survivalblog.com"/><ref>{{cite web|title=The 7 Types of Gear you must have in your Bug Out Bag|url=http://survivalcache.com/bug-out-bag/|publisher=SurvivalCache.com|year=2010|access-date=2013-09-07|archive-date=2013-09-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130901141716/http://survivalcache.com/bug-out-bag/|url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
*Grey man/woman: A person who blends in with the crowd/surroundings etc and less likely to draw attention to him/herself. | |||
*Hidesite: A hidden shelter for concealment used for surveillance etc.{{cn|date=December 2023}} | |||
*INCH pack: I'm Never Coming Home pack (a sub-type of Bug Out Bag, often used by experts in the preparedness field). A pack containing everything needed to walk out into the woods and never return to society. It is an often heavy pack loaded with the gear needed to accomplish any wilderness task, from building shelter to gaining food, designed to allow someone to survive indefinitely in the woods. This requires skills and proper selection of equipment, as one can only carry so much. For example, instead of carrying food, one carries seeds, steel traps, a longbow, reel spinners and other fishing gear. Often INCH bag gear is designed to be more sustainable and durable, and include tools to fix gear. Common examples of this include files and Arkansas stones, or whetstones to sharpen knives, machetes, axes, and other blades. This is due to the idea that when using an INCH bag, materials and resupply will be rare, if not nonexistent, and as such tools need to be durable and self sustainable. | |||
*MYOG: Make Your Own Gear. An advanced specialist form of Improvising/Manufacturing clothing/kit/equipment etc from scratch or modify existing examples. MYOG kit/equipment etc differs from improvising from surrounding leftovers found on spot during a survival operation. | |||
*Operator: An individual tasked with a survival mission operation. | |||
*]: A shelter, often used as an observation post/checkpoint on behalf of a larger area used as a substitute in a sparse outback area. | |||
*PAW: Post-Apocalyptic World<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.survivalistboards.com/threads/paw-stronghold-for-a-community.976694/ |title=PAW stronghold for a community |work=Survivalist Boards |date=30 January 2022 |access-date=7 January 2022 |archive-date=7 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220107224748/https://www.survivalistboards.com/threads/paw-stronghold-for-a-community.976694/ |url-status=live }}</ref> | |||
*] or Polly: Someone who is in denial about the disruption that might be caused by the advent of a large-scale disaster.<ref name="survivalblog.com"/><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.kshay.com/teaiki/glossary/mr.php#polly_pollyanna |title=Y2K Glossary | kshay.com, Kevin Shay, The End as I Know It |publisher=Kshay.com |date=1999-12-31 |access-date=2010-08-13 |archive-date=2010-05-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100528082325/http://www.kshay.com/teaiki/glossary/mr.php#polly_pollyanna |url-status=live }}</ref> | |||
*Prepper:<ref name="NYT-20200424">{{cite news |last=Bowles |first=Nellie |title=I Used to Make Fun of Silicon Valley Preppers. Then I Became One - In tech circles, gearing up for the apocalypse was a cliché. Now it's a credential. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/24/technology/coronavirus-preppers.html |date=April 24, 2020 |work=] |access-date=April 25, 2020 |archive-date=April 25, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200425002849/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/24/technology/coronavirus-preppers.html |url-status=live }}</ref> A term often used as a synonym for ''survivalist'' that came into common usage during the early 2000s. Refers to one who is prepared or making preparations, such as by stockpiling food and ammunition. Can be contrasted slightly with ''survivalist'', which emphasizes outdoor survival skills and self-sufficiency. | |||
*]: Information gathering and surveillance on behalf of a survivalist group operation. | |||
*RV point: A rendezvous/meet up point. | |||
*Situation room: A room containing CB radios, maps/charts etc for survival planning etc. | |||
*Sheep: A person who trusts the government, institutions, or popular culture blindly. A similar term to Pollyanna. | |||
*SHTF: Shit hit/hits/hitting the fan<ref name="rmactsc"/> | |||
*Splinter group: a smaller division, cell, group etc that (for various reasons) has split off from a larger organization or movement. | |||
*Staging area: A room/area used for rigging up equipment etc for a survival operation. | |||
*]: A reserve of supplies/items/resources etc that is held back from normal use by governments, organisations, or businesses in pursuance of a particular strategy or to cope with unexpected events. | |||
*]: Refers to the techniques, methods, and technologies used in modern espionage (spying) and generally as part of the activity of intelligence assessment. | |||
*TEOTWAWKI: The end of the world as we know it. The expression is in use since at least the early 1960s (tagline to television film ]).<ref name="survivalblog.com"/><ref>{{cite web |url=http://survival.red-alerts.com/page/5/?s |title=American Survival Blog |publisher=Survival.red-alerts.com |access-date=2010-08-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110715164234/http://survival.red-alerts.com/page/5/?s |archive-date=2011-07-15 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0090163/reference|title=Threads (TV Movie 1984)|via=www.imdb.com|access-date=2019-01-27|archive-date=2020-11-11|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201111234407/https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0090163/reference|url-status=live}}</ref> However, others claim the acronym may have been coined in 1987 by REM in their song "It's The End Of The World As We Know It" or 1996, in the Usenet newsgroup misc.survivalism.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://daily-survival.blogspot.com/2009/01/first-things-first-whats-this-teotwawki.html|title=Daily Survival|author=Bax|date=10 January 2009|access-date=10 January 2015|archive-date=10 January 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150110051338/http://daily-survival.blogspot.com/2009/01/first-things-first-whats-this-teotwawki.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/ideas/2012/12/30/how-talk-like-doomsday-prepper/n5P4CeiU4Hj7QBO9k3SygN/story.html|title=How to talk like a doomsday prepper|work=BostonGlobe.com|access-date=2017-06-22|archive-date=2017-06-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170608220924/http://www.bostonglobe.com/ideas/2012/12/30/how-talk-like-doomsday-prepper/n5P4CeiU4Hj7QBO9k3SygN/story.html|url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
*Uncivilization: A generic term for a great catastrophe.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://observer.com/2012/01/wouldnt-you-like-to-be-a-prepper-too/ |title=Wouldn't You Like to Be a Prepper Too? |first=Steve |last=Huff |date=January 23, 2012 |newspaper=] |access-date=October 22, 2016 |archive-date=October 22, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161022161412/http://observer.com/2012/01/wouldnt-you-like-to-be-a-prepper-too/ |url-status=live }}</ref> | |||
*WROL: Without rule of law. Describes a potential lawless state of society.<ref>{{cite web|title=WROL|url=http://www.abbreviations.com/term/548892|work=Abbreviations.com|publisher=STANDS4 LLC, 2013|access-date=7 Sep 2013|archive-date=1 November 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131101121615/http://www.abbreviations.com/term/548892|url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
*YOYO: You're on your own. Coined (in the survivalist context) by David Weed.<ref name="survivalblog.com"/><ref>{{cite web|title=Personal Preparedness when you are YOYO (You're On Your Own)|url=http://bcc.elpasoco.com/Documents/YOYO%20Reference%20Sheet.pdf|publisher=]|access-date=2013-09-07|archive-date=2013-11-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131101094305/http://bcc.elpasoco.com/Documents/YOYO%20Reference%20Sheet.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref> | |||
*Zombie: Unprepared, incidental survivors of a prepped-for disaster, "who feed on the preparations of others”<ref name=pmag>{{cite news|last=Magahern|first=Jimmy|title=Valley Doomsday Preppers|url=http://www.phoenixmag.com/lifestyle/valley-news/201110/valley-doomsday-preppers-full-version/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131012195624/http://www.phoenixmag.com/lifestyle/valley-news/201110/valley-doomsday-preppers-full-version/|archive-date=12 October 2013|access-date=12 October 2013|newspaper=Phoenix Magazine|date=October 2011}}</ref> | |||
*Zombie apocalypse: Used by some preppers as a ] metaphor{{r|pmag}}<ref name="Senekal 2019"/> for any natural or man-made disaster<ref>{{cite news|last=House|first=Kelly|title=Zombie Squad combines fascination for the undead with philanthropic mission|url=http://www.oregonlive.com/living/index.ssf/2011/10/zombie_squad_combines_fascinat.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131012200907/http://www.oregonlive.com/living/index.ssf/2011/10/zombie_squad_combines_fascinat.html|archive-date=12 October 2013|access-date=12 October 2013|newspaper=The Oregonian|date=30 October 2011}}</ref> and "a clever way of drawing people's attention to disaster preparedness".{{r|pmag}} The premise of the ] is that "if you are prepared for a scenario where the walking corpses of your family and neighbors are trying to eat you alive, you will be prepared for almost anything."<ref>{{cite book|title=Generation Zombie: Essays on the Living Dead in Modern Culture|page=240|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Jc3Or27Mzr0C&q=if+you+are+prepared+for+a+scenario+where+the+walking+corpses+of+your+family+and+neighbors+are+trying+to+eat+you+alive%2C+you+will+be+prepared+for+almost&pg=PA240|access-date=6 October 2014|isbn=9780786486731|last1=Boluk|first1=Stephanie|last2=Lenz|first2=Wylie|date=2011-06-09|publisher=McFarland|archive-date=2023-12-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231203141659/https://books.google.com/books?id=Jc3Or27Mzr0C&q=if+you+are+prepared+for+a+scenario+where+the+walking+corpses+of+your+family+and+neighbors+are+trying+to+eat+you+alive%2C+you+will+be+prepared+for+almost&pg=PA240#v=snippet&q=if%20you%20are%20prepared%20for%20a%20scenario%20where%20the%20walking%20corpses%20of%20your%20family%20and%20neighbors%20are%20trying%20to%20eat%20you%20alive%2C%20you%20will%20be%20prepared%20for%20almost&f=false|url-status=live}}</ref> Though "there are some... who are seriously preparing for a zombie attack".<ref>{{cite news|last=Genzlinger|first=Neil|title=Girding for Zombies: 'Zombie Apocalypse,' on Discovery Channel|url=http://tv.nytimes.com/2012/12/18/arts/television/zombie-apocalypse-on-discovery-channel.html|access-date=12 October 2013|newspaper=The New York Times|date=17 December 2012|archive-date=3 December 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231203141653/https://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/18/arts/television/zombie-apocalypse-on-discovery-channel.html|url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
== |
==Media portrayal== | ||
Despite a lull following the end of the Cold War, survivalism has gained greater attention in recent years, resulting in increased popularity of the survivalist lifestyle, and increased scrutiny.<ref name="Senekal 2019"/> A ] show interviewing survivalists, '']'' (2011–2014), was a "ratings bonanza"<ref>{{cite news |last1=Lacitis |first1=Erik |title=Preppers do their best to be ready for the worst |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/preppers-do-their-best-to-be-ready-for-the-worst/ |access-date=24 February 2019 |agency=Seattle Times |archive-date=25 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190225044953/https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/preppers-do-their-best-to-be-ready-for-the-worst/ |url-status=live }}</ref> and "the network's most-watched series",<ref name=USAT>{{cite news|last=Raasch|first=Chuck|title=For 'preppers,' every day could be doomsday|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2012/11/12/for-preppers-every-day-could-be-doomsday/1701151/|access-date=25 November 2012|newspaper=USA Today|date=13 November 2012|archive-date=18 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191218102552/https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2012/11/12/for-preppers-every-day-could-be-doomsday/1701151/|url-status=live}}</ref> yet Neil Genzlinger in '']'' declared it an "absurd excess on display and at what an easy target the prepper worldview is for ridicule," noting, "how offensively anti-life these shows are, full of contempt for humankind."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/12/arts/television/doomsday-preppers-and-doomsday-bunkers-tv-reality-shows.html|title=Doomsday Has Its Day in the Sun|work=The New York Times|first=Neil|last=Genzlinger|date=March 11, 2012|access-date=May 28, 2012|archive-date=August 3, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190803170048/https://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/12/arts/television/doomsday-preppers-and-doomsday-bunkers-tv-reality-shows.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Nevertheless, this show occupies a key position in the discourse on preppers.<ref name="Senekal 2019"/> | |||
The 1962 movie '']'' starring ], ], ] and Mary Mitchel portrays the Baldwin family's attempt to flee the Los Angeles area for a rural location after a nuclear war between the US and the USSR.<ref></ref> | |||
Gerald Celente, founder of the Trends Research Institute, noted how many modern survivalists deviate from the classic archetype, terming this new style "neo-survivalism"; "you know, the caricature, the guy with the ] heading to the hills with enough ammunition and pork and beans to ride out the storm. This is a very different one from that".<ref name="Neo Survivalism"/> | |||
The 1970 movie ''No Blade of Grass'' starring ], based on the book by ], features an apocalyptic scenario in England.<ref></ref> | |||
===Perceived extremism=== | |||
'']'', both the 1970 novel and the 1972 film adaptation, feature elements of survivalism, and one of the main characters, Lewis Medlock (played in the film by ]), is a self-proclaimed survivalist, who at one point briefly explains his apocalyptic worldview: "Machines are going to fail, and the system is going to fail. And then...survival. Who has the ability to survive. That's the game, survival." | |||
In popular culture, survivalism has been associated with ] and ]. Some survivalists do take active defensive preparations that have ] roots and that involve ], and this aspect is sometimes emphasized by the mass media.<ref name="press.uchicago.edu"/><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bu.edu/mille/scholarship/papers/lamyvegas.html |title="In Las Vegas the Apocalypse is Now" |publisher=Bu.edu |date=1995-10-13 |access-date=2010-08-13 |archive-date=2011-06-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110605014033/http://www.bu.edu/mille/scholarship/papers/lamyvegas.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> ] is one proponent of this approach to armed survivalism. | |||
The potential for social collapse is often cited as motivation for being well-armed.<ref name=G&A1>{{cite web|last=Wintersteen|first=Kyle|title=8 Must-Have Guns for the Doomsday Prepper|url=http://www.gunsandammo.com/2012/03/27/8-must-have-guns-for-the-doomsday-prepper/|work=]|access-date=15 January 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130206150717/http://www.gunsandammo.com/2012/03/27/8-must-have-guns-for-the-doomsday-prepper/|archive-date=2013-02-06|url-status=dead}}</ref> Thus, some non-militaristic survivalists have developed an unintended quasi-militaristic image. | |||
In the 1983 made for TV movie ''Packin' it In'', the main character Gary Webber (Richard Benjamin) moves his family from suburban L.A. to the wilderness of Oregon. The family moves in to a small rural community where most of the residents are survivalists. | |||
The U.S. ] (DHS) in their "If You See Something, Say Something" campaign says that "the public should report only suspicious behavior and situations...rather than beliefs, thoughts, ideas, expressions, associations, or speech...".<ref>{{cite web|title=If You See Something, Say Something|url=https://www.dhs.gov/topic/if-you-see-something-say-something|publisher=]|access-date=2016-07-29|archive-date=2015-05-30|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150530162721/http://www.dhs.gov/topic/if-you-see-something-say-something|url-status=live}}</ref> However, it is alleged that a DHS list of the characteristics of potential domestic terrorists used in law enforcement training includes "Survivalist literature (fictional books such as '']'' and '']'' are mentioned by name)", "Self-sufficiency (stockpiling food, ammo, hand tools, medical supplies)", and "Fear of economic collapse (buying gold and barter items)".<ref>{{cite web|author=]|title=Beware of Homeland Security Training for Local Law Enforcement, by An Insider|url=http://www.survivalblog.com/2011/03/beware_of_homeland_security_tr.html|publisher=]|date=March 30, 2011|access-date=2013-09-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130925144609/http://www.survivalblog.com/2011/03/beware_of_homeland_security_tr.html|archive-date=2013-09-25|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|author=Arlen Williams|title=Defense authorization's unconstitutional aggression upon citizens; TruNews Radio notes|url=http://www.renewamerica.com/columns/williams/111206|publisher=]|date=December 6, 2011|access-date=September 8, 2013|archive-date=November 1, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131101113502/http://www.renewamerica.com/columns/williams/111206|url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
In the 1983 film ''The Survivors'', ] plays a man who becomes obsessed with the survivalist culture after being robbed. ] costars as Williams' more level-headed companion. | |||
The ] (MIAC) issued on February 20, 2009, a report intended for law enforcement personnel only entitled "The Modern Militia Movement," which described common symbols and media, including political bumper stickers, associated with militia members and domestic terrorists. The report appeared March 13, 2009 on ] and a controversy ensued. It was claimed that the report was derived purely from publicly available trend data on militias.<ref>{{cite web|author=T.J. Greaney|title='Fusion center' data draws fire over assertions|url=http://www.columbiatribune.com/news/2009/mar/14/fusion-center-data-draws-fire-over-assertions/|work=]|date=2009-03-14|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090318214152/http://www.columbiatribune.com/news/2009/mar/14/fusion-center-data-draws-fire-over-assertions/|archive-date=2009-03-18}}</ref> However, because the report included political profiling, on March 23, 2009, an apology letter was issued, explaining that the report would be edited to remove the inclusion of certain components.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.scribd.com/doc/49313711/Apology-for-miac-report|title=John Britt's Apology for MIAC report, March 23, 2009|publisher=Scribd|date=2009-03-23|access-date=2017-09-15|archive-date=2016-03-06|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306102106/https://www.scribd.com/doc/49313711/Apology-for-miac-report|url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
The 1984 movie '']'' portrays ] high school students who take to the hills after a fictional invasion of the US by the Soviet Union. The students survive with supplies gathered at the beginning of the invasion, by hunting, and by ambushing Soviet ]s and ] ]s. | |||
==Worldwide groups and organizations== | |||
In the '']'' film and television franchise the character Burt Gummer (]) is a self-admitted survivalist. In the first film he and his wife are preparing for social upheaval. Later in the series Burt shifts his focus towards the "graboids" that infest the soil of his home valley. | |||
Individual survivalist preparedness and survivalist groups and forums—both formal and informal—are popular worldwide, most visibly in Australia,<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.smh.com.au/national/survivalists-stock-up-ready-for-the-worst-20090501-aq6w.html | work=The Sydney Morning Herald | title=Survivalists stock up ready for the worst | first=Tim | last=Elliott | date=2009-05-02 | access-date=2020-02-20 | archive-date=2018-10-05 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181005071901/https://www.smh.com.au/national/survivalists-stock-up-ready-for-the-worst-20090501-aq6w.html | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.energybulletin.net/node/22852 |title=Head for the hills – the new survivalists |publisher=Energy Bulletin |access-date=2010-08-13 |archive-date=2012-04-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120428134021/http://www.energybulletin.net/node/22852 |url-status=live }}</ref> Austria (]),<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.austrian-preppers.at/index/|title=Preppers Österreich|access-date=2019-10-04|archive-date=2019-12-10|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191210034347/https://www.austrian-preppers.at/index/|url-status=live}}</ref> Belgium, Canada,<ref>{{cite web |last=Gazette |first=The |url=http://www.canada.com/montrealgazette/news/arts/story.html?id=774e5bbd-54d0-4277-ae92-4129d8420da0 |title=Survivalist Cuisine: Apocalypse grade tomatoes |publisher=Canada.com |date=2008-11-05 |access-date=2010-08-13 |archive-date=2016-03-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303233137/http://www.canada.com/montrealgazette/news/arts/story.html?id=774e5bbd-54d0-4277-ae92-4129d8420da0 |url-status=live }}</ref> | |||
Spain,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://sobrelasupervivencia.blogspot.com/|title=Preparacionismo y supervivencia|access-date=2019-01-03|archive-date=2019-08-10|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190810043241/http://sobrelasupervivencia.blogspot.com/|url-status=live}}</ref> France,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://le-projet-olduvai.kanak.fr/ |title=Olduvaï – anticipation & gestion des risques |publisher=Le-projet-olduvai.kanak.fr |date=2006-05-25 |access-date=2010-08-13 |archive-date=2017-11-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171106185516/http://le-projet-olduvai.kanak.fr/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.neosurvivalisme.com/ |title=Neosurvivalisme |access-date=2011-04-03 |archive-date=2018-11-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181107214633/http://neosurvivalisme.com/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Germany<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/1554796/Bunkers-in-vogue-as-cold-war-fears-rise.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/1554796/Bunkers-in-vogue-as-cold-war-fears-rise.html |archive-date=2022-01-12 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live | work=The Daily Telegraph | location=London | title=Bunkers in vogue as cold war fears rise | first=Bojan | last=Pancevski | date=2007-06-17 | access-date=2010-04-09}}{{cbignore}}</ref> (often organized under the guise of "]" clubs),<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dmoz.org/World/Deutsch/Freizeit/Outdoor/Survival/ |title=Open Directory – World: Deutsch: Freizeit: Outdoor: Survival |publisher=Dmoz.org |access-date=2012-01-27 |archive-date=2017-03-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170314123528/http://www.dmoz.org/World/Deutsch/Freizeit/Outdoor/Survival/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Italy,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.prepper.it/|title=Bivo 2.0 - Alimento perfetto per la Bug-Out Bag|website=Prepper.it|language=it-IT|access-date=2019-10-04|archive-date=2019-01-23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190123015157/https://www.prepper.it/|url-status=live}}</ref> the Netherlands,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.preppers.nl/ |title=Preppers.nl |publisher=Preppers.nl |date=2012-07-02 |access-date=2012-07-02 |archive-date=2019-06-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190622075736/http://preppers.nl/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Sweden,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://innandetsker.blogspot.com/ |title=Blott Sverige svenska preppers har |publisher=Innandetsker.blogspot.com |date=2004-02-26 |access-date=2010-08-13 |archive-date=2019-05-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190529114735/http://innandetsker.blogspot.com/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.survivalist.se/ |title=Survivalist.se |publisher=survivalist.se |date=2010-09-19 |access-date=2010-09-19 |archive-date=2019-12-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191211205848/https://survivalist.se/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.swedishsurvivalist.se/ |title=Swedishurvivalist.se – Forum |publisher=swedishsurvivalist.se |date=2010-09-19 |access-date=2010-09-19 |archive-date=2019-01-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190130070235/http://www.swedishsurvivalist.se/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Switzerland,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.katastrophen-vorbereitung.com/|title=Katastrophen-Vorbereitung.com{{!}}Tipps und Tricks für Einsteiger und Profis|website=www.katastrophen-vorbereitung.com|access-date=2019-10-04|archive-date=2019-07-19|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190719124423/http://www.katastrophen-vorbereitung.com/|url-status=live}}</ref> the United Kingdom,<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.surviveuk.com/preppingbasics/survival-uk-preppers/ | title=40 Tips for UK Preppers | access-date=2020-10-26 | date=2020-10-26 | archive-date=2020-10-30 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201030114133/https://www.surviveuk.com/preppingbasics/survival-uk-preppers/ | url-status=live }}</ref> South Africa<ref>{{citation |last=Senekal |first=BA |title=An ark without a flood: White South Africans' preparations for the end of white-ruled South Africa |publisher=Journal for Contemporary History 39(2):178-196. |date=2014 |url=https://scholar.ufs.ac.za/handle/11660/3408 |access-date=2020-11-10 |archive-date=2020-11-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201110081051/https://scholar.ufs.ac.za/handle/11660/3408 |url-status=live }}</ref> and the United States.<ref name="Williams"/> | |||
===Other related groups=== | |||
'']'', a movie based upon the above mentioned novel, depicts a post-apocalyptical future in America in which a survivalist militia preys on weaker communities. | |||
Adherents of the ] inspired by ] and ], sporadically popular in the United States in the 1930s and 1970s (exemplified by '']'' magazine), share many of the same interests in self-sufficiency and preparedness. Back-to-the-landers differ from most survivalists in that they have a greater interest in ] and ]. Despite these differences, ''The Mother Earth News'' was widely read by survivalists and back-to-the-landers during that magazine's early years, and there was some overlap between the two movements. | |||
] (often shortened to "Anprim", "An-Prim", or "AnPrim") share many characteristics with survivalists, most notably predictions of a pending ecological disaster; one of the most famous An-Prims being ]. Writers such as ] argue that industrial civilization is not sustainable, and will therefore inevitably bring about its own collapse. Non-anarchist writers such as ], ], and ] also hold this view. Some members of the ] subculture also promote ] living and believe that modern society is no longer liveable.<ref name="mgtow">{{cite web|url=http://www.businessinsider.com/the-red-pill-reddit-2013-8|title=Inside Red Pill, the Weird New Cult for Men Who Don't Understand Women|website=]|access-date=2016-01-03|archive-date=2019-12-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191208173618/https://www.businessinsider.com/the-red-pill-reddit-2013-8|url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
In ], a global oil shortage causes a total socioeconomic collapse and depopulation. The few scattered survivors in the ] are depicted fighting for survival, with precious "guzzoline" as their main object. | |||
==In popular culture== | |||
In '']'' (1991) John Connor's mother, ] stores weapons in an underground shelter in the desert, as instructed by ], John's father, in preparation for an apocalypse precipitated by computerized machines. | |||
Survivalism and survivalist themes have been fictionalized in print, film, and electronic media. | |||
===Games and other formats=== | |||
] is a role-playing video game set in a post-nuclear apocalypse world, 70 years after a global nuclear war. The gameplay is centered around the character's own survival instinct and skills, and communities of survivalists. | |||
The 1983 film '']'' starring ], ] and ], used survivalism as part of its plot. ] and ] played a survivalist married couple in the 1990 film '']'' and its sequels. Both of these films were comedies. The 1988 film '']'', starring ], concerned ] veterans suffering from ] who, similarly to some survivalists, withdrew to the wilderness. | |||
In ], a mission involves stealing a harvester from a survivalist farm. The survivalists are portrayed as extremely violent and aggressive individuals. | |||
Several television shows such as '']'',<ref>{{cite web |url=http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/channel/doomsday-castle/ |title=Doomsday Castle |access-date=2013-09-25 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130925203225/http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/channel/doomsday-castle/ |archive-date=2013-09-25 }}</ref> '']'',<ref>{{cite web |url=http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/channel/doomsday-preppers/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120120032338/http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/channel/doomsday-preppers/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 20, 2012 |title=Doomsday Preppers |publisher=National Geographic Channel}}</ref> '']'', '']''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://dsc.discovery.com/tv-shows/man-vs-wild|title=Discovery - Official Site|website=dsc.discovery.com|access-date=2013-08-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130802081623/http://dsc.discovery.com/tv-shows/man-vs-wild|archive-date=2013-08-02|url-status=dead}}</ref> '']'',<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.discoveryuk.com/web/man-woman-wild/|title=Shows|work=Discovery UK|access-date=2013-08-14|archive-date=2013-11-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131101052049/http://www.discoveryuk.com/web/man-woman-wild/|url-status=live}}</ref>'' ]'' and '']'' are based on the concept of survivalism. | |||
In ] the Spartan Federation faction is run by a survivalist. | |||
The concept album '']'' by industrial rock group ], is based around the theme of a hypothetical oppressive US government in the year 2022, and contains a single entitled "Survivalism" and a group named "Art is Resistance". | |||
==See also== | ==See also== | ||
*] | *] | ||
*] | |||
*]s | |||
*] | |||
*] | |||
*] | |||
*] | |||
*] | |||
*] | |||
*] | |||
*] | |||
*] | |||
==Classic survival books== | |||
The text of some classic survival books and other writings from the 1950s through the 1980s can be found online: | |||
*] (1961)<ref></ref> | |||
*'']'' by ] (1979, updated 1987 version) <ref></ref> | |||
*''Possum Living'' by Dolly Freed (1978) <ref>http://www.f4.ca/text/possumliving.htm</ref> | |||
* PDF of ''The Alpha Strategy'' by ] (1980) <ref></ref> | |||
*] (1950) <ref></ref> | |||
*''Tappan on Survival'' by ] (1981) <ref>http://www.geocities.com/mark_l_anderson/faqs/tapp.txt</ref> | |||
*Textfiles.com archive of articles that circulated online during the ] era, includes several Kurt Saxon articles from his old newsletter.<ref></ref> | |||
==References== | ==References== | ||
{{ |
{{Reflist}} | ||
==External links== | |||
] | |||
{{Wikibooks|Self-Reliance Handbook}} | |||
] | |||
*'']'' (1961). . | |||
*'']'' by ] (1979, updated 1987 version). . | |||
* '']'' by John Pugsley (1980). . | |||
*, that circulated online during the BBS era, includes several Kurt Saxon articles from his old newsletter. ]. | |||
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Latest revision as of 09:28, 7 December 2024
Movement of individuals or households preparing for emergencies and natural disasters For other uses, see Survivalism (disambiguation). "Prepper" redirects here. For other uses, see Prepper (disambiguation).This article has multiple issues. Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page. (Learn how and when to remove these messages)
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Survivalism is a social movement of individuals or groups (called survivalists, doomsday preppers or preppers) who proactively prepare for emergencies, such as natural disasters, and other disasters causing disruption to social order (that is, civil disorder) caused by political or economic crises. Preparations may anticipate short-term scenarios or long-term, on scales ranging from personal adversity, to local disruption of services, to international or global catastrophe. There is no bright line dividing general emergency preparedness from prepping in the form of survivalism (these concepts are a spectrum), but a qualitative distinction is often recognized whereby preppers/survivalists prepare especially extensively because they have higher estimations of the risk of catastrophes happening. Nonetheless, prepping can be as limited as preparing for a personal emergency (such as losing one's job, storm damage to one's home, or getting lost in wooded terrain), or it can be as extensive as a personal identity or collective identity with a devoted lifestyle.
Survivalism emphasises self-reliance, stockpiling supplies, and gaining survival knowledge and skills. The stockpiling of supplies is itself a wide spectrum, from survival kits (ready bags, bug-out bags) to entire bunkers in extreme cases.
Survivalists often acquire first aid and emergency medical/paramedic/field medicine training, self-defense training (martial arts, ad hoc weaponry, firearm safety), and improvisation/self-sufficiency training, and they often build structures (survival retreats, underground shelters, etc.) or modify/fortify existing structures etc. that may help them survive a catastrophic failure of society.
Use of the term survivalist dates from the early 1980s.
History
1930s to 1950s
The origins of the modern survivalist movement in the United Kingdom and the United States include government policies, threats of nuclear warfare, religious beliefs, and writers who warned of social or economic collapse in both non-fiction and apocalyptic and post-apocalyptic fiction.
The Cold War era civil defense programs promoted public atomic bomb shelters, personal fallout shelters, and training for children, such as the Duck and Cover films. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) has long directed its members to store a year's worth of food for themselves and their families in preparation for such possibilities, and the current teaching advises beginning with at least a three-month supply.
The Great Depression that followed the Wall Street Crash of 1929 is cited by survivalists as an example of the need to be prepared.
1960s
The increased inflation rate in the 1960s, the US monetary devaluation, the continued concern over a possible nuclear exchange between the US and the Soviet Union, and perceived increasing vulnerability of urban centers to supply shortages and other systems failures caused a number of primarily conservative and libertarian thinkers to promote individual preparations. Harry Browne began offering seminars on how to survive a monetary collapse in 1967, with Don Stephens (an architect) providing input on how to build and equip a remote survival retreat. He gave a copy of his original Retreater's Bibliography to each seminar participant.
Articles on the subject appeared in small-distribution libertarian publications such as The Innovator and Atlantis Quarterly. It was during this period that Robert D. Kephart began publishing Inflation Survival Letter (later renamed Personal Finance). For several years the newsletter included a continuing section on personal preparedness written by Stephens. It promoted expensive seminars around the US on similar cautionary topics. Stephens participated, along with James McKeever and other defensive investing, "hard money" advocates.
1970s
In the next decade Howard Ruff warned about socio-economic collapse in his 1974 book Famine and Survival in America. Ruff's book was published during a period of rampant inflation in the wake of the 1973 oil crisis. Most of the elements of survivalism can be found there, including advice on food storage. The book championed the claim that precious metals, such as gold and silver, have an intrinsic worth that makes them more usable in the event of a socioeconomic collapse than fiat currency. Ruff later published milder variations of the same themes, such as How to Prosper During the Coming Bad Years, a best-seller in 1979.
Firearms instructor and survivalist Colonel Jeff Cooper wrote on hardening retreats against small arms fire. In an article titled "Notes on Tactical Residential Architecture" in Issue #30 of P.S. Letter (April 1982), Cooper suggested using the "Vauban Principle", whereby projecting bastion corners would prevent miscreants from being able to approach a retreat's exterior walls in any blind spots. Depending on the size of the group needing shelter, design elements of traditional European castle architecture, and Chinese Fujian Tulou and Mexican walled courtyard houses, have been suggested for survival retreats.
Bruce D. Clayton and Joel Skousen have both written extensively on integrating fallout shelters into retreat homes, but they put less emphasis on ballistic protection and exterior perimeter security than Cooper and Rawles.
Other newsletters and books followed in the wake of Ruff's first publication. In 1975, Kurt Saxon began publishing a monthly tabloid-size newsletter called The Survivor, which combined Saxon's editorials with reprints of 19th century and early 20th century writings on various pioneer skills and old technologies. Kurt Saxon used the term survivalist to describe the movement, and he claims to have coined the term.
In the previous decade, preparedness consultant, survival bookseller, and California-based author Don Stephens popularized the term retreater to describe those in the movement, referring to preparations to leave cities for remote havens or survival retreats should society break down. In 1976, before moving to the Inland Northwest, he and his wife authored and published The Survivor's Primer & Up-dated Retreater's Bibliography.
For a time in the 1970s, the terms survivalist and retreater were used interchangeably. While the term retreater eventually fell into disuse, many who subscribed to it saw retreating as the more rational approach to conflict-avoidance and remote "invisibility". Survivalism, on the other hand, tended to take on a more media-sensationalized, combative, "shoot-it-out-with-the-looters" image.
One newsletter deemed by some to be one of the most important on survivalism and survivalist retreats in the 1970s was the Personal Survival ("P.S.") Letter (circa 1977–1982). Published by Mel Tappan, who also authored the books Survival Guns and Tappan on Survival. The newsletter included columns from Tappan himself and notable survivalists such as Jeff Cooper, Al J Venter, Bruce D. Clayton, Nancy Mack Tappan, J.B. Wood (author of several gunsmithing books), Karl Hess, Janet Groene (travel author), Dean Ing, Reginald Bretnor, and C.G. Cobb (author of Bad Times Primer). The majority of the newsletter revolved around selecting, constructing, and logistically equipping survival retreats. Following Tappan's death in 1980, Karl Hess took over publishing the newsletter, eventually renaming it Survival Tomorrow.
In 1980, John Pugsley published the book The Alpha Strategy. It was on The New York Times Best Seller list for nine weeks in 1981. After 28 years in circulation, The Alpha Strategy remains popular with survivalists, and is considered a standard reference on stocking food and household supplies as a hedge against inflation and future shortages.
In addition to hardcopy newsletters, in the 1970s survivalists established their first online presence with BBS and Usenet forums dedicated to survivalism and survival retreats.
1980s
Further interest in the survivalist movement peaked in the early 1980s, with Howard Ruff's book How to Prosper During the Coming Bad Years and the publication in 1980 of Life After Doomsday by Bruce D. Clayton. Clayton's book, coinciding with a renewed arms race between the United States and Soviet Union, marked a shift in emphasis in preparations made by survivalists away from economic collapse, famine, and energy shortages—which were concerns in the 1970s—to nuclear war. In the early 1980s, science fiction writer Jerry Pournelle was an editor and columnist for Survive, a survivalist magazine, and was influential in the survivalist movement. Ragnar Benson's 1982 book Live Off The Land In The City And Country suggested rural survival retreats as both a preparedness measure and conscious lifestyle change.
1990s
Interest in the movement picked up during the Clinton administration due in part to the debate surrounding the Federal Assault Weapons Ban and the ban's subsequent passage in 1994. The interest peaked again in 1999 triggered by fears of the Y2K computer bug. Before extensive efforts were made to rewrite computer programming code to mitigate the effects, some writers such as Gary North, Ed Yourdon, James Howard Kunstler, and investments' advisor Ed Yardeni anticipated widespread power outages, food and gasoline shortages, and other emergencies. North and others raised the alarm because they thought Y2K code fixes were not being made quickly enough. While a range of authors responded to this wave of concern, two of the most survival-focused texts to emerge were Boston on Y2K (1998) by Kenneth W. Royce, and Mike Oehler's The Hippy Survival Guide to Y2K. Oehler is an underground living advocate, who also authored The $50 and Up Underground House Book, which has long been popular in survivalist circles.
2000s
Another wave of survivalism began after the September 11, 2001, attacks and subsequent bombings in Bali, Madrid, and London. This resurgence of interest in survivalism appears to be as strong as the 1970s era focus on the topic. The fear of war, avian influenza, energy shortages, environmental disasters, and global climate change, coupled with economic uncertainty and the apparent vulnerability of humanity after the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami and Hurricane Katrina, have increased interest in survivalism topics.
Many books were published in the wake of the Great Recession from 2008 and later offering survival advice for various potential disasters, ranging from an energy shortage and crash to nuclear or biological terrorism. In addition to the 1970s-era books, blogs and Internet forums are popular ways of disseminating survivalism information. Online survival websites and blogs discuss survival vehicles, survival retreats, emerging threats, and list survivalist groups.
In both his book Rawles on Retreats and Relocation and in his survivalist novel, Patriots: A Novel of Survival in the Coming Collapse, James Wesley Rawles describes in great detail retreat groups "upgrading" brick or other masonry houses to that of a security compound with steel reinforced window shutters and doors, excavating anti-vehicular ditches, installing gate locks, constructing concertina wire obstacles and fougasses, and setting up listening post/observation posts (LP/OPs.) Rawles is a proponent of including a mantrap foyer at survival retreats, an architectural element that he calls a "crushroom".
Economic troubles emerging from the credit collapse triggered by the 2007 US subprime mortgage lending crisis and global grain shortages prompted a wider cross-section of the populace to prepare.
The advent of H1N1 Swine Flu in 2009 piqued interest in survivalism, significantly boosting sales of preparedness books and making survivalism more mainstream.
These developments led Gerald Celente, founder of the Trends Research Institute, to identify a trend that he calls "neo-survivalism". He explained this phenomenon in a radio interview with Jim Puplava on December 18, 2009:
When you go back to the last depressing days when we were in a survival mode, the last one the Y2K of course, before the 1970s, what had happened was you only saw this one element of survivalist, you know, the caricature, the guy with the AK-47 heading to the hills with enough ammunition and pork and beans to ride out the storm. This is a very different one from that: you're seeing average people taking smart moves and moving in intelligent directions to prepare for the worst. (...) So survivalism in every way possible. Growing your own, self-sustaining, doing as much as you can to make it as best as you can on your own and it can happen in urban area, sub-urban area or the ex-urbans. And it also means becoming more and more tightly committed to your neighbors, your neighborhood, working together and understanding that we're all in this together and that when we help each other out that's going to be the best way forward.
This last aspect is highlighted in The Trends Research Journal: "Communal spirit intelligently deployed is the core value of Neo-Survivalism".
2010s
Television shows such as the National Geographic Channel's Doomsday Preppers emerged to capitalize on what Los Angeles Times entertainment contributor Mary McNamara dubbed "today's zeitgeist of fear of a world-changing event".
After the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, the "prepper" community worried they would face public scrutiny after it was revealed the perpetrator's mother was a survivalist. Earlier that year, a double homicide was committed by survivalist Peter Keller, who admitted to killing his wife and daughter in a video diary. He killed himself while evading capture in a bunker he built in Rattlesnake Ridge in King County, Washington. Both were cited by The Christian Science Monitor as examples of survivalism being tied to violence.
2020s
During the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, which was declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern by the World Health Organization in early 2020 and the Russian invasion of Ukraine (2022–present), survivalism has received renewed interest, even by those who are not traditionally considered preppers.
Outline of scenarios and outlooks
Survivalism is approached by its adherents in different ways, depending on their circumstances, mindsets, and particular concerns for the future. The following are characterizations, although most (if not all) survivalists fit into more than one category:
- Safety-preparedness-oriented
While some survivalists believe in long-term viability of Western civilization, they learn principles and techniques needed for surviving life-threatening situations that can occur at any time and place. They prepare for such calamities that could result in physical harm or requiring immediate attention or defense from threats. These disasters could be biotic or abiotic. Survivalists combat disasters by attempting to prevent and mitigate damage caused by these factors.
- Wilderness survival emphasis
This group stresses being able to stay alive for indefinite periods in life-threatening wilderness scenarios, including plane crashes, shipwrecks, and being lost in the woods. Concerns are: thirst, hunger, climate, terrain, health, stress, and fear. The rule of 3 is often emphasized as common practice for wilderness survival. The rule states that a human can survive: 3 minutes without air, 3 hours without shelter, 3 days without water, 3 weeks without food.
- Self-defense-driven
This group focuses on surviving brief encounters of violent activity, including personal protection and its legal ramifications, danger awareness, John Boyd's cycle (also known as the OODA loop—observe, orient, decide and act), Combatives, martial arts, unarmed combat, Melee weapons, self-defense tactics and tools (both lethal and non-lethal). These survivalist tactics are often firearm-oriented, in order to ensure a method of defense against attackers or home invasion.
- Natural disaster, brief
This group consists of people who live in tornado, hurricane, flood, wildfire, earthquake or heavy snowfall-prone areas and want to be prepared for possible emergencies. They invest in material for fortifying structures and tools for rebuilding and constructing temporary shelters. While assuming the long-term continuity of society, some may have invested in a custom-built shelter, food, water, medicine, and enough supplies to get by until contact with the rest of the world resumes following a natural emergency.
- Natural disaster, prolonged
This group is concerned with weather cycles of 2–10 years, which have happened historically and can cause crop failures. They might stock several tons of food per family member and have a heavy-duty greenhouse with canned non-hybrid seeds.
- Natural disaster, indefinite/multi-generational
This group considers an end to society as it exists today under possible scenarios including global warming, global cooling, environmental degradation, warming or cooling of gulf stream waters, or a period of severely cold winters caused by a supervolcano, an asteroid strike, or nuclear warfare.
- Bio-chem scenario
This group is concerned with the spread of fatal diseases, biological agents, and nerve gases, including COVID-19, swine flu, E. coli, botulism, dengue fever, Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease, SARS, rabies, Hantavirus, anthrax, plague, cholera, HIV, ebola, Marburg virus, Lassa virus, sarin, and VX. In response, they might own NBC (nuclear, biological and chemical) full-face respirators, polyethylene coveralls, PVC boots, nitrile gloves, plastic sheeting and duct tape.
- Monetary disaster investors
Monetary disaster investors believe the Federal Reserve system is fundamentally flawed. Newsletters suggest hard assets of gold and silver bullion, coins, and other precious-metal-oriented investments such as mining shares. Survivalists prepare for paper money to become worthless through hyperinflation. As of late 2009 this is a popular scenario. Many will stockpile bullion in preparation for a market crash that would destroy the value of global currencies.
- Biblical eschatologist
These individuals study End Times prophecy and believe that one of various scenarios might occur in their lifetime. While some Christians (and even people of other religions) believe that the Rapture will follow a period of Tribulation, others believe that the Rapture is imminent and will precede the Tribulation ("Pre-Trib Rapture"). There is a wide range of beliefs and attitudes in this group. They run the gamut from pacifist to armed camp, and from having no food stockpiles (leaving their sustenance up to God's providence) to storing decades' worth of food. Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are counseled to store up to two years' worth of food and supplies to aid in the event of a natural disaster or long-term economic hardship, such as unemployment.
- Peak-oil doomers
This group believes that peak oil is a near term threat to Western civilization, and take appropriate measures, usually involving relocation to an agriculturally self-sufficient survival retreat.
- Legal-continuity-oriented
This group has a primary concern with maintaining some form of legal system and social cohesion after a breakdown in the technical infrastructure of society. They are interested in works like The Postman by David Brin, Lewis Dartnell's The Knowledge: How to Rebuild Our World from Scratch, or Marcus B. Hatfield's The American Common Law: The Customary Law of the American Nation.
Common preparations
Common preparations include the creation of a clandestine or defensible retreat, haven, or bug out location (BOL) in addition to the stockpiling of non-perishable food, water (i.e. using water canisters), water-purification equipment, clothing, seed, firewood, defensive or hunting weapons, ammunition, agricultural equipment, and medical supplies. Some survivalists do not make such extensive preparations, and simply incorporate a "Be Prepared" outlook into their everyday life.
A bag of gear, often referred to as a "bug out bag" (BOB) or "get out of dodge" (G.O.O.D.) kit, can be created which contains basic necessities and useful items. It can be of any size, weighing as much as the user is able to carry.
Changing concerns and preparations
Survivalists' concerns and preparations have changed over the years. During the 1970s, fears were economic collapse, hyperinflation, and famine. Preparations included food storage and survival retreats in the country which could be farmed. Some survivalists stockpiled precious metals and barterable goods (such as common-caliber ammunition) because they assumed that paper currency would become worthless. During the early 1980s, nuclear war became a common fear, and some survivalists constructed fallout shelters.
In 1999, many people purchased electric generators, water purifiers, and several months or even years worth of food in anticipation of widespread power outages because of the Y2K computer-bug. Between 2013 and 2019, many people purchased those same items in anticipation of widespread chaos following the 2016 election and the events leading up to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Instead of moving or making such preparations at home, many people also make plans to remain in their current locations until an actual breakdown occurs, when they will—in survivalist parlance—"bug out" or "get out of Dodge" to a safer location.
Religious beliefs
Other survivalists have more specialized concerns, often related to an adherence to apocalyptic religious beliefs.
Some evangelical Christians hold to an interpretation of Bible prophecy known as the post-tribulation rapture, in which the world will have to go through a seven-year period of war and global dictatorship known as the "Great Tribulation". Jim McKeever helped popularize survival preparations among this branch of evangelical Christians with his 1978 book Christians Will Go Through the Tribulation, and How To Prepare For It.
Similarly, some Catholics are preppers, based on Marian apparitions which speak of a great chastisement of humanity by God, particularly those associated with Our Lady of Fatima and Our Lady of Akita (which states "fire will fall from the sky and will wipe out a great part of humanity").
Mainstream emergency preparations
People who are not part of survivalist groups or apolitically oriented religious groups also make preparations for emergencies. This can include (depending on the location) preparing for earthquakes, floods, power outages, blizzards, avalanches, wildfires, terrorist attacks, nuclear power plant accidents, hazardous material spills, tornadoes, and hurricanes. These preparations can be as simple as following Red Cross and U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) recommendations by keeping a first aid kit, shovel, and extra clothes in the car, or by maintaining a small kit of emergency supplies, containing emergency food, water, a space blanket, and other essentials.
Mainstream economist and financial adviser Barton Biggs is a proponent of preparedness. In his 2008 book Wealth, War and Wisdom, Biggs has a gloomy outlook for the economic future, and suggests that investors take survivalist measures. In the book, Biggs recommends that his readers should "assume the possibility of a breakdown of the civilized infrastructure." He goes so far as to recommend setting up survival retreats: "Your safe haven must be self-sufficient and capable of growing some kind of food," Mr. Biggs writes. "It should be well-stocked with seed, fertilizer, canned food, medicine, clothes, etc. Think Swiss Family Robinson. Even in America and Europe, there could be moments of riot and rebellion when law and order temporarily completely breaks down."
For global catastrophic risks the costs of food storage become impractical for most of the population and for some such catastrophes conventional agriculture would not function due to the loss of a large fraction of sunlight (e.g. during nuclear winter or a supervolcano). In such situations, alternative food is necessary, which is converting natural gas and wood fiber to human edible food.
Survivalist terminology
Survivalists maintain their group identity and subculture by using specialized terminology/slang etc not generally understood outside their circles. They often use government/military/paramilitary acronyms such as OPSEC and SOP, and terminology common among adherents to gun culture or the peak oil scenario. They also use terms that are unique to their own survivalist groups; common acronyms include:
- 7 S's: Shape, Skyline, Silhouette, Speed, Shine, Sound, Shade
- 10 essentials:
- Ad hoc: A usually improvised/temporary stand-in.
- Alert state: Level of danger/threat etc.
- Alpha strategy: The practice of storing extra consumable items, as a hedge against inflation, and for use in barter and charity. Coined by John Pugsley.
- Ballistic wampum: Ammunition stored for barter purposes. Coined by Jeff Cooper.
- Blockhouse: A type of fortified house/shelter.
- BOB: Bug-out bag. A pack containing everything needed to leave your home and get to a safe location until able to return safely to your home or residence. Whether heading to a BOL, Retreat, MAG, MAC or Redoubt.
- BOL: Bug-out location/bunker/bolt hole/safe house etc.
- BOV: Bug-out vehicle.
- Doomer: A peak oil adherent who believes in a Malthusian-scale social collapse.
- CBRN: Chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear.
- Code name/Handle: For CB radio/Walkie talkie usage. Used with ACP 131/brevity codes and simplex communications.
- Critical infrastructure:
- Dead drop: A dead drop or dead letter box is a method of espionage tradecraft used to pass items or information between two individuals using a secret location. By avoiding direct meetings, individuals can maintain operational security. This method stands in contrast to the live drop, so-called because two persons meet to exchange items or information.
- Escape and evasion/SERE: Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape.
- EDC: Everyday carry. What one carries at all times in case disaster strikes while one is out and about. Also refers to the normal carrying of a pistol for self-defense, or (as a noun) the pistol which is carried.
- EOTW: End of the world
- EROL: Excessive rule of law. Describes a situation where a government becomes oppressive and uses its powers and laws to control citizens. Sometimes this is used interchangeably with Martial Law
- Ersatz: A "better than nothing" substitute.
- Fieldcraft
- Front organization: An entity set up by and controlled by another organization.
- Ganbaru: To slog on tenaciously through hard times
- Goblin: A criminal miscreant, coined (in the survivalist context) by Jeff Cooper.
- Golden/Zombie horde: The anticipated large mixed horde of refugees and looters that will pour out of the metropolitan regions when SHTF. Coined (in the survivalist context) by James Wesley, Rawles.
- G.O.O.D.: Get out of Dodge (city). Fleeing urban areas in the event of a disaster. Coined by James Wesley Rawles.
- G.O.O.D. kit: Get out of Dodge kit. Synonymous with bug-out bag (BOB). Sometimes referred to as Go Bag.
- Grey man/woman: A person who blends in with the crowd/surroundings etc and less likely to draw attention to him/herself.
- Hidesite: A hidden shelter for concealment used for surveillance etc.
- INCH pack: I'm Never Coming Home pack (a sub-type of Bug Out Bag, often used by experts in the preparedness field). A pack containing everything needed to walk out into the woods and never return to society. It is an often heavy pack loaded with the gear needed to accomplish any wilderness task, from building shelter to gaining food, designed to allow someone to survive indefinitely in the woods. This requires skills and proper selection of equipment, as one can only carry so much. For example, instead of carrying food, one carries seeds, steel traps, a longbow, reel spinners and other fishing gear. Often INCH bag gear is designed to be more sustainable and durable, and include tools to fix gear. Common examples of this include files and Arkansas stones, or whetstones to sharpen knives, machetes, axes, and other blades. This is due to the idea that when using an INCH bag, materials and resupply will be rare, if not nonexistent, and as such tools need to be durable and self sustainable.
- MYOG: Make Your Own Gear. An advanced specialist form of Improvising/Manufacturing clothing/kit/equipment etc from scratch or modify existing examples. MYOG kit/equipment etc differs from improvising from surrounding leftovers found on spot during a survival operation.
- Operator: An individual tasked with a survival mission operation.
- Outpost: A shelter, often used as an observation post/checkpoint on behalf of a larger area used as a substitute in a sparse outback area.
- PAW: Post-Apocalyptic World
- Pollyanna or Polly: Someone who is in denial about the disruption that might be caused by the advent of a large-scale disaster.
- Prepper: A term often used as a synonym for survivalist that came into common usage during the early 2000s. Refers to one who is prepared or making preparations, such as by stockpiling food and ammunition. Can be contrasted slightly with survivalist, which emphasizes outdoor survival skills and self-sufficiency.
- Recce/Recon: Information gathering and surveillance on behalf of a survivalist group operation.
- RV point: A rendezvous/meet up point.
- Situation room: A room containing CB radios, maps/charts etc for survival planning etc.
- Sheep: A person who trusts the government, institutions, or popular culture blindly. A similar term to Pollyanna.
- SHTF: Shit hit/hits/hitting the fan
- Splinter group: a smaller division, cell, group etc that (for various reasons) has split off from a larger organization or movement.
- Staging area: A room/area used for rigging up equipment etc for a survival operation.
- Strategic reserve: A reserve of supplies/items/resources etc that is held back from normal use by governments, organisations, or businesses in pursuance of a particular strategy or to cope with unexpected events.
- Tradecraft: Refers to the techniques, methods, and technologies used in modern espionage (spying) and generally as part of the activity of intelligence assessment.
- TEOTWAWKI: The end of the world as we know it. The expression is in use since at least the early 1960s (tagline to television film Threads (1984)). However, others claim the acronym may have been coined in 1987 by REM in their song "It's The End Of The World As We Know It" or 1996, in the Usenet newsgroup misc.survivalism.
- Uncivilization: A generic term for a great catastrophe.
- WROL: Without rule of law. Describes a potential lawless state of society.
- YOYO: You're on your own. Coined (in the survivalist context) by David Weed.
- Zombie: Unprepared, incidental survivors of a prepped-for disaster, "who feed on the preparations of others”
- Zombie apocalypse: Used by some preppers as a tongue-in-cheek metaphor for any natural or man-made disaster and "a clever way of drawing people's attention to disaster preparedness". The premise of the Zombie Squad is that "if you are prepared for a scenario where the walking corpses of your family and neighbors are trying to eat you alive, you will be prepared for almost anything." Though "there are some... who are seriously preparing for a zombie attack".
Media portrayal
Despite a lull following the end of the Cold War, survivalism has gained greater attention in recent years, resulting in increased popularity of the survivalist lifestyle, and increased scrutiny. A National Geographic show interviewing survivalists, Doomsday Preppers (2011–2014), was a "ratings bonanza" and "the network's most-watched series", yet Neil Genzlinger in The New York Times declared it an "absurd excess on display and at what an easy target the prepper worldview is for ridicule," noting, "how offensively anti-life these shows are, full of contempt for humankind." Nevertheless, this show occupies a key position in the discourse on preppers.
Gerald Celente, founder of the Trends Research Institute, noted how many modern survivalists deviate from the classic archetype, terming this new style "neo-survivalism"; "you know, the caricature, the guy with the AK-47 heading to the hills with enough ammunition and pork and beans to ride out the storm. This is a very different one from that".
Perceived extremism
In popular culture, survivalism has been associated with activities of the self-proclaimed "militias" in the United States and elsewhere. Some survivalists do take active defensive preparations that have militaresque roots and that involve small arms, and this aspect is sometimes emphasized by the mass media. Kurt Saxon is one proponent of this approach to armed survivalism.
The potential for social collapse is often cited as motivation for being well-armed. Thus, some non-militaristic survivalists have developed an unintended quasi-militaristic image.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in their "If You See Something, Say Something" campaign says that "the public should report only suspicious behavior and situations...rather than beliefs, thoughts, ideas, expressions, associations, or speech...". However, it is alleged that a DHS list of the characteristics of potential domestic terrorists used in law enforcement training includes "Survivalist literature (fictional books such as Patriots and One Second After are mentioned by name)", "Self-sufficiency (stockpiling food, ammo, hand tools, medical supplies)", and "Fear of economic collapse (buying gold and barter items)".
The Missouri Information Analysis Center (MIAC) issued on February 20, 2009, a report intended for law enforcement personnel only entitled "The Modern Militia Movement," which described common symbols and media, including political bumper stickers, associated with militia members and domestic terrorists. The report appeared March 13, 2009 on WikiLeaks and a controversy ensued. It was claimed that the report was derived purely from publicly available trend data on militias. However, because the report included political profiling, on March 23, 2009, an apology letter was issued, explaining that the report would be edited to remove the inclusion of certain components.
Worldwide groups and organizations
Individual survivalist preparedness and survivalist groups and forums—both formal and informal—are popular worldwide, most visibly in Australia, Austria (ÖWSGV), Belgium, Canada, Spain, France, Germany (often organized under the guise of "adventuresport" clubs), Italy, the Netherlands, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, South Africa and the United States.
Other related groups
Adherents of the back-to-the-land movement inspired by Helen and Scott Nearing, sporadically popular in the United States in the 1930s and 1970s (exemplified by The Mother Earth News magazine), share many of the same interests in self-sufficiency and preparedness. Back-to-the-landers differ from most survivalists in that they have a greater interest in ecology and counterculture. Despite these differences, The Mother Earth News was widely read by survivalists and back-to-the-landers during that magazine's early years, and there was some overlap between the two movements.
Anarcho-primitivists (often shortened to "Anprim", "An-Prim", or "AnPrim") share many characteristics with survivalists, most notably predictions of a pending ecological disaster; one of the most famous An-Prims being Theodore Kaczynski. Writers such as Derrick Jensen argue that industrial civilization is not sustainable, and will therefore inevitably bring about its own collapse. Non-anarchist writers such as Daniel Quinn, Joseph Tainter, and Richard Manning also hold this view. Some members of the Men Going Their Own Way subculture also promote off-grid living and believe that modern society is no longer liveable.
In popular culture
Survivalism and survivalist themes have been fictionalized in print, film, and electronic media.
The 1983 film The Survivors starring Walter Matthau, Robin Williams and Jerry Reed, used survivalism as part of its plot. Michael Gross and Reba McEntire played a survivalist married couple in the 1990 film Tremors and its sequels. Both of these films were comedies. The 1988 film Distant Thunder, starring John Lithgow, concerned Vietnam War veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder who, similarly to some survivalists, withdrew to the wilderness.
Several television shows such as Doomsday Castle, Doomsday Preppers, Survivorman, Man vs Wild Man, Woman, Wild, Alone and Naked and Afraid are based on the concept of survivalism.
See also
References
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External links
- Fallout Protection (1961). Read at the Space and Electronic Warfare Lexicon.
- Nuclear War Survival Skills by Cresson Kearny (1979, updated 1987 version). Read at the Oregon Institute of Science and Medicine.
- The Alpha Strategy by John Pugsley (1980). Download.
- archive of articles, that circulated online during the BBS era, includes several Kurt Saxon articles from his old newsletter. Textfiles.com.
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