Abstract
This research explores the factors, dynamics and circumstances that explain how and why terrorist organisations decide to integrate into political systems. The research proposes that such integration is a result of decisions and actions taken by a terrorist organisation, the state that deals with it and the surrounding international system.The research propositions are tested against three cases of terrorist organisations that successfully integrated into political systems: the Irgun, the Ulster Volunteer Force and Hizballah. The findings determine that the presence of certain factors, whether on the organisational, domestic or international levels – and preferably all at the same time – provide the necessary conditions for a successful integration to occur.
The research concludes that the most dominant parameters that create the necessary conditions for terrorists' political integration are: (a) fluctuation in the level of public support for the terrorist organisation's strategy and tactics, (b) internal split in the ranks of a terrorist organisation if one faction becomes more moderate than the other, (c) the mix of aggressive and accommodating counter-terrorism policies employed by the state, and (d) the level and impact of international involvement in the conflict. In situations where these parameters are present and have a tangible influence on a terrorist organisation's decisions, behaviour and actions, the process of integration into a political system by the terrorist organisation is not only more likely, but also faster and more efficient.
Ultimately, the research offers a theoretical model that could potentially provide a set of guidelines for decision-makers on how to instigate, encourage or enhance a transformation process within terrorist organisations, from militant strategy and extremist doctrine toward acceptance of political strategy and democratic principle-based ideology as the sole means to achieve their objectives.
Date of Award | 2014 |
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Original language | English |
Awarding Institution |
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Supervisor | Lawrence Freedman (Supervisor) & Peter Neumann (Supervisor) |