Terrorism and Counter-Terrorism in International Politics a DIS - Danish Institute For

Draft Syllabus

Terrorism and Anti-terrorism DIS, Fall 2016 3 Credits Location: Stockholm Major disciplines: International Relations, Political Science Faculty Member: Hans Brun Time: Mondays & Thursdays, 8:30 – 9:50

Course description: A study of terrorism – its causes, aims and forms – and the responses to it. This course offers a broad introduction to the concept of terrorism, focusing on the challenge posed by Al-Qaeda and the measures introduced against it. Classes will rest on a combination of empirical and theoretical discussions.

Following 9/11, the issue of terrorism, if not terrorism itself, seems to be everywhere. Why is that? Is there anything in the current fight against international terrorism that we have not seen before? Is it “politics as usual,” or is there something qualitatively and quantitatively different about the present wave of terrorism (e.g., did the 9/11 terrorists unleash the Third World War as claimed by some?)? How do we fight it? What are the consequences of this fight for the international system as a whole and for individuals?

Course Objectives:

This course aims to introduce to the history, the objectives and “inner logic” of terrorists. It analyses the terrorism today, mainly represented by Al-Qaeda. Thirdly, it has an objective to discuss the possible counter-measures, taken within international as well as domestic settings.

Building on this, the course aims to provide students with the tools to assess the terrorist threat (or “threat”) and to critically analyze the ideal handling of it.

Faculty: TBD

Assignments:  One term-paper of a length of about 2000 words  2 shorter pieces of writing of 1200 words each leading up to the term-paper (one mandatory and one optional).  Engagement (attending classes, preparing the readings, considering “today’s question”, taking part in discussions, doing the “News Room”, keeping deadlines)  Presentation of a topic

More information on the assignments can be found on the DIS Forum.

To be eligible for a passing grade in this class you must complete all of the assigned work. Late Papers will not be accepted! Draft Syllabus

Grading:  Papers 45 % (35% and 10%)  Presentation 15 %  Engagement 40 %

Field studies and guest lectures: TBD Field studies serve to complement your course work by placing you in the professional field to extend and rethink what we read and discuss in class. Please be ready for each field study by completing readings (when these are assigned) and preparing questions in advance.

Class Representatives: Class representatives will be elected at the beginning of the semester. Communicate your feedback on the course to the two representatives. See DIS Forum (i.e. Blackboard) if you are unsure who they are.

Attendance: You are expected to attend all DIS classes when scheduled. If you miss multiple classes the Director of Teaching and Learning, and the Director of Student Affairs will be notified and they will follow-up with you to make sure that all is well. Absences will jeopardize your grade and your standing at DIS. Allowances will be made in cases of illness, but in the case of multiple absences you will need to provide a doctor’s note.

Laptops in class: You may use your laptop for note-taking or fact-checking in my class. Usage not related to the class or our subject is unacceptable to the purpose of this class. Students should also refrain from any activity/behavior that may be disturbing to other students who are making the effort to be attentive. I am relying on your integrity and your respect for our objectives. If you are using your laptop for reasons not related to class, I will reduce your class participation grade significantly.

Academic Honesty: DIS expects that students abide by the highest standards of intellectual honesty in all academic work. DIS assumes that all students do their own work and credit all work or thought taken from others. Academic dishonesty will result in a final course grade of “F” and can result in dismissal. The students’ home universities will be notified. DIS reserves the right to request that written student assignments be turned in in electronic form for submission to plagiarism detection software. See the Academic Handbook for more information, or ask your instructor if you have questions. Draft Syllabus

CLASS SCHEDULE (subject to change):

Part I: DEFINING AND EXPLAINING TERRORISM

(1) Introduction to class

(2) History of terrorism Q: When and where has terrorism developed throughout history?

Readings: Walter Laqueur, A History of Terrorism (New Brunswick, NJ: Transaction Publishers 2002), pp. 3-20

(3) History of terrorism continued Q: What characterizes specific terror groups?

Readings: TBA – group specific texts

(4) History of terrorism continued Q: How do we categorize the history of terrorism?

Readings: Isabelle Duyvesteyn, “The Role of History and Continuity in Terrorism Research”, in Magnus Ranstorp, ed., Mapping Terrorism Research (London: Routledge 2007)

(5) Defining “terrorism” Q: Can we arrive at an objective definition?

Readings: David Whittaker, ed., The Terrorism Reader (London: Routledge 2001), pp. 3-13

Optional: Richard Jackson, Lee Jarvis, Jeroen Gunning, Marie Breen-Smyth ”Conceptualizing Terrorism”, in Terrorism: A Critical Introduction (Palgrave 2011), pp. 99-123

(6) The causes of terrorism: Rationalist explanations Q: A tool of the weak?

Readings: David Whittaker, ed., The Terrorism Reader (London: Routledge 2001), pp. 14-17

Christopher Coker, “Asymmetrical Warfare: Ends or Means?”, in John Olsen, ed., Asymmetric Warfare (Oslo: Norwegian Air Force Academy 2002), pp. 319-340.

(7) The causes of terrorism: Sociological explanations Q: Can an identity dictate this type of behaviour?

Readings: Ted Gurr, Why Men Rebel, (Princeton, NJ: PUP 1970), pp. 155-192 Draft Syllabus

(8) The causes of terrorism: Religious, Political or Cultural Explanations Q: Are “we” to blame?

Readings: Noam Chomsky, 9-11 (New York, NY: Seven Stories Press 2001), pp. 39-57

Bernard Lewis, The Crisis of Islam: Holy War and Unholy Terror (New York, NY: Modern Library 2003), pp. 113-119

Optional: John Esposito, Unholy War – Terror in the Name of Islam (Oxford: OUP 2002), pp. 26-41, 71-85

Part II: TERRORISM TODAY. ISLAMIC MILITANCY: OPERATIONS, TRENDS AND TACTICS.

(9) Introducing Al-Qaeda Q: What are the most important features of Al-Qaeda?

Readings: Leah Farrell, “How Al-Qaeda works, Foreign Affairs March/April 2011

(10) Superterrorism & Financing Q: Is there anything new about this most recent wave of terrorism? Q: Can we drain their sources?

Readings: Adam Dolnik, ”13 Years since Tokyo: Re-visiting the ”superterrorism” Debate”, Perspectives on Terrorism, Vol. II, 2008 http://www.terrorismanalysts.com/pt/articles/issues/PTv2i2.pdf

Thomas Biersteker, “Targeting Terrorist Finances: The New Challenges of Financial Market Globalization”, in Ken Booth and Tim Dunne, eds., Worlds in Collision – Terror and the Future of Global Order (London: Palgrave 2002), pp. 74-84

(11) Terrorists’ use of the Internet Q: Is communication a terrorist weapon?

Readings: Lipman Report: “The Rising Tide of Cyberwarfare: Cyberterrorism and Cybercrime in a Climate of Heightened Global Risk and Economic Instability”, September 2009

Joshua Green: ”The Myth of Cyberterrorism”. The Washington Monthly, November 2002. Draft Syllabus

(12) Understanding suicide bombings Q: Can we understand it?

Readings: Jon Elster, “Motivations and Beliefs in Suicide Missions”, in Diego Ambetta, ed., Making Sense of Suicide Missions (Oxford: OUP 2005), pp. 233-258

(13) The woman suicide bomber: gender and violence Q: Why use women suicide bombers?

Readings: Barbara Victor, Army of Roses – Inside the World of Palestinian Women Suicide Bombers (London: Robinson 2004), pp. 19-34 and 98-123

Eileen McDonald, Shoot the Women First (London: First Estate 1991), pp. 199-230

Part III: DEALING WITH TERRORISM

(14) Thinking about counter-terrorism and the challenges it faces Q: What problems does counter-terrorism face?

(15) Thinking about power and the use of it… Q: How do different types of power interact?

Readings: Joseph Nye, Soft Power – The Means to Success in World Politics (New York, NY: Public Affairs 2004), pp. 1-32

(16) Realism and Liberalism in Counterterrorism Q: How do we theoretically make sense of counterterrorism strategies?

Readings: Randi L. Buros, “Realism vs Liberalism in the Development of Counterterrorism Strategy”, Small Wars Journal, October 2011, http://smallwarsjournal.com/jrnl/art/realism-vs-liberalism-in-the- development-of-counterterrorism-strategy

Optional: Colin Gray, “World Politics as Usual after September 11: Realism Vindicated?”, in Booth and Dunne, eds., Worlds in Collision, pp. 226-241

Mary Kaldor, “Old Wars, Cold Wars, New Wars, and the War on Terror”, International Politics 42 (2005), pp. 491-498

(17) State weakness and promoting democratization Q: How do we deal with weak states?

Readings: Kalevi Holsti, The State, War and the State of War (Cambridge: CUP 1996), pp. 82-97 Draft Syllabus

Daniel Byman, Terrorism after the Revolutions”, Foreign Affairs, May/june 2011

Optional: Robert Rotberg, “The New Nature of Nation-State Failure”, The Washington Quarterly 25/3 (2002), pp. 85-96 Jennifer Windsor, “Promoting Democratization Can Combat Terrorism”, The Washington Quarterly 26/3 (2003), pp. 43-58 Fareed Zakaria, “Islam, Democracy and Constitutional Liberalism”, Political Science Quarterly 119/1 (2004), pp. 1-20

(18) Intelligence: Why it often fails – and how to improve it Q: How do we improve?

Readings: Richards Heuer, “Limits of Intelligence Analysis”, Orbis (Winter) 2005, pp. 75-94

(19) Special operations Q: More of this?

Readings: “Targeted Killing”, in Philip Heymann and Juliette Kayyem, Protecting Liberty in an Age of Terrorism (Cambridge, MA: MIT Press 2005), pp. 59-68

Daniel Byman, “Do Targeted Killings Work?” Foreign Affairs March/April (2006)

(20) Comparing US and EU doctrines and Strategic Cultures Q: What are the differences? Q: Is the gap widening or closing?

Readings: The US National Security Strategy (2006) The US National Security Strategy (2010) The EU Security Strategy (2003)

Optional: Walter Mead, “American Grand Strategy in a World at Risk”, Orbis Fall (2005), pp. 589-598 Wyn Rees and Richard Aldrich, “Contending Cultures of Counterterrorism: Transatlantic Divergence or Convergence?”, International Affairs 81/5 (2005), pp. 905-923

(21) Security vs. Freedom Q: What should we accept?

Readings: Philip Heymann, Terrorism, Freedom and Security – Winning Without War (Cambridge, MA: MIT Press 2003), pp. 158-179

Kenneth Roth, “The Law of War in the War on Terror”, Foreign Affairs January/February (2004). Draft Syllabus

Ruth Wedgwood and Kenneth Roth, “Combatants or Criminals? How Washington Should Handle Terrorists”, Foreign Affairs May/June (2004).

(22) Student Presentations

(23) Wrap up

Schedule is subject to change if necessary with as much notice as possible.