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Full-Text Articles in Social and Behavioral Sciences

Cover & Front Matter Dec 2010

Cover & Front Matter

Journal of Strategic Security

No abstract provided.


Devolving Jihadism, Aaron Rosler Dec 2010

Devolving Jihadism, Aaron Rosler

Journal of Strategic Security

The danger and effectiveness of religiously motivated terrorist organizations is undeniable. However, a different type of threat is on the rise on the global playing field as a result of the ongoing operations against these organizations. "Devolved" jihadism, Islamist terrorism conducted by native, amateur, untrained and unfunded individuals, or small ad hoc groups, has recently garnered headlines and the attention of terrorists and counterterrorists alike. These devolved jihadist operations are planned and carried out by native members of a country's populace, radicalized in their home country, resulting in the interchangeable monikers of "homegrown" or "grassroots" jihadism.


Book Reviews, Edward J. Hagerty, David B. Gray, Edward M. Roche, Mark Roberts Dec 2010

Book Reviews, Edward J. Hagerty, David B. Gray, Edward M. Roche, Mark Roberts

Journal of Strategic Security

No abstract provided.


International Security Strategy And Global Population Aging, Christian Leuprecht Dec 2010

International Security Strategy And Global Population Aging, Christian Leuprecht

Journal of Strategic Security

To be successful, grand strategy requires objectives, concepts, and resources to be balanced appropriately with a view to defeating one’s enemy. The trouble is, of course, that Generals are always well prepared to fight the last war. In the words of Yogi Berra, predictions are always difficult, especially when they involve the future. Yet, grand strategy is all about the future. But how is one to strategize about a future that is inherently difficult to predict? One way to overcome this conundrum is to rely on independent variables that can be projected into the future with reasonable accuracy. Aside from …


Operation Opera: An Ambiguous Success, Joshua Kirschenbaum Dec 2010

Operation Opera: An Ambiguous Success, Joshua Kirschenbaum

Journal of Strategic Security

To assess the efficacy of Israel's strike on Osirak, one must determine Israel's strategic objectives and their material effects on Iraqi capabilities. The capacity of the facilities to produce fissionable material without detection remains in dispute. So, too, does the timeline—and therefore the imminence—of Iraqi acquisition of a nuclear option. The political cost-benefit equation in this case requires a fair dose of subjective judgment. How much did the Israelis delay the program? How much did Iraqi motivation increase post facto? Is military counter-proliferation a viable strategy? Was the potential Iraqi bomb worth risking a bold, unprovoked attack that inevitably drew …


The Security Impact Of Oil Nationalization: Alternate Futures Scenarios, Peter Johnston Dec 2010

The Security Impact Of Oil Nationalization: Alternate Futures Scenarios, Peter Johnston

Journal of Strategic Security

This article highlights the security impact of oil nationalization, develops and analyzes four energy security scenarios, and suggests options to reduce the potential negative impact of oil nationalization. In addition to the use of oil as a weapon, nationalization of oil can also lead to competition for scarce resources among states, facilitate the funding of terrorists or insurgents, contribute to destabilizing regional arms races, influence intra-state conflict, and sustain antagonistic political agendas.


The November 2010 Elections: Verification And Nuclear Weapons Reduction, Ibpp Editor Nov 2010

The November 2010 Elections: Verification And Nuclear Weapons Reduction, Ibpp Editor

International Bulletin of Political Psychology

The author discusses the results of the November 2010 elections in the United States (US), the transition of power between two very different Senates, and US participation in international treaties pertaining to nuclear weapons. Of note, are the roles of and problems with the idea of verification as per modern logical positivism.


The Yemen Narrative: Cargo Cults And Cargo Security, Ibpp Editor Nov 2010

The Yemen Narrative: Cargo Cults And Cargo Security, Ibpp Editor

International Bulletin of Political Psychology

The author gives a psychological perspective on the security of aviation cargo shipments.


European Identity Struggles In The Age Of Austerity, Par Engstrom Nov 2010

European Identity Struggles In The Age Of Austerity, Par Engstrom

Human Rights & Human Welfare

The economic crisis has coincided with a discernible rise of right-wing populist parties in a number of European countries. This was most recently seen in elections in Belgium, the Netherlands, and Sweden. Right-wing populist parties also hold parliamentary seats in Austria, Denmark, Finland, and Norway, and they have been part of coalition governments in Italy and Switzerland for some time. In France, Jean-Marie Le Pen’s National Front, although not represented in parliament, wields considerable political influence, and may receive an additional electoral boost should Le Pen’s daughter, Marine Le Pen, inherit the party leadership. True, these parties still enjoy only …


In Drag On Drugs, Ibpp Editor Oct 2010

In Drag On Drugs, Ibpp Editor

International Bulletin of Political Psychology

Since commentators generally assert that the war on illegal and illicit drugs has been a failure, we should evaluate the assertion and, then, opine on why there is a war, winnable or not.


Memory And True Lies, Ibpp Editor Oct 2010

Memory And True Lies, Ibpp Editor

International Bulletin of Political Psychology

This article discusses the concept of memory, its relation to culture, and three hypothetical phenomena associated with it.


Giving Foot The Boot: Right Or Wrong?, Ibpp Editor Oct 2010

Giving Foot The Boot: Right Or Wrong?, Ibpp Editor

International Bulletin of Political Psychology

The article examines philosopher Philippa Foot’s famous conundrum – The Trolley Problem.


Cybersecurity: Growing Like Topsy!, Ibpp Editor Oct 2010

Cybersecurity: Growing Like Topsy!, Ibpp Editor

International Bulletin of Political Psychology

This article discusses cybersecurity in an intelligence context – what it is, what it does to us, and the sudden (and somewhat unplanned) increase in financial support for the area.


Conceptualizing Terrorist Violence And Suicide Bombing, Murad Ismayilov Oct 2010

Conceptualizing Terrorist Violence And Suicide Bombing, Murad Ismayilov

Journal of Strategic Security

This article presents an analysis of different approaches to terrorist violence, with a particular focus on suicide terrorism, using the above mentioned levels of analysis as a conceptual framework to organize this study. In doing so, the article focuses primarily on four selected studies: Khashan's theory of collective Palestinian frustration operating at individual and structural levels; Pape's strategic theory of suicide terrorism, Devji's notion of global jihad, and Hammes' conceptualization of suicide terrorism as one of the strategies of Fourth Generation Warfare, all studied at a strategic level. Drawing on these analyses, as well as on Tilly, this article attempts …


Political Terrorism: An Historical Case Study Of The Italian Red Brigades, Major Victor H. Sundquist Oct 2010

Political Terrorism: An Historical Case Study Of The Italian Red Brigades, Major Victor H. Sundquist

Journal of Strategic Security

As the world's governments become increasingly engulfed in economic and political strife, international leaders should step back and understand what historical realities enabled political extremism to surface in particular regions of the world. More important, these leaders need to recognize what past governments did to counter these movements. Global communities are currently witnessing a dynamic trend of populous uprisings that in some cases, like Greece and the United States, have the potential to severely disrupt the activities of local governments. Consequently, it behooves leaders to reflect upon historical precedence in order to avoid repeating the same mistakes of our forefathers. …


Cover & Front Matter Oct 2010

Cover & Front Matter

Journal of Strategic Security

No abstract provided.


Book Reviews, Edward M. Roche, John Coale, Keely M. Fahoum, Leland Erickson, Mark J. Roberts, Millard E. Moon, Ed.D., Colonel (Ret.) Oct 2010

Book Reviews, Edward M. Roche, John Coale, Keely M. Fahoum, Leland Erickson, Mark J. Roberts, Millard E. Moon, Ed.D., Colonel (Ret.)

Journal of Strategic Security

No abstract provided.


Understanding The Appeal Of The Taliban In Pakistan, Syed Manzar Abbas Zaidi Oct 2010

Understanding The Appeal Of The Taliban In Pakistan, Syed Manzar Abbas Zaidi

Journal of Strategic Security

This article briefly explores the economics of the "Talibanization" of Pakistan within descriptive and contextual paradigms, while attempting to find a best solution to counter rising militancy in the context of realities facing the population on the ground. One such solution is the National Pakistani Counter Terrorism and Extremism Strategy (NACTES), designed to curb Taliban financing in Pakistan. The strategy is being drafted by National Counter Terrorism Authority (NACTA), the nascent homeland security coordination body set up by the state as the primary public organ entrusted with counterterrorism, counter-extremism, and de-radicalization efforts of the state.


Social Cohesion And Islamic Radicalization: Implications From The Uighur Insurgency, Tong Zhao Oct 2010

Social Cohesion And Islamic Radicalization: Implications From The Uighur Insurgency, Tong Zhao

Journal of Strategic Security

This article starts with a critical review of the current literature on the Islamic radicalization and Uighur insurgency in Xinjiang, pointing out that existing literature focuses too narrowly on certain aspects of the Uighur insurgency, and is insufficient to explain the causal mechanism of the insurgency and Islamic radicalization. Built upon historical evidence, this article uses sociological analysis to explore the structural changes in the Uighur community over the past decades, and demonstrates the importance and effectiveness of social cohesion theory in identifying the key causal variables which underlie and determine the course of Uighur insurgency and Islamic radicalization. The …


Eriksonian Identity Theory In Counterterrorism, Cally O'Brien Oct 2010

Eriksonian Identity Theory In Counterterrorism, Cally O'Brien

Journal of Strategic Security

Certain terrorists come from unexpected backgrounds. They give up comfortable lives and opportunities in order to wage jihad. Their existence has puzzled various theorists since they came to light. This article will explain how a theory of psychosocial identity formation created by Erik Erikson and his student James Marcia may explain this phenomenon. It will also explain how Erikson's theoretical legacy has contributed to current attempts at increasing moderation in the Middle East through education. Many of those attempts reflect ideas that are drawn from Eriksonian theory, although they are not typically described in Eriksonian terms. Meanwhile, while some theorists …


Venus In Furs: Why False Confessions Are True, Ibpp Editor Sep 2010

Venus In Furs: Why False Confessions Are True, Ibpp Editor

International Bulletin of Political Psychology

The author discusses the nature of truth and false confessions in the context of confession and interrogation.


The Strange Fruit Of 9/11, Ibpp Editor Sep 2010

The Strange Fruit Of 9/11, Ibpp Editor

International Bulletin of Political Psychology

The author discusses the 9/11/2001 terrorist attacks and the larger psychological narrative and context of the attacks. Stoicism is considered as a viable response.


American Graffiti: Musings On The Ground Zero Mosque, Ibpp Editor Sep 2010

American Graffiti: Musings On The Ground Zero Mosque, Ibpp Editor

International Bulletin of Political Psychology

The author discusses reactions and parallels to a mosque proposed near the site of the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center in public discourse.


Physical-Strength Rationales For De Jure Exclusion Of Women From Military Combat Positions, Maia Goodell Aug 2010

Physical-Strength Rationales For De Jure Exclusion Of Women From Military Combat Positions, Maia Goodell

Seattle University Law Review

Women have been serving in the military in steadily increasing numbers for decades. Nevertheless, the military remains one of the few areas in which the U.S. government decides what roles are open to women based on de jure exclusions. This Article examines the law governing de jure classification, noting that a mere normative belief about women’s proper place in society is an insufficient basis to justify a sex-based exclusion. It then probes the most common rationale advanced in support of the continued de jure exclusion of women: physical strength. The Article examines four problems with the physical strength rationale: (1) …


Dirty Laundry: A Philosophical Primer For Politicians On Scandal, Ibpp Editor Aug 2010

Dirty Laundry: A Philosophical Primer For Politicians On Scandal, Ibpp Editor

International Bulletin of Political Psychology

This article discusses the management of post-sex scandals by politicians from a variety of theoretical and/or philosophical perspectives.


Fool For Love: The Psychology Of Security Violation, Ibpp Editor Aug 2010

Fool For Love: The Psychology Of Security Violation, Ibpp Editor

International Bulletin of Political Psychology

This article discusses why Pfc. Bradley Manning, United States (US) Army, who has been accused of illegally disclosing classified material—more than 150,000 diplomatic cables, 90,000 intelligence reports, and at least one video – allegedly performed the actions in question.


Are You Down With Ppp? A Look At Prohibited Personnel Practices In The United States Government, Ibpp Editor Aug 2010

Are You Down With Ppp? A Look At Prohibited Personnel Practices In The United States Government, Ibpp Editor

International Bulletin of Political Psychology

This article discusses the prevalence of identified proscribed personnel practices, and the power dynamics of such identifications among federal employees.


The Profiler's Story, Ibpp Editor Aug 2010

The Profiler's Story, Ibpp Editor

International Bulletin of Political Psychology

Courtesy of commercial television, we better be good. Or else the profilers will get us. It turns out that applied science and its sidekicks intuition and psychism (what psychics do) have our number. One step out of line and our number will be called, and we’ll be served our due comeuppance and just desserts. But is profiling more dessert or desert—or upon close inspection fated to desert us as a valuable tool in deterring or identifying perpetrators of egregious misbehavior? This article describes some implicit assumptions—as contradictory and interdependent as some may be—on which profiling often rests. For these purposes, …


Human Rights At The “Core” Of Uk Foreign Policy Requires Respect For Core Human Rights, Erin Mooney Aug 2010

Human Rights At The “Core” Of Uk Foreign Policy Requires Respect For Core Human Rights, Erin Mooney

Human Rights & Human Welfare

The true measure of whether human rights indeed are the "irreducible core" of the UK’s new foreign policy will be the extent to which the coalition government respects and protects “core” human rights.


Uk Foreign Policy And Human Rights, Par Engstrom Aug 2010

Uk Foreign Policy And Human Rights, Par Engstrom

Human Rights & Human Welfare

William Hague’s assertion that human rights should constitute the “irreducible core” of foreign policy under the new UK coalition government may seem a radical departure for the new Foreign Secretary. Hague is, after all, a leading figure in the British Conservative Party, which in its recent election manifesto called for the repeal of the UK’s Human Rights Act that incorporates the European Convention on Human Rights into UK law. Given this profound ambivalence over the substantive value of human rights at home, the new UK government is not likely to adopt more assertive human rights policies abroad. Human rights advocates …