OPC to Hold Investigative Reporting Techniques Seminar Innovating in Global Hotspots
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Boko Haram Beyond the Headlines: Analyses of Africa’S Enduring Insurgency
Boko Haram Beyond the Headlines: Analyses of Africa’s Enduring Insurgency Editor: Jacob Zenn Boko Haram Beyond the Headlines: Analyses of Africa’s Enduring Insurgency Jacob Zenn (Editor) Abdulbasit Kassim Elizabeth Pearson Atta Barkindo Idayat Hassan Zacharias Pieri Omar Mahmoud Combating Terrorism Center at West Point United States Military Academy www.ctc.usma.edu The views expressed in this report are the authors’ and do not necessarily reflect those of the Combating Terrorism Center, United States Military Academy, Department of Defense, or U.S. Government. May 2018 Cover Photo: A group of Boko Haram fighters line up in this still taken from a propaganda video dated March 31, 2016. COMBATING TERRORISM CENTER ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Director The editor thanks colleagues at the Combating Terrorism Center at West Point (CTC), all of whom supported this endeavor by proposing the idea to carry out a LTC Bryan Price, Ph.D. report on Boko Haram and working with the editor and contributors to see the Deputy Director project to its rightful end. In this regard, I thank especially Brian Dodwell, Dan- iel Milton, Jason Warner, Kristina Hummel, and Larisa Baste, who all directly Brian Dodwell collaborated on the report. I also thank the two peer reviewers, Brandon Kend- hammer and Matthew Page, for their input and valuable feedback without which Research Director we could not have completed this project up to such a high standard. There were Dr. Daniel Milton numerous other leaders and experts at the CTC who assisted with this project behind-the-scenes, and I thank them, too. Distinguished Chair Most importantly, we would like to dedicate this volume to all those whose lives LTG (Ret) Dell Dailey have been afected by conflict and to those who have devoted their lives to seeking Class of 1987 Senior Fellow peace and justice. -
Othering Terrorism: a Rhetorical Strategy of Strategic Labeling
Genocide Studies and Prevention: An International Journal Volume 13 Issue 2 Rethinking Genocide, Mass Atrocities, and Political Violence in Africa: New Directions, Article 9 New Inquiries, and Global Perspectives 6-2019 Othering Terrorism: A Rhetorical Strategy of Strategic Labeling Michael Loadenthal Miami University of Oxford Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarcommons.usf.edu/gsp Recommended Citation Loadenthal, Michael (2019) "Othering Terrorism: A Rhetorical Strategy of Strategic Labeling," Genocide Studies and Prevention: An International Journal: Vol. 13: Iss. 2: 74-105. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5038/1911-9933.13.2.1704 Available at: https://scholarcommons.usf.edu/gsp/vol13/iss2/9 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Open Access Journals at Scholar Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Genocide Studies and Prevention: An International Journal by an authorized editor of Scholar Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Othering Terrorism: A Rhetorical Strategy of Strategic Labeling Michael Loadenthal Miami University of Oxford Oxford, Ohio, USA Reel Bad Africans1 & the Cinema of Terrorism Throughout Ridley Scott’s 2002 film Black Hawk Down, Orientalist “othering” abounds, mirroring the simplistic political narrative of the film at large. In this tired script, we (the West) are fighting to help them (the East Africans) escape the grip of warlordism, tribalism, and failed states through the deployment of brute counterinsurgency and policing strategies. In the film, the US soldiers enter the hostile zone of Mogadishu, Somalia, while attempting to arrest the very militia leaders thought to be benefitting from the disorder of armed conflict. -
Weaponization of Water in a Changing Climate Marcus D
EPICENTERS OF CLIMATE AND SECURITY: THE NEW GEOSTRATEGIC LANDSCAPE OF THE ANTHROPOCENE June 2017 Edited by: Caitlin E. Werrell and Francesco Femia Sponsored by: In partnership with: WATER WEAPONIZATION THE WEAPONIZATION OF WATER IN A CHANGING CLIMATE Marcus D. King1 and Julia Burnell 2,3 Water stress across the Middle East and Africa is providing an opportunity for subnational extremist organizations waging internal conflict to wield water as a weapon. The weaponization of water also drives conflict that transcends national borders, creating international ripple effects that contribute to a changing geostrategic landscape. Climate change-driven water stress in arid and semi-arid countries is a growing trend. This stress includes inadequacies in water supply, quality, and accessibility.4 These countries are consistently experiencing chronically dry climates and unpredictable, yet prevalent, droughts. Predicted future climate impacts include higher temperatures, longer dry seasons, and increased variability in precipitation. In the coming decades, these factors will continue to stress water resources in most arid regions.5 It is accepted wisdom that parties generally cooperate over scarce water resources at both the international and subnational levels, with a very few notable exceptions that have resulted in internal, low-intensity conflict.6 However, tensions have always existed: the word rivalry comes from the Latin word rivalus, meaning he who shares a river.7 Rivalry is growing at the sub-state level, leading to intractable conflicts. Social scientists have long observed a correlation between environmental scarcity and subnational conflict that is persistent and diffuse.8 Disputes over limited natural resources have played at least some role in 40 percent of all intrastate conflicts in the last 60 years.9 The Center for Climate and Security www.climateandsecurity.org EPICENTERS OF CLIMATE AND SECURITY 67 Recent scholarly literature and intelligence forecasts have also raised doubts that water stress will continue to engender more cooperation than conflict. -
Reform and Human Rights the Gorbachev Record
100TH-CONGRESS HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES [ 1023 REFORM AND HUMAN RIGHTS THE GORBACHEV RECORD REPORT SUBMITTED TO THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES BY THE COMMISSION ON SECURITY AND COOPERATION IN EUROPE MAY 1988 Printed for the use of the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE WASHINGTON: 1988 84-979 = For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, Congressional Sales Office U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402 COMMISSION ON SECURITY AND COOPERATION IN EUROPE STENY H. HOYER, Maryland, Chairman DENNIS DeCONCINI, Arizona, Cochairman DANTE B. FASCELL, Florida FRANK LAUTENBERG, New Jersey EDWARD J. MARKEY, Massachusetts TIMOTHY WIRTH, Colorado BILL RICHARDSON, New Mexico WYCHE FOWLER, Georgia EDWARD FEIGHAN, Ohio HARRY REED, Nevada DON RITTER, Pennslyvania ALFONSE M. D'AMATO, New York CHRISTOPHER H. SMITH, New Jersey JOHN HEINZ, Pennsylvania JACK F. KEMP, New York JAMES McCLURE, Idaho JOHN EDWARD PORTER, Illinois MALCOLM WALLOP, Wyoming EXECUTIvR BRANCH HON. RICHARD SCHIFIER, Department of State Vacancy, Department of Defense Vacancy, Department of Commerce Samuel G. Wise, Staff Director Mary Sue Hafner, Deputy Staff Director and General Counsel Jane S. Fisher, Senior Staff Consultant Michael Amitay, Staff Assistant Catherine Cosman, Staff Assistant Orest Deychakiwsky, Staff Assistant Josh Dorosin, Staff Assistant John Finerty, Staff Assistant Robert Hand, Staff Assistant Gina M. Harner, Administrative Assistant Judy Ingram, Staff Assistant Jesse L. Jacobs, Staff Assistant Judi Kerns, Ofrice Manager Ronald McNamara, Staff Assistant Michael Ochs, Staff Assistant Spencer Oliver, Consultant Erika B. Schlager, Staff Assistant Thomas Warner, Pinting Clerk (11) CONTENTS Page Summary Letter of Transmittal .................... V........................................V Reform and Human Rights: The Gorbachev Record ................................................ -
The Rise of Boko Haram
Master Thesis Political Science: International Relations The rise of Boko Haram A Social Movement Theory Approach Author: Iris Visser Student Number: 5737508 MA Research Project Political Science: International Relations Supervisor: Dr. Said Rezaeiejan Second reader: Dr. Ursula Daxecker Date: 25 June 2014 1 Master Thesis Political Science: International Relations The rise of Boko Haram A Social Movement Theory Approach 2 3 Table of contents Political map of Nigeria 6 I. Introduction 7 II. Theoretical framework and literature review 13 III. Methodology 34 Variables 34 Methodological issues 34 Operationalization 35 IV. Background of Nigeria 43 V. The rise and evolution of Boko Haram 51 VI. United States- Nigeria cooperation concerning counterterrorism 59 VII. A political process perspective 64 VIII. A relative deprivation perspective 75 IX. A resource mobilization perspective 91 X. A framing perspective 108 XI. Conclusion 122 Bibliography 127 Appendix: timeline of Boko Haram attacks 139 Number of Boko Haram attacks and resulting deaths 2010-2014 per quarter 139 Timeline of Boko Haram attacks 2010-2014 140 4 5 Map of Nigeria 6 I. Introduction Like many postcolonial states, Nigeria has a turbulent history. The country is plagued by all kinds of violence. There has been civil war,1 crime rates are high,2 communal violence is common, as is sectarian violence3 — and, often along the same lines, political violence4 — while in the south an added problem are conflicts concerning oil.5 One of the biggest problems Nigeria faces today, is that of radical Islamic violence in the north of the country. Whereas communal violence has long been an issue, the rise of radical Islamic groups such as Boko Haram, who function more like a terrorist organization, is relatively new (as it is in most parts of the world). -
Igbos: the Hebrews of West Africa
Igbos: The Hebrews of West Africa by Michelle Lopez Wellansky Submitted to the Board of Humanities School of SUY Purchase in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Bachelor of Arts Purchase College State University of New York May 2017 Sponsor: Leandro Benmergui Second Reader: Rachel Hallote 1 Igbos: The Hebrews of West Africa Michelle Lopez Wellansky Introduction There are many groups of people around the world who claim to be Jews. Some declare they are descendants of the ancient Israelites; others have performed group conversions. One group that stands out is the Igbo people of Southeastern Nigeria. The Igbo are one of many groups that proclaim to make up the Diasporic Jews from Africa. Historians and ethnographers have looked at the story of the Igbo from different perspectives. The Igbo people are an ethnic tribe from Southern Nigeria. Pronounced “Ee- bo” (the “g” is silent), they are the third largest tribe in Nigeria, behind the Hausa and the Yoruba. The country, formally known as the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is in West Africa on the Atlantic Coast and is bordered by Chad, Cameroon, Benin, and Niger. The Igbo make up about 18% of the Nigerian population. They speak the Igbo language, which is part of the Niger-Congo language family. The majority of the Igbo today are practicing Christians. Though they identify as Christian, many consider themselves to be “cultural” or “ethnic” Jews. Additionally, there are more than two million Igbos who practice Judaism while also reading the New Testament. In The Black -
The Message – Supplement
THE MESSAGE – SUPPLEMENT Dear Friend, Some new information must be shared with you with intention to help you survive the cataclysm and aid the Plan. Because some things, which shouldn’t happened, happened in the recent past, respectively, because most things didn’t happened in accordance with the Plan, some new indications were given about what would happen in the future if the current line of events is going to continue. Indications are that: • World Economy Crisis is going to further develop during this year – 2008. This means that money will be worth less and less, until it won’t have any value anymore. Because of this, it is advisable to use money wisely, for instance, for gathering food, clothes and other stuff, which will be useful to you during the cataclysm. Therefore, it is advisable to use money wisely while it is still worth something. • WWIII will start in August 2009. Those living in Europe and Middle East should get appropriately prepared for it. In all countries, which will get involved, there will be general enrolment. Do not get drafted, as this one is not worth fighting! Do not do yourself any further unnecessary karmic damage! • In the time period from 2010 to 2014, the sea level is going to rise to somewhere from 400 to 500 meters (1 meter = 3,3 feet) above the current sea level. So, if you are going to try to survive the cataclysm, you should find yourself location somewhere above 500 meters above the current sea level. • Pole shift is going to happen during the “Electrical Storm”, from December 21 st to 24 th , 2012. -
Solving the Riddle of Russia: Who Blinks First? Anthony Wilson-Smith
22 Moscow’s Red Square, St. Basil’s and the Kremlin—seat of power in Russia from the czars, to the Soviets to the current strongman, Vladimir Putin. Wikimedia, Alex Zelenko photo Solving the Riddle of Russia: Who Blinks First? Anthony Wilson-Smith Not only have the West’s post-Soviet dreams of a liberal, quarter century ago, as the So- democratic Russia dissolved in a morass of corruption viet Union lurched toward dis- A solution, one of the people and autocracy; Vladimir Putin’s expansionism and chronicling its fall was Russian journal- tanking oil prices have made Russia a prime candidate ist Artyom Borovik. His television show for next basket case of Europe. Former Maclean’s Vzglyad—which mocked Mikhail Gor- bachev’s government—was watched by Moscow Bureau Chief Anthony Wilson-Smith looks as many as 100 million people a week. at the geopolitical state of play, and sees hope in an Fluent in English, the result of a child- upcoming Arctic Council meeting in Iqaluit. hood in New York with his Soviet dip- lomat father, he also had a large follow- ing in the West. Artyom was energetic, engaging, crusading in his beliefs—and despairing about his country’s future even as he applauded ongoing changes. “Russians,” he once said, “talk about Policy 23 how we like democracy, but we really History shows that Russia—as both a stand-alone like a strongman who tells everyone nation and centrepiece of the old Soviet Union— what to do—and makes the rest of the world pay attention.” tends to become more bellicose in the face of challenges at Within a decade, Vladimir Putin had home. -
Genocide Or Terrorism?
Genocide Studies and Prevention: An International Journal Volume 13 Issue 2 Rethinking Genocide, Mass Atrocities, and Political Violence in Africa: New Directions, Article 2 New Inquiries, and Global Perspectives 6-2019 Full Issue 13.2 Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarcommons.usf.edu/gsp Recommended Citation (2019) "Full Issue 13.2," Genocide Studies and Prevention: An International Journal: Vol. 13: Iss. 2: 1-173. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5038/1911-9933.13.2 Available at: https://scholarcommons.usf.edu/gsp/vol13/iss2/2 This Front Matter is brought to you for free and open access by the Open Access Journals at Scholar Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Genocide Studies and Prevention: An International Journal by an authorized editor of Scholar Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. ISSN 1911-0359 eISSN 1911-9933 Genocide Studies and Prevention: An International Journal Volume 13.2 - 2019 ii ©2019 Genocide Studies and Prevention 13, no. 2 iii Genocide Studies and Prevention: An International Journal http://scholarcommons.usf.edu/gsp/ Volume 13.2 - 2019 Editorials Christian Gudehus, Susan Braden, Douglas Irvin-Erickson, JoAnn DiGeorgio-Lutz, Lior Zylberman, Fiza Lee, and Brian Kritz Editors’ Introduction ................................................................................................................1 Laura Collins Guest Editorial: Rethinking Genocide, Mass Atrocities, and Political Violence in Africa .......2 State of the Field Terrence Lyons Transnational Advocacy: -
The Continent ISSUE 8
African journalism. June 6 2020 ISSUE NO. 8 The Continent with An empire in turmoil African writers on the American Nightmare The Continent Page 2 ISSUE 8. June 6 2020 Editorial Are we numb? Africans need to tell our own stories. their shoulders and accept systemic This philosophy is the reason The discrimination as a fact of life. Continent exists. As we witness America’s turmoil, But we also need to tell other we should take a long, hard look at people’s stories. That’s why, for this ourselves. At least 18 Kenyan citizens special edition, we have commissioned have been shot dead by police officers so African writers and journalists based far this year. In Nigeria, a human rights in the United States to describe the turmoil the land of the free is currently As we witness America’s experiencing – and to explain why it’s happening. turmoil, we should take a For once, we are the foreign hard look at ourselves correspondents, reporting on unrest and upheaval in a strange, faraway land. body recorded the extrajudicial killing And what a strange land it is. To see of 18 people in just two weeks in April. a nation state founded on the principle Ethiopian security forces were accused of democracy (for some, at least) use last month of burning homes to the violence against peaceful protesters ground, summarily executing civilians is a jarring reminder that America’s and raping women. And in South government does not itself subscribe Africa, with its long history of violent to the democratic values it so loudly reprisals to protect capital, soldiers were advocates abroad. -
Is the Multinational Intervention in Afghanistan Doomed by Hist
CORE Metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk Provided by University of Queensland eSpace Challenging Politics Conference Daryl Morini Is the International Intervention in Afghanistan Doomed by History? Exploring the Similarities, Differences and Lessons of Past Conflicts “[L]ike the astrologers and magicians whom they have succeeded [they] cast up their eyes to the clouds, and speak in immense, unsubstantiated images and similes, in deeply misleading metaphors and allegories, and make use of hypnotic formulae with little regard for experience…Thereby they throw dust in their own eyes as well as ours, obstruct our vision of the real world, and further confuse an already sufficiently bewildered public about the relations of value to fact…”1 - Isaiah Berlin, on Historical Inevitability Introduction The international intervention in Afghanistan, now in its ninth year, is doomed by historical fate. History repeats itself and Afghanistan—where foreign invasions have failed since the time of Alexander the Great—will once more bear out this historical inevitability. This matter-of-fact assertion, often tacit but at times explicit, has become a widely-accepted diagnosis of the ongoing war in Afghanistan. I will argue that this blanket critique of the international mission in Afghanistan, based on the premise that it is doomed to fail, is inherently misleading. I will offer three counter-arguments to this critique. Firstly, I will seek to demonstrate that historical inevitability is a myth, albeit a politically-useful one. Secondly, I will concede, where necessary, on some of the tactical and political similarities which such conflicts as the Vietnam War and the 1979-1989 Soviet-Afghan War shared with the current Afghan War. -
China Escalates Campaign Against Critical Voices Without Being Tailed EVENT RECAP by Government Ob- by Chad Bouchard Servers
THE MONTHLY NEWSLETTER OF THE OVERSEAS PRESS CLUB OF AMERICA, NEW YORK, NY • July-August 2015 China Escalates Campaign Against Critical Voices without being tailed EVENT RECAP by government ob- By Chad Bouchard servers. “Around Over the last few years, the Chi- 2010 we saw the nese government under President Xi trend go decidedly in Jinping has stepped up a campaign the other direction.” against press freedom and civil so- The FCCC sur- ciety, jailing activists and critical veyed its members voices while intimidating domes- last year and found tic and foreign media. On Monday, that two-thirds of May 18, the OPC hosted a panel to correspondents re- explore the outlook for the country’s ported experiencing future and discuss how far the cur- some kind of inter- Chad Bouchard rent crackdown might go. ference from the Kathleen McLaughlin, who is Clockwise from upper left: Sarah Cook, government while William J. Holstein, Jerome A. Cohen, Kathleen head of the media freedoms com- working in the field. McLaughlin and Ying Zhu mittee for the Foreign Correspon- Sarah Cook, se- geted now are people who had pre- dents’ Club of China (FCCC), and nior research analyst for East Asia viously been on the safe side of the previously reported from China at Freedom House, said China’s Communist Party’s red lines,” she for The Economist, The Guardian, crackdown is a sign of insecurity -- said, adding that many more peo- and BuzzFeed, said after increasing similar moves from authoritarian re- ple are now being jailed instead of pressure and harassment, journalists gimes around the world come from merely silenced.