Tuesday, November 21, 2017

The American Redoubt Series: An Introduction

A nonjudgmental analysis of the political movement that has taken root in the Northwest

 By Ben Olson

In the next few weeks, we’ll be publishing an ongoing series of articles focusing a spotlight on the American Redoubt movement. Of all the many suggestions we receive for story ideas, one of the most common is to explore what the Redoubt movement is all about.
On the surface, it’s a loosely based political movement centered around the belief that the Northwest – including Idaho, Montana, eastern Washington, eastern Oregon and Wyoming – is an ideal place to build a safe haven in which to stave off the collapse of society. Because of the low population density and absence of major natural disasters, as well as a high number of libertarian-minded Christians, followers believe this region would be the best choice to be set up when “the shit hits the fan.”
Underneath, it’s much more complicated than that.
This series of articles will attempt to explain the movement in a nonjudgmental, nonpartisan way. We will examine the tenets that make-up the Redoubt movement individually and let you, the reader, decide what to make of it.
As we, the editorial staff, have agreed, the American Redoubt movement can be roughly explained by examining four pieces that make up the whole.
1. Self-reliance and preparation.
2. Geographic isolation.
3. Religion.
4. Political ideology.
We will also explore the history of the movement, the origination of the term “American Redoubt,” and finally, we will touch on the impact that the movement has had on the region, including those who follow the movement and those who are critical of it.


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