Counter-Radicalization
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COUNTER-RADICALIZATION: COMBATING TERRORISM AT THE CORE A STUDY OF THE MOTIVATIONS AND INSPIRATIONAL LEADERS BEHIND RADICALIZATION TO VIOLENT EXTREMISM AND THE PROGRAMS DESIGNED TO COMBAT THEM by Jennifer S. Hendrickson A thesis submitted to Johns Hopkins University in conformity with the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Global Security Studies Baltimore, Maryland August 2014 © 2014 Jennifer Hendrickson All Rights Reserved ABSTRACT Radicalization to violent extremism is a critical threat to both national and global security. This thesis examines three aspects of radicalization to violent Islamic extremism and the related counter-radicalization efforts. The first chapter examines what motivations prompt women to radicalize to violent extremism and analyzes the applicability of several leading theories on motivations to four Western female case studies. In this chapter, I hypothesized that the women would exhibit motivations related more to political and religious drivers due to the relatively conflict-free setting and neutral gender roles in the West; however, the results indicate trauma/secondary traumatization and the associated revenge are significant motivators, and uniquely female motivations to restore honor should not be disregarded as a possible motive. The second chapter explores the characteristics that make leaders influential and critical to the radicalization process through a case study analysis of Abdullah Azzam and Anwar al-Awlaki. I theorized that these leaders would demonstrate charisma, effective communication, and credibility despite being deceased, which the case study analysis confirmed with the exception of Azzam’s lack of cultural resonance. Using a case study comparison of three programs with different structures, the final chapter assesses whether a government connection has a negative impact on counter-radicalization programs, and if the type of government involved influences how the connection is perceived. I hypothesized that a government connection, particularly with a Western secular government, would negatively impact a program’s legitimacy. However, the case study results indicate that an apparent connection between the messengers and the government negatively impacts program legitimacy, not simply a government connection to the program as a whole. Also, the ii case study results reveal the type of government involved does have an impact when a connection is evident between the messengers and the government. Each of the chapters addresses policy implications related to counter-radicalization and specifically effective communication of a counter narrative. Thesis Advisors: Dr. Sarah O’Byrne, Dr. Rameez Abbas, Dr. Jacob Straus, Dr. Mark Stout iii Table of Contents LIST OF TABLES ................................................................................................................................. VI INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................................... 1 THE FEMALE FRONT .............................................................................................................................................. 5 BATTLE FOR INFLUENCE ...................................................................................................................................... 7 BLAME THE MESSENGER ..................................................................................................................................... 8 BIBLIOGRAPHY ..................................................................................................................................................... 11 THE FEMALE FRONT: IMPETUSES TO EMBRACE VIOLENT EXTREMISM ........... 12 FEMALE RADICALIZATION THROUGHOUT THE LITERATURE ................................................................ 15 Political and Religious Drivers ..................................................................................................................... 18 Personal ................................................................................................................................................................. 20 METHODOLOGY FOR ANALYSIS OF FEMALE MOTIVATIONS ................................................................ 26 FEMALE VIOLENT EXTREMIST CASE STUDIES .......................................................................................... 27 Western Violent Extremists ........................................................................................................................... 29 DISCUSSION OF CASE STUDY FINDINGS AND THE RESULTING POLICY IMPLICATIONS ............... 41 CONCLUSION ......................................................................................................................................................... 45 BIBLIOGRAPHY ..................................................................................................................................................... 46 BATTLE FOR INFLUENCE: A STUDY OF THE CHARACTERISTICS OF INSPIRATIONAL TERRORIST LEADERS ................................................................................. 51 ASSESSING THE FIELD: LEADERSHIP ............................................................................................................. 53 Charisma ............................................................................................................................................................... 55 Effective Communication: Framing and Resonance ........................................................................... 58 Credibility and Authority ................................................................................................................................ 61 METHODOLOGY: STRUCTURED, FOCUSED CASE STUDY COMPARISON ........................................... 63 TERRORIST LEADER CASE STUDIES .............................................................................................................. 64 Anwar al-Awlaki ................................................................................................................................................ 65 Abdullah Azzam ................................................................................................................................................. 69 ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION OF FINDINGS .................................................................................................. 72 Charisma: .............................................................................................................................................................. 72 Effective Communication: .............................................................................................................................. 75 Credibility: ............................................................................................................................................................ 77 POLICY IMPLICATIONS ....................................................................................................................................... 80 Targeted Killing of Terrorist Leaders ....................................................................................................... 80 Countering or Preventing Violent Extremism (CVE, PVE) Programs ......................................... 82 CONCLUSION ......................................................................................................................................................... 83 BIBLIOGRAPHY ..................................................................................................................................................... 84 BLAME THE MESSENGER: AN EXAMINATION OF COUNTER-RADICALIZATION PROGRAMS AND THE IMPACT OF A GOVERNMENT CONNECTION ........................ 89 ASSESSING THE FIELD: COUNTER-RADICALIZATION EFFORTS ............................................................ 91 METHODOLOGY: STRUCTURED, FOCUSED CASE STUDY COMPARISON .......................................... 96 CURRENT COUNTER-RADICALIZATION PROGRAMS ................................................................................. 97 Sakinah Campaign (Al-Sakina) ................................................................................................................... 98 Danish Security and Intelligence Service’s (PET) Dialogue Forum ........................................... 102 Quilliam ................................................................................................................................................................ 105 iv DISCUSSION OF CASE STUDY FINDINGS .................................................................................................... 110 Clarity of Government Connection ........................................................................................................... 110 Messengers .......................................................................................................................................................... 111 POTENTIAL POLICY IMPLICATIONS FOR THE UNITED STATES ........................................................... 113 CONCLUSION ....................................................................................................................................................... 115 BIBLIOGRAPHY ................................................................................................................................................... 117 CONCLUSION