POCATELLO -- On a per capita basis, only Montana leads Idaho as the state with the most number of right wing extremist groups, says a sociologist who has studied the so-called hate groups.

Jim Aho, an Idaho State University sociology professor, said when he did his research on the Christian patriot groups, he assumed that such groups would be more prevalent in the deep South.

He was surprised to learn otherwise.

Aho, 54, has authored two books, "The Politics of Righteousness. Idaho Christian Patriotism" and "This Thing of Darkness. A Sociology of the Enemy," which takes an in-depth look at the membership and ideology of such groups as The Order, the Aryan Nation, the Freemen and militia groups.

During 10 years of research, Aho has interviewed hundreds of individuals who belong to such groups.

"The Intermountain West is now the hotbed of this stuff," Aho said.

Aho believes that the farther west one moves, the more people identify themselves as politically independent.

"Ignoring Utah, which has the highest proportion of church-going people in the country, the Intermountain West is known as the great unchurch belt," Aho said.

The membership numbers fluctuate, making it difficult to come up with hard numbers, he said.

Some people like Aho are on mailing lists because they're interested in research, others are just curious, and some may change their allegiance or drop out of groups, he said.

He emphasized that the groups do not consider themselves to be hate groups. Rather, they see themselves to be Christians and patriots who have an obligation to "make the world over in a manner pleasing to the Lord."

They target a common enemy or enemies such as blacks, Jews, abortion advocates, or homosexuals, Aho said.

"The world is divided into good and evil," Aho said. Right wing groups act to eliminate a conspiracy fostered by the perceived enemy group.

"The conspiracy is well documented in their books, which are complete with footnotes and written by some well educated academics," Aho said.

Aho said while the violent acts of such groups make the news, they represent only a minority faction of Christian patriots who believe in bringing about change through civil disobedience, sharing their beliefs through publications, radio programs, running for office, introducing citizens' initiatives, and writing letters to the editors of newspapers.

Since the bombing of the Federal Building in Oklahoma City in April 1995, Aho said many of the militia movements have disbanded.

" 'Militia' sort of became a derogatory word," Aho said.

With the stepped up infiltration by federal agencies into right wing groups, such groups have splintered and a number of people are now organized into small independent commando units.

"They realize that they cannot confront the government in a standup battle so they engage in guerrilla activity," Aho said. He believes that this type of attack by only two or three people acting alone was responsible for the bombing in Oklahoma City, which resulted in the deaths of 168 people.

Some of the beliefs and ideology of the right wing groups have become assimilated by the establishment, including the Republican Party, Aho said.

He said notions that just 10 years ago would have been considered outlandish, are now being embraced by the Republicans. One of the examples is the growing GOP opposition to Affirmative Action, he said.

"Outlandish beliefs become part of ordinary activity," he said.

The militant factions of right wing groups will remain active, and the violence will remain a fact of life, making it important for state and federal police to remain on the alert to any dangers, Aho said.

He said the frightening aspect of the violent factions of these groups is that they have the high-powered weaponry to do a lot of harm.

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