CASSANDRA HOBEN, JAMES SPEARMAN, MARC UNGER SCAD 2018 Marketing Terrorism: Aum Shinrikyo’s Cult Following in Post-Soviet Russia CASSANDRA HOBEN, JAMES SPEARMAN, MARC UNGER SCAD 2018

Presentation Outline Introduction to Aum Shinrikyo April 3rd, 1995 Introduction to Aum Shinrikyo Yoga Class to Chemical Gas, 1984-1995 Chronology of Activity in Japan Background on Master Shoko Asahara Aum Shinrikyo in Post-Soviet Russia The Russian Connection, 1992-1995 Entering the Russian Federation Methods of Recruitment Russian Perspectives on the Aum Their relationship with the Kremlin The Russian Orthodox Church and Parent Groups

Questions to keep in mind: What factors helped Aum Shinrikyo successfully operate in Japan and Russia? How was their Russian membership higher than Japanese membership? (30,000:10,000) What methods were used to recruit young Russian citizens?

Aum Shinrikyo: An Introduction Translates to “Aum Supreme Truth” Started in 1984 as a Yoga Class Lead by Master Shoko Asahara Apocalypse Cult mixed with Hinduism and Buddhism

Yoga Class to Chemical Gas: Timeline of Activity in Japan 1984: Created by Shoko Asahara as small Yoga/Meditation Class 1987: Officially called Aum Shinrikyo 1989: Became an official Religious Corporation in Japan 1995: Tokyo Subway Attack carried out with Chemical Weapons

Master Shoko Asahara Mastermind behind his program: “supreme truth” Businessman “Tokyo’s Christ” and “Holy Pope” Considered a guru and a god to his followers

Supreme Truth speaks to Russia Aum Shinrikyo entered Russia in 1992 Shoko Asahara had relationships with the Kremlin and Duma Popularity was so high, Aum was given several outlets Radio Airtime Television Program

Methods of Recruitment Three major tools for expanding their membership: Media Outreach through Radio and Television Asahara’s Political Connections College Campus Recruitment

Radio and Television Radio broadcast Television Particularly appealing to students Functioned as word of mouth on a larger scale Was able to reach people who may not have listened otherwise Television Put a face to the group Showed the humanity of the organization

Asahara and the Kremlin Allowed to exist People had thought to group was outlawed but in reality was not A recovering Russia Citizens and the government alike were recovering after the fall of the Soviet Union People were vulnerable to new ideas that sound appealing Citizens now had the freedom to think independently Proximity to the Kremlin gave the organization more legitimacy

Campus Recruitment Young people “Aum Protect” Always crave new ideas Tradition is not as important Spread ideas amongst themselves rapidly New and vibrant demographic “Aum Protect”

How did Russians feel about this? Potential followers loved the organization The Kremlin saw them as an outlet for Russian spiritual practice The Russian Orthodox Church lobbied against their presence Parent Organizations sued the sect with the Orthodox Church

The Russian Orthodox Church and Parent Groups Sued Aum Shinrikyo for harming the spiritual health of Russians Accused Aum of brainwashing practices Lawsuit from 1992-1995 “Committee for the Defense of Freedom”

Downfall in Russia Post 1995 Attack After the Tokyo bombing, Russia cracked down Moscow offices raided Lawsuit ended in favor of Orthodoxy, banning Aum’s practices The sect’s efforts went dark until 00’s underground comeback Completely eradicated in 2016

Conclusion Pre-attack Russian membership: approx. 30,000 Recruitment Square: Media, Kremlin, Campuses, Company Religious boom post-Soviet Union gave Aum advantage Russian Orthodox Church pushed back with success Implications of Aum’s Russian Success?

Image Credits by Slide: 1: Wikipedia 2: Time Magazine 3: Beachcombing’s Bizarre History Blog 4: Senpai Coast to Coast 5: Gaijinass 6: Real Life Villains Wiki 7: bizarrepedia.com 8: Informer 9: Youtube [clenty yt] 10: Imgur 11: Wikipedia 12: History.com 13: Britannica 14: Japan Times 15: IB Times UK, Sangha Kommune

Thank you! Q and A