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Can the Contemporary Terrorism Literature Explain Domestic Homegrown Terrorism?

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Can the Contemporary Terrorism Literature Explain Domestic Homegrown Terrorism? UNIVERSITY OF CALGARY A Growing Disconnect: Can the Contemporary Terrorism Literature Explain Domestic Homegrown Terrorism? by Michael G. Zekulin A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE FACULTY OF GRADUATE STUDIES IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY DEPARTMENT OF POLITICAL SCIENCE CALGARY, ALBERTA JUNE, 2012 © Michael G. Zekulin 2012 Library and Archives Bibliotheque et Canada Archives Canada Published Heritage Direction du Branch Patrimoine de I'edition 395 Wellington Street 395, rue Wellington Ottawa ON K1A0N4 Ottawa ON K1A 0N4 Canada Canada Your file Votre reference ISBN: 978-0-494-91075-7 Our file Notre reference ISBN: 978-0-494-91075-7 NOTICE: AVIS: The author has granted a non­ L'auteur a accorde une licence non exclusive exclusive license allowing Library and permettant a la Bibliotheque et Archives Archives Canada to reproduce, Canada de reproduire, publier, archiver, publish, archive, preserve, conserve, sauvegarder, conserver, transmettre au public communicate to the public by par telecommunication ou par I'lnternet, preter, telecommunication or on the Internet, distribuer et vendre des theses partout dans le loan, distrbute and sell theses monde, a des fins commerciales ou autres, sur worldwide, for commercial or non­ support microforme, papier, electronique et/ou commercial purposes, in microform, autres formats. paper, electronic and/or any other formats. The author retains copyright L'auteur conserve la propriete du droit d'auteur ownership and moral rights in this et des droits moraux qui protege cette these. Ni thesis. Neither the thesis nor la these ni des extraits substantiels de celle-ci substantial extracts from it may be ne doivent etre imprimes ou autrement printed or otherwise reproduced reproduits sans son autorisation. without the author's permission. In compliance with the Canadian Conformement a la loi canadienne sur la Privacy Act some supporting forms protection de la vie privee, quelques may have been removed from this formulaires secondaires ont ete enleves de thesis. cette these. While these forms may be included Bien que ces formulaires aient inclus dans in the document page count, their la pagination, il n'y aura aucun contenu removal does not represent any loss manquant. of content from the thesis. Canada Abstract The past several years have seen an increase in the number of Islamic inspired terrorist attacks targeting western democratic states. However, the individuals planning and conducting these attacks are not representatives or members of foreign terrorist groups. Instead, those perpetrating these attacks are citizens or long standing residents of those states and thus these attacks can be considered to be "domestic homegrown" terrorism. This dissertation examines this phenomenon and makes several observations. First, an in- depth examination of the modern and contemporary terrorism literature and case study analysis reveals that domestic homegrown terrorism challenges our understanding and conceptualization of terrorism since these recent attacks cannot be explained by the lliterature. Domestic homegrown terrorist attacks demonstrate key differences among four elements emphasized in the literature: role of leadership, role of the organization, socialization and the group dynamic. Second, this dissertation creates a definition of domestic homegrown terrorism which can serve as a basis for further discussion and analysis. Third, it identifies why the distinction and definition of domestic homegrown terrorism is important for those in the field of terrorism studies as well as government officials and policymakers. Domestic homegrown terrorism represents a growing threat and this dissertation provides a framework for future discussions on how it is different from terrorism previously seen and some of the challenges its unique form may pose. ii Acknowledgments I would like to thank the many people who directly or indirectly influenced and assisted me complete my PhD and this dissertation. My supervisor Dr Gavin Cameron played an invaluable role shaping, guiding and supporting the dissertation. I would also like to thank him for his patience and feedback during our many discussions. I would also like to acknowledge the members of my supervisory committee Dr. Rob Huebert and Dr. Brenda O' Neill for reading countless drafts and always providing clear advice and suggestions which improved the final project. Additionally I would like to thank the two external examiners Dr. Harry Hiller and Dr W. Andy Knight for their time and efforts. While the PhD and dissertation will be mine in name, it would not have been possible without the love, support and patience of my family. My wife Catherine set aside her own career aspirations and devoted her time to our family as well as my children Xavier and Lillian who sacrificed many "daddy" hours and allowed me to finish this project. I must also mention my parents who had every reason to give up on me but tirelessly supported and encouraged me. For mom and dad the good news is there are no more degrees left to pursue. For my wife the good news is you will never hear me utter the words "just one more year" ever again. More generally, I would like to thank all of my teachers and professors who encouraged me through the years and a special thank you to Dr. Julian Schofield who strongly encouraged me to pursue graduate studies. I must also include the staff and faculty of the Department of Political Science for all of their help and instruction throughout my degree. A special thanks to Judi Powell, Ella Wensel and Bonnie Walter who provided invaluable assistance on nearly a daily basis over the course of my studies. Finally I would like to thank my friends and colleagues who over the years have impacted me on some level professionally. These include fellow graduate students and office mates. A special thanks to my former office mate Dr Andrew Banfield who I am convinced to this day enjoyed exercising his red pen at my expense. iii Table of Contents Abstract ii Acknowledgements iii Table of Contents iv List of Figures ix List of Abbreviations x CHAPTER ONE: Introduction 1 Research Focus 5 Methodology 7 Findings 8 Organization: The "Roadmap" 10 CHAPTER TWO: The Field of Terrorism Studies - Contribution and Significance 12 The Field of Terrorism Studies 15 Contribution and Significance 22 Debates Within Terorrism Studies 27 Radicalization 34 Concluding Remarks 40 CHAPTER THREE: Defining Terrorism - Case Study Selection 41 Defining Terrorism 41 "Guerrilla War, " "Insurgency, " and Narcotics Trafficking and Terrorism 47 Further Distinctions: What this is Not 51 International Terorrism, Domestic Terrorism and Homegrown Terrorism 53 A Working Definition of "Domestic Homegrown" Terrorism 56 Methodology and Case Study Selection 57 Typology 58 Time Period 60 Geography 61 iv Case Studies Representing "Modern and Contemporary" Terrorist Groups 62 Hezbollah 62 The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) 62 The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Columbia (FARC) 63 Red Army Faction (RAF) 63 Jemaah Islamiya (Jl) 63 The Provisional Irish Republican Army (PIRA) 64 American Identity Movements: The Silent Brotherhood 64 The Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU) 64 The Omission of al-Qaida 65 Case Studies Representing "Domestic Homegrown" Terrorism 67 Madrid 2004 69 London 2005 69 Toronto 2006 69 Concluding Remarks 70 CHAPTER FOUR: Terrorism from the Modern and Contemporary Era: Four Key Elements 71 Demon ization 72 Element 1: The Role of Leadership 77 The Literature: Understanding Leadership 79 The Importance of Leadership: Targeted Killing and Assassination 82 Leadership Analysis: Examples from the Case Studies 84 Concluding Remarks on Leadership 90 Element 2: Role of the Organization 91 Justifying Organization as a Key Focal Point 92 A Brief Word on the Changing Nature of Organization and Structure 94 Functionality: Role of the Organization and the Terrorism Literature 99 Concluding Remarks on Role of the Organization 114 Element 3: Socialization 115 Early Thoughts on Socialization 115 Socialization: Beyond Pre-Existing Conditions 119 The Link between Socialization and Group Dynamic 120 Defining Socialization 122 Concluding Remarks on Socialization 126 Element 4: Group Dynamic and Identity 127 Understanding "Group Dynamics ": Groupthink and the In-Group/Out-Group Dichotomy 128 Identity 131 Identity and the Group Dynamic 132 Understanding Identity, the Group Dynamic and Terrorism 136 Concluding Remarks on Group Dynamic and Identity 138 Terrorism According to the Literature 139 Leadership 139 Markers: Defining the Role of Leadership 140 V Role of the Organization 141 Markers: Defining the Role of the Organization 142 Socialization 143 Markers: Defining Socialization 143 Group Dynamic 144 Markers: Defining Identity and the Group Dynamic 145 Omission of Alternative Explanations for Terrorism: Mental Defect and Root Causes 145 Microlevel 146 Macrolevel 147 CHAPTER FIVE: Understanding and Defining Domestic Homegrown Terrorism 149 CASE STUDY 1: MADRID 2004- M-11 149 The Attack 151 A History of Islamists in Spain: A Link? 154 Role of the Organization 155 Analysis: Role of the Organization 159 Role of Leadership 161 Serhane ben Abdelmajid Fakhet "The Tunisian " 161 Jamal Ahmidan 162 A liekema Lamar i 163 Analysis: Role of Leadership 163 Socialization and the Group Dynamic 164 Analysis: Socialization and the Group Dynamic 167 CASE STUDY 2: LONDON 2005 - 7/7 170 The Attack 172 Role of the Organization 178 Analysis: Role of the Organization 181 Role of Leadership
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