Terrorism in Asymmetrical Conflict: Ideological and Structural Aspects TERRORISM in T
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23 SIPRI Research Reports S T E This series of reports examines urgent arms control and security subjects. The P A SIPRI Research Report No. 23 reports are concise, timely and authoritative sources of information. SIPRI N researchers and commissioned experts present new findings as well as easily O V accessible collections of official documents and data. A Terrorism in Asymmetrical Conflict: Ideological and Structural Aspects TERRORISM IN T This thought-provoking book challenges the conventional discourse on—and E responses to—contemporary terrorism. It examines the synergy between the R R extremist ideologies and the organizational models of non-state actors that O R ASYMMETRICAL use terrorist means in asymmetrical conflict. This synergy is what makes these I terrorist groups so resilient in the face of the counterterrorist efforts of their main S M opponents—the state and the international system—which are conventionally I far more powerful. N A CONFLICT The book argues that the high mobilization potential of the supra-national S extremist ideology inspired by al-Qaeda cannot be effectively counterbalanced Y at the global level by either the mainstream secular ideologies or moderate Islam. M Instead, it is more likely to be affected and transformed by radical nationalism. M IDEOLOGICAL AND E Unless the political transformation of violent Islamist movements in specific T national contexts is encouraged and the transnational ideology of violent R I Islamism is ‘nationalized’, it is unlikely to be amenable to external influence C A STRUCTURAL ASPECTS or to be destroyed by repression. L C O About the author N EKATERINA STEPANOVA F Dr Ekaterina Stepanova (Russia) has led the SIPRI Armed Conflicts and Conflict L I Management Project since 2007. She has led a research group on non-traditional C security threats at the Institute of World Economy and International Relations T (IMEMO), Moscow, since 2001 and prior to that she worked at the Moscow Center of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. She is the author of Rol' narkobiznesa v politekonomii konfliktov i terrorizma [The role of the illicit drug business in the political economy of conflicts and terrorism] (Ves Mir, 2005), Anti- terrorism and Peace-building During and After Conflict, SIPRI Policy Paper no. 2 (2003), and Voenno–grazhdanskie otnosheniya v operatsiyakh nevoennogo tipa [Civil–military relations in operations other than war] (Prava Cheloveka, 2001). She serves on the editorial boards of Terrorism and Political Violence and Security Index. 1 2 23 SIPRI Research Reports S T E This series of reports examines urgent arms control and security subjects. The P A SIPRI Research Report No. 23 reports are concise, timely and authoritative sources of information. SIPRI N researchers and commissioned experts present new findings as well as easily O V accessible collections of official documents and data. A Terrorism in Asymmetrical Conflict: Ideological and Structural Aspects TERRORISM IN T This thought-provoking book challenges the conventional discourse on—and E responses to—contemporary terrorism. It examines the synergy between the R R extremist ideologies and the organizational models of non-state actors that O R ASYMMETRICAL use terrorist means in asymmetrical conflict. This synergy is what makes these I terrorist groups so resilient in the face of the counterterrorist efforts of their main S M opponents—the state and the international system—which are conventionally I far more powerful. N A CONFLICT The book argues that the high mobilization potential of the supra-national S extremist ideology inspired by al-Qaeda cannot be effectively counterbalanced Y at the global level by either the mainstream secular ideologies or moderate Islam. M Instead, it is more likely to be affected and transformed by radical nationalism. M IDEOLOGICAL AND E Unless the political transformation of violent Islamist movements in specific T national contexts is encouraged and the transnational ideology of violent R I Islamism is ‘nationalized’, it is unlikely to be amenable to external influence C A STRUCTURAL ASPECTS or to be destroyed by repression. L C O About the author N EKATERINA STEPANOVA F Dr Ekaterina Stepanova (Russia) has led the SIPRI Armed Conflicts and Conflict L I Management Project since 2007. She has led a research group on non-traditional C security threats at the Institute of World Economy and International Relations T (IMEMO), Moscow, since 2001 and prior to that she worked at the Moscow Center of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. She is the author of Rol' narkobiznesa v politekonomii konfliktov i terrorizma [The role of the illicit drug business in the political economy of conflicts and terrorism] (Ves Mir, 2005), Anti- terrorism and Peace-building During and After Conflict, SIPRI Policy Paper no. 2 (2003), and Voenno–grazhdanskie otnosheniya v operatsiyakh nevoennogo tipa [Civil–military relations in operations other than war] (Prava Cheloveka, 2001). She serves on the editorial boards of Terrorism and Political Violence and Security Index. 1 2 TERRORISM IN ASYMMETRICAL CONFLICT IDEOLOGICAL AND STRUCTURAL ASPECTS SIPRI Research Report No. 23 EKATERINA STEPANOVA 1 This PDF file was downloaded from the SIPRI Publications website, books.sipri.org. The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute is an independent institution whose task is to conduct research on questions of conflict and cooperation of importance for international peace and security. SIPRI’s aim is to contribute to an understanding of the conditions for peaceful solutions of international conflicts and for a stable peace. More information on SIPRI is available at www.sipri.org. A printed edition of this book is also available. How to order From OUP in the UK Online: http://www.oup.com/uk/catalogue/?ci= 9780199533558 (hardback, £35) http://www.oup.com/uk/catalogue/?ci= 9780199533565 (paperback, £12.99) By telephone: +44 1536 741 727 By fax: +44 1536 746 337 By email: [email protected] From OUP in the USA Online: http://www.oup.com/us/catalog/general/?ci= 9780199533558 (hardback, $70) http://www.oup.com/us/catalog/general/?ci= 9780199533565 (paperback, $25.95) By telephone: +1-800-451-7556 (USA) or +1-919-677-0977 By fax: +1-919-677-1303 Other SIPRI Research Reports from OUP No. 22 Reforming Nuclear Export Controls: The Future of the Nuclear Suppliers Group, by Ian Anthony, Christer Ahlström and Vitaly Fedchenko (2007) No. 21 Europe and Iran: Perspectives on Non-proliferation, edited by Shannon N. 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Mak (1997) No. 12 Challenges for the New Peacekeepers, edited by Trevor Findlay (1996) No. 11 China’s Arms Acquisitions from Abroad: A Quest for ‘Superb and Secret Weapons’, by Bates Gill and Taeho Kim (1995) No. 10 The Soviet Nuclear Weapon Legacy, by Marco De Andreis and Francesco Calogero (1995) No. 9 Cambodia: The Legacy and Lessons of UNTAC, by Trevor Findlay (1995) No. 8 Implementing the Comprehensive Test Ban: New Aspects of Definition, Organization and Verification, edited by Eric Arnett (1994) No. 7 The Future of Defence Industries in Central and Eastern Europe, edited by Ian Anthony (1994) No. 6 Arms Watch: SIPRI Report on the First Year of the UN Register of Conventional Arms, by Edward J. Laurance, Siemon T. Wezeman and Herbert Wulf (1993) No. 5 Nationalism and Ethnic Conflict: Threats to European Security, by Stephen Iwan Griffiths (1993) Information on all SIPRI publications is available at books.sipri.org Terrorism in Asymmetrical Conflict Ideological and Structural Aspects Stockholm International Peace Research Institute SIPRI is an independent international institute for research into problems of peace and conflict, especially those of arms control and disarmament. It was established in 1966 to commemorate Sweden’s 150 years of unbroken peace. The Institute is financed mainly by a grant proposed by the Swedish Government and subsequently approved by the Swedish Parliament. The staff and the Governing Board are international. The Institute also has an Advisory Committee as an international consultative body. The Governing Board is not responsible for the views expressed in the publications of the Institute. Governing Board Ambassador Rolf Ekéus, Chairman (Sweden) Dr Willem F. van Eekelen, Vice-Chairman (Netherlands) Dr Alexei G. Arbatov (Russia) Jayantha Dhanapala (Sri Lanka) Dr Nabil Elaraby (Egypt) Rose E. Gottemoeller (United States) Professor Mary Kaldor (United Kingdom) Professor Ronald G. Sutherland (Canada) The Director Director Bates Gill (United States) Stockholm International Peace Research Institute Signalistgatan 9, SE-169 70 Solna, Sweden Telephone: 46 8/655 97 00 Fax: 46 8/655 97 33 Email: [email protected]