About:

Dr. Amy Cooter is a Senior Research Fellow at CTEC who focuses on antigovernment extremism. She has studied a range of groups who use a nostalgic understanding of the past to justify their actions. Her primary expertise is on U.S. domestic militias, and groups of armed individuals who see it as their civic duty to uphold the Constitution the way they believe it should be interpreted.

She has published articles in outlets like Scientific American, The Conversation and Studies in Ethnicity and Nationalism and has a book forthcoming with Taylor & Francis about nationalism and nostalgia in militias.

Amy has testified before U.S. Congress about her research, and regularly consults with academics, journalists, and law enforcement around the globe. You may find her quoted in such outlets as NPR, Rolling Stone, FiveThirtyEight, and The Washington Post.

Amy has a Ph.D. in sociology from the University of Michigan and B.A. in sociology and psychology from Vanderbilt University.

Relevant Media

• “Lessons from embedding with the Michigan militia – 5 questions answered about the group allegedly plotting to kidnap a governor” by Amy Cooter in The Conversation
• “Fear Of Voter Intimidation Is Its Own Voter Intimidation” in FiveThirtyEight
• “Militia Leader Known As The ‘Bundy Ranch Sniper’ Seeks A New Title: State Senator” on WAMU
• “Why Michigan Is Considered ‘Fertile’ Ground for Anti-Government Extremists” in The New York Times
• “Sociology professor explains Boogaloo movement” on WNEM
• “Professor says Michigan has long militia history, but Wolverine Watchmen are an outlier” on WSTB 22
• “Expert: State has a long history with militia groups” on WOOD TV

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