German-born historian and philosopher Hannah Arendt escaped the Nazis and became one of the most influential political theorists in America before her death in 1975. Her work explored many facets of the human condition, including power, wealth, fame, tradition and democracy. But she is probably most well known for coining the phrase "the banality of evil," which seeks to explain how everyday people end up as accessories to extremist causes and violence.
Arendt spent much of her time exploring how “uprootedness” leads to tribalism and totalitarianism and concluded that people who feel themselves to be “rootless” will seek a home at any price and consequence. She observed that the loneliness of individuals within the competitive structure of a capitalist society can pave the way for extremist thinking and behavior.
Seventy-five years later, study after study strengthens the argument that social exclusion is a leading factor behind radicalization. Research in these studies shows that isolation decreases risk aversion, promotes approval for extreme political actions, and increases willingness to engage in illegal and violent measures for political causes.
A 2021 RAND study of former extremists found that 50% said feelings of marginalization drove them toward radicalization, with most citing isolation and loneliness as main factors.
A recent national survey of Americans ages 13-24 reveals how many young people have become trapped in this uprooted state. The responses show 35% report that loneliness disrupts their daily functioning. Among those who struggle to meet basic expenses, a full 57% say they are "very" or "extremely" worried about the negative mental health impacts of being unable to pay for essentials in the future. And 35% report "having no clear path" in life as a major impact on their mental health.
When you combine these feelings of isolation and instability with young people's general pessimism about the future of the country and planet (less than 30% are optimistic about either) it creates conditions that extremist groups are designed to take advantage of. Online communities built around hate consistently exploit loneliness and isolation to foster anger.
At a time when community sports leagues, hobby clubs and other social outlets are in steep decline, these extremist groups offer purpose through shared grievance, immediate belonging and oversimplified explanations for complex problems.
They provide what researchers call "substitute identities" for people who feel disconnected from mainstream society. These identities become both shields and swords against further marginalization. And, while most isolated young people never become violent, the statistics on those who do are revealing.
Since 1960, 44% of shooting incidents have involved perpetrators under 30, but the median age has dropped dramatically from 39 to just 22 since the 1990s. More concerning, suicidal tendencies among young shooters reach alarming levels with over 90% of school shooters showing evidence of suicidal ideation.
These numbers suggest that for a vulnerable subset, our collective failure to provide young people with belonging, purpose, and economic stability has opened pathways to extremism. By letting algorithms replace mentors and allowing hustle culture to replace genuine opportunity, we risk perpetuating a future where young people no longer see value in participating in society.
This dynamic isn’t theoretical as recent tragic events across the country remind us that isolation can affect anyone, even people from stable families, and not just those we might expect to struggle.
But despite these alarming trends, this story has another side that offers some genuine reason for hope.
The same survey reveals remarkable resilience among young people. While headlines focus on the crisis, 61% report being at least somewhat happy, and more than half describe their mental health as good or excellent. Importantly, 57% remain optimistic about their own futures, even while pessimistic about broader society.
They want stability above all else — financial security, emotional support, safe environments and work-life balance. Less than half of students feel they have adequate emotional support from school adults or mental health programming, and among employed young people, only 50% report sufficient workplace mental health resources.
They have deep concerns about the state of the world and want their viewpoints to be heard and understood. When asked what supports their mental health, young people consistently emphasize face-to-face time with friends, meaningful work, and having their perspectives heard rather than dismissed.
In Lewis County, we have institutions that could help by expanding their impact. By offering them civic engagement and authentic community participation, we can interrupt the loneliness-to-extremism pipeline.
Centralia College could create fast-track training programs that lead directly to family-wage careers in trades. Community health centers could pilot workplace wellness programs for local employers. State grants could incentivize Lewis County businesses to offer mental health benefits to employees under 30.
We also need programs like AmeriCorps, recently cut without warning, to be restored to provide young people with meaningful service opportunities in our own community. Our school districts, stretched thin across rural areas, need expanded mental health services that build resilience rather than just responding to crises.
The solutions are practical and not complicated, and they become vital extremism prevention tools. Not because we're solving a "political" problem, but because we're building the kind of community where young people choose engagement and service over isolation and online echo chambers.
Right now, our country faces a choice. We can continue allowing young people to drift toward communities that exploit their loneliness for destructive purposes, or we can build institutions and policies that offer them what they actually want: stability, respect, and a realistic path to a decent future.
When we address their material needs and create genuine belonging, we strengthen the social fabric that extremists seek to destroy.
The research is clear about both the problem and the solutions. Arendt understood that rootless people will seek belonging at any price. Our job is to ensure the price isn't paid in violence and division by offering genuine alternatives. Otherwise, more and more young people will seek communion in all the wrong places.
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Zac Eckstein is chair of the Lewis County Democratic Party. Learn more about the party at https://lewiscountydemocrats.org.
