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Targeted Killing as a Counterterrorism Instrument: Evaluating Impacts on The Islamic State and Al Qaeda
Štěpán, David ; Bureš, Oldřich (advisor) ; Hynek, Nikola (referee)
This study analyzes targeted killing as a counterterrorism instrument and evaluates its impacts on the Islamic State and al-Qaeda in two separate case studies, one analyzing the death of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi while the other assesses the impact of the killing of Osama Bin Laden. The theory of leadership decapitation is applied in this thesis and the academic discourse on this theory is discussed. Additionally, moral and legal aspects of targeted killing are also briefly considered. The analysis combines a quantitative approach in the form of descriptive statistics of data regarding terrorist attacks with qualitative evaluation of other counterterrorism policies and political as well as societal aspects surrounding the operations. There are some general suggestions regarding leadership decapitation that are validated in this study. Various factors need to be considered when employing targeted killing in counterterrorism, such as the structure of the terrorist group as well as its age. This study presents evidence that targeted killing of high-ranking terrorist leaders is likely to increase the use of suicide bombing in the short-term period after leadership decapitation. It also points out evidence that there is no correlation between targeted killing and the decrease of casualties from terrorism....
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An Endless War: A Comparison of Three American Presidential Administrations during the Afghan War
Seemann, Šimon ; Raška, Francis (advisor) ; Sehnálková, Jana (referee)
The bachelor's thesis "Infinity War: A Comparison of Three US Presidents' Administrations on the War in Afghanistan" analyses and then compares the policies of the administrations of George W. Bush, Barack Obama and Donald Trump towards the war in Afghanistan, between 2001 and 2021. The focus is on the aspects that have made it difficult, even impossible, for the United States to try to build a strong state capable of functioning independently. The aim of the thesis is to create a comprehensive picture of how each administration approached the conflict in Afghanistan, how they acted, and what stood in the way of a successful ccompletion of the mission. Through a detailed look at all three policies, the thesis attempts to answer the stated research questions, to find out what are the main aspects of each administration's failure in the war in Afghanistan and define some similarities. The first three chapters of the thesis describe the visions, strategies and their subsequent implementation in the conflict. Each administration approached the conflict in a different way, which often shifted and changed during its tenure as the conflict evolved. The final, fourth chapter reveals the realities of the conflict in a different light, thanks to published government documents, and looks at the reasons that...
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Al Qaeda in Unstable States - Simalia and Pakistan
Štěpánek, Filip ; Kofroň, Jan (advisor) ; Doboš, Bohumil (referee)
Abstract This paper examines how the decay of political power and other territorial characteristics affect al-Qaeda's chances of successfully building regional cells in weak and collapsed states. Its focal point is a comparison between a case study of the FATA region of Pakistan and Somalia. It aims to uncover factors that negatively affected the functioning of the actor in Somalia, but which did not negatively affect staying in FATA. As a result, we find that the factors mentioned are mainly related to the area of recruitment, the potential for forging new alliances, security risks associated with the absence of a central authority, and the toll of deteriorating infrastructure. This observation is interesting as the FATA region presents a similar socio-political environment to Somalia. In the literature, we encounter the view, demonstrated by the case of Somalia in particular, that failed states are not ideal for terrorist groups to operate. It is therefore interesting for us to identify the reasons why al-Qaeda turned out fundamentally differently in the two cases. The author interprets the results in such a way that it is not possible to over-generalize the aforementioned lesson, and further comparative studies are necessary for this reason
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The Perception of Women in Terrorist Organizations: A Comparative Study of the Islamic state and Al Qaeda
Antonínová, Aneta ; Ditrych, Ondřej (advisor) ; Záhora, Jakub (referee)
The thesis aims to analyze the role of women in the Islamic State and Al Qaeda and determine which factors can account for the differences in their perception of women. Although the phenomenon of terrorism has been the focus of many researchers in the field of international relations, the amount of attention paid to women as perpetrators of terrorist violence is significantly smaller. Both of the studied terrorist organizations follow the radical interpretation of Islam which results in many shared views concerning female roles in society in general and in jihad in particular. However, it is possible to find differences in their opinions of women, especially in relation to a more active involvement in the groups' combat and martyrdom operations. In regards to methodology, comparative case study was chosen as the best possible method to explain these differences. The results of the analysis show that it is the worsening security context and increasing threats to the group's survival that are able to account for the acceptance of female combatants in the case of the Islamic State. On the other hand, Al Qaeda's relatively strong position does not create similar pressure for the group to change its position regarding women. Keywords Terrorism, Role of Women, Islamic State, Al Qaeda
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Methods of Recruitment and Propaganda Activities Carried Out by Terrorist Groups Inspired by the Ideology of Salafi Jihadism
Kubrina, Ekaterina ; Ditrych, Ondřej (advisor) ; Ludvík, Zdeněk (referee)
The diploma thesis is focused on the issue of radicalization of young people, who join terrorist organizations inspired by the ideology of Salafi Jihadism. Terrorist groups are one of the greatest global threats of the 21st century, and the recruitment of new fighters is their basic factor of success and growth. Therefore, the aim of the thesis is to compare the methods and techniques of recruitment used by Salafi Jihadist groups and to identify successful strategies of terrorist groups, leading to the radicalization of certain populations. The work deals with two concrete terrorist groups - the "Islamic State" and Al-Qaeda, because these groups operate globally, have sympathizers around the world, and attract different people to join them. The basis of the research is an application of different radicalization models that have been developed up to now on the observed methods and strategies of terrorist recruiters. The result of this research is a revealing of the most used methods of recruitment, the reasons of successful recruitment cases and a summarizing of the qualities of potential recruits and the factors facilitating radicalization of these persons.
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Comparing U.S. Counterterrorist Policies against Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State
Kopecká, Anna - Marie ; Ditrych, Ondřej (advisor) ; Doboš, Bohumil (referee)
The thesis deals with comparison of the United States counterterrorist policies against al- Qaeda and the Islamic state. It compares the approaches of two U.S. administrations in period from 11th September 2001 to end of the year 2014, when the Operation Enduring Freedom came to its end, and in period from July 2014, when the Operation Inherent Resolve was launched, to the end of the year 2016. The thesis characterizes similarities and differences between both strategies. It also aims to answer the question whether the U.S. approach to al- Qaeda was tougher than the one to the Islamic state. Counterterrorist policies are being compared here based on three criteria: military means employed, cooperation with international actors and extra-legalism. The first part of the thesis copes with concepts of terrorism and counter-terrorism. In the next part both approaches are analyzed separately and compared subsequently. In the conclusion the results are summarized and causes of differences between approaches are interpreted.
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The Approach of the Bush and Obama Administration to Fighting Terrorism in Afghanistan
Mikšovská, Kristýna ; Hornát, Jan (advisor) ; Raška, Francis (referee)
The Bachelor's thesis deals with the changes of the U.S. counterterrorism strategy during the presidency of George W. Bush and Barack Obama. The main purpose is to compare the pre-emption strategy with the diplomatic one, regarding the fight against terrorism. After the 11/9/2001 attacks, the threat of terrorism became the number one priority to all U.S. federal institutions responsible for ensuring security. The terrorist organization responsible for the events of 9/11 was Al-Qaeda, therefore it's activity is main subject for this analysis. Since then, the American counterterrorism strategy went through major changes and during the analysed period it went through further development. The text records mainly the period of 2001 - 2015. The main sources are doctrinal documents published frequently by each administration, and legislation released as a response to 9/11. The conclusion tries to evaluate, which part or parts of counter-terrorism strategy of each president were different from their rhetoric and whose approach was more convenient. Keywords counterterrorism, president, Bush, Obama, Afghanistan, security, threat, Al- Qaeda
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Guantánamo: have all international legal questions been answered?
Smržová, Sabina ; Trávníčková, Zuzana (advisor) ; Burešová, Jana (referee)
Through tragic events of September 11, 2001, the United States has adopted unprecedented measures regarding the treatment and detention of captured terrorists. The thesis deals with international legal questions associated with operation of detention centre Guantánamo Bay, Cuba. The main aim is to find out how have these questions been answered by examining academic writings and provisions of international law, in particular provisions of International humanitarian law and International human rights law. As a historical introduction, this thesis starts with a brief overview of the history of Guantánamo Bay. The second part focuses on four topics: the definition of conflict, status of detainees, indefinite detention and torture and enhanced interrogation techniques. Each of the topics is being viewed through the lenses of international law as well as US domestic law while describing the development of the problem and current situation.
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Al-Qaeda Before and After 09.11.2001
Andraščíková, Diana ; Makariusová, Radana (advisor) ; Ditrych, Ondřej (referee)
The objective of the master thesis is to evaluate the factors that have influenced the operational capability of al-Qaeda. In order to determine current operational capacity of al-Qaeda, the analysis is divided into three time periods and on the basis of external and internal factors affecting the changes in the structure and thus the functioning of the group, then the network, we have achieved results that we can consider as a basis for assessment of its ability to act today. Analysis of the structure of the al-Qaeda by network analysis based on the theory derived from the article of Ronald Diebert and Janice Stein entitled "Hacking Networks of Terror" is in the thesis considered to be a basis for understanding of the functioning of the network structure as well as its impact on the internal functioning of the network compared with hierarchically organized structure characteristic for the period before the terrorist attacks of 11 September 2001. The other two periods analyzed in the work are: the period after the invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq, their impacts and the third period is the period after 2011, when bin Laden, leader of al-Qaeda was killed, the revolutions of Arab Spring took place and the long-term impact of the war on terror will be included in the analysis as well. Analysis of...
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