A Case Study of Post Saddam-Hussein Iraq Kellie Rourke Walden University
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Walden University ScholarWorks Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies Collection 2017 Resisting Democratic Transition Through Terrorism: A Case Study of Post Saddam-Hussein Iraq Kellie Rourke Walden University Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations Part of the Public Administration Commons This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies Collection at ScholarWorks. It has been accepted for inclusion in Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Walden University College of Social and Behavioral Sciences This is to certify that the doctoral dissertation by Kellie Rourke has been found to be complete and satisfactory in all respects, and that any and all revisions required by the review committee have been made. Review Committee Dr. Joyce Haines, Committee Chairperson, Public Policy and Administration Faculty Dr. Kevin Fandl, Committee Member, Public Policy and Administration Faculty Dr. Morris Bidjerano, University Reviewer, Public Policy and Administration Faculty Chief Academic Officer Eric Riedel, Ph.D. Walden University 2017 Abstract Resisting Democratic Transition Through Terrorism: Case Study of Post-Saddam Hussein Iraq by Kellie S. Rourke MPA, Troy University, 2004 BS, Austin Peay State University, 1998 Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Public Policy and Administration Walden University March 2017 Abstract Democracy building operations in foreign nations in Iraq and Afghanistan have been met with resistance and at great cost in terms of dollars and lives. Reducing these costs requires understanding why individuals choose to resist the transition to democracy, yet current research in the field does not address the issues of a previously nonviolent population turning to terrorism to resist transition to democracy. The purpose of this single case study was to use rational choice theory and Crenshaw’s 3 levels of causation to understand what factors influenced members of the Sunni sect to resist democratic transition following the 2003 invasion of U.S. forces. Data for this study consisted of secondary data, including transcripts of interviews with 15 Sunni Iraqis who once supported or showed neutrality for a democratic government but then resisted transition through terrorism. Data were deductively coded according to Crenshaw’s 3 levels of causation and then subjected to thematic analysis. Findings revealed that the primary factor that led individuals to support terrorism against the transitioning government was political, in that Sunni participants felt that after the democratic transition, the government excluded them from participation in the development of the new government to include constitutional development and elections. Findings also showed that religion, specifically being Sunni, impacted the decision to resort to resistance through terrorism. The study concluded with recommendations to the U.S. government and military forces that highlight planning and execution considerations to address during similar democracy building operations for success in the future. Resisting Democratic Transition Through Terrorism: Case Study of Post-Saddam Hussein Iraq by Kellie S. Rourke MPA, Troy University, 2004 BS, Austin Peay State University, 1998 Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Public Policy and Administration Walden University March 2017 Dedication I would like to dedicate this study to the men and women of the U.S. military who dedicated much of their lives to bringing democracy to Iraq and Afghanistan; and to their families, who experienced more than all others the sacrifice required to free a country in the interest of our nation’s security. Acknowledgments I would like to express my sincere gratitude and appreciation to my committee, especially Dr. Joyce Haines, for her mentorship and guidance, which were so critical to my success in completing this study; to Dr. Kevin Fandl, for his advice and support; to Dr. Morris Bidjerano and Dr. Tanya Settles, for taking the time to share your expertise; to my peers and leaders, who encouraged my studies, challenged me, and engaged in helping me to think through the struggles the Iraqi people face to this day; and to my family who encouraged me through this process, always believing I could complete this study, even when I began to question it myself. Table of Contents List of Tables .......................................................................................................................v List of Figures .................................................................................................................... vi Chapter 1: Introduction to the Study ....................................................................................1 Introduction ....................................................................................................................1 Background ....................................................................................................................1 Problem Statement .........................................................................................................6 Purpose of the Study ......................................................................................................6 Significance of the Study ...............................................................................................7 Nature of the Study ........................................................................................................8 Theoretical Framework ..................................................................................................9 Research Questions ......................................................................................................10 Secondary Research Questions ....................................................................................10 Definition of Terms......................................................................................................11 Assumptions and Limitations ......................................................................................11 Assumptions .......................................................................................................... 13 Limitations ............................................................................................................ 14 Summary ......................................................................................................................15 Chapter 2: Literature Review .............................................................................................18 Introduction ..................................................................................................................18 Theoretical Foundation ................................................................................................19 Literature Review.........................................................................................................22 i Terrorism............................................................................................................... 22 Facilitators and Causation of Terrorism ............................................................... 25 Domestic Terrorism .............................................................................................. 29 Democracy and Democracy Promotion ................................................................ 30 Democracy Defined .............................................................................................. 31 Approaches to Democracy Promotion .................................................................. 33 Gradual Versus Abrupt Transition to Democracy ................................................ 36 Military Approach to Democracy Promotion ....................................................... 39 Democracy Promotion and the War on Terror ..................................................... 42 Political Access and Strategic Schools of Thought .............................................. 43 Democracy Promotion and Terrorism in Iraq ....................................................... 44 Effects of Authoritarian Rule ................................................................................ 47 Ethnosectarian Divisions ...................................................................................... 50 Lack of Security .................................................................................................... 53 Summary ......................................................................................................................55 Chapter 3: Research Method ..............................................................................................60 Introduction ..................................................................................................................60 Research Question .......................................................................................................60 Secondary Research Questions ....................................................................................60 Research Approach and Design ...................................................................................61 Methodological