ABSTRACT
Violence is a significant element in the constitution, emotional structure and reproduction of right-wing extremism and neo-Nazism. This chapter examines the life histories of former neo-Nazis and explores the role of violence in the Swedish skinhead culture and neo-Nazi organizations. Individual and group interviews were conducted with seven former neo-Nazis who held high positions in the movement. The chapter explores the informants’ experiences of violence and violent acts, as well as their feelings of redemption and regret. The findings show that violence had always been a part of our subjects’ lives. Violence was a means to solve disagreements and position themselves within the organizational hierarchy. Among our informants, masculinity was displayed and constructed through the performance of being ‘real men’ within the circles of skinheads and neo-Nazis. The portrayal of real men as Aryan warriors attracted violent men to these circles to a greater extent and for a longer time than in other Nordic countries.
