Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Private Military Contractors, Security Forces, And Mercenaries, Naomi Pearson

Laurier Undergraduate Journal of the Arts

No abstract provided.

Egypt’S Coup & Future Of Democracy In Post Arab Spring Middle East (2015), Shams Uz Zaman Mr.

Mr. Shams uz Zaman

The initial optimism that a democratic regional order would emerge as a consequence to the sweeping Arab Spring in Middle East and Africa has gradually faded away. The revolutionary, but generally peaceful and smooth, changeover from long autocracy of Mubarak was again quickly reversed by the Egyptian military and lately been been endorsed by the US and EU. The reaction from the Brotherhood, which had been a mainstream political party, was mixed. As the violence and terrorism take over the Egyptian political landscape, there is little hope that Egypt would return to normal. Military takeover in Egypt marks marks the …

Afghan Narcoterrorism: The Problem, Its Origins, And Why International Law Enforcement Should Fight It, Steven Fantigrossi

Honors Capstone Projects - All

This paper provides insight into the issue of opium trafficking in Afghanistan. In 2014, despite U.S., Afghan, and international efforts since 2001, poppy-opium cultivation in Afghanistan reached an all-time high. The Afghan opium trafficking industry provides funding to terrorist groups and transnational crime organizations and is responsible for the continued corruption of government officials, police officers, and intelligence agents in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran, and other nations. Aside from increased corruption and funding of terrorists and criminals, the opium trade creates opium and heroin addicts out of men, women, and children across the globe. The history of how the opium problem …

Isis: Trends In Terrorist Media And Propaganda, Kyle J. Greene

International Studies Capstone Research Papers

This paper explores the rise of ISIS in the realm of terrorist media and propaganda. It starts off by first examining trends and goals in terrorist use of media in the past, with emphasis on al Qaeda as a particular example. The main differences between al Qaeda and ISIS are reviewed, before a lengthy exploration of major examples of ISIS propaganda is given. Strategies in the use of social media are explored, as well as in-depth analysis of several issues from two online publications, the Islamic State Report and Dabiq. Several major video releases are also analyzed, focusing on “Flames …

Shattered Silence: Unmuting The Voices Of Syrian Refugees, Denida Chapman, Laura Klodnicki, Megan Lowry, Abbie E. Patzke

The Research and Scholarship Symposium (2013-2019)

The Syrian conflict has affected over 12 million people in the past five years resulting in one of the most devastating forced migrations in global history. Through literature reviews and further research, this presentation will define the context that fostered the refugee crisis, as well as outline the current conditions experienced by refugees remaining in and outside of Syria. After exposing the cause of this catastrophe as well as highlighting present injustices, presenters will examine the impact of this event on refugees and explore future implications of the crisis. Finally, insight will be provided as to how individuals can become …

Kittens And Nutella: Why Women Join Isis, Samantha K. Smith

What All Americans Should Know About Women in the Muslim World

On February 18, 2015 CNN published a reported stating that Western women were leaving their homes to join ISIS because of a social media campaign featuring pictures of kittens and Nutella. This reported propagated the notion that women who join jihadist organizations are brainwashed or feeble minded. The reality is not so simple. This paper explores the motives women may have for joining ISIS through comparison to the motivations that drove women to partake in other violent jihadist organizations' activities.

Religious Extremism And Sectarian Violence: The Rise Of Isis, Jordan Haven

Ex-Patt Magazine

How has the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (also known as IS, ISIS, or ISIL) managed to take over such a large swath of territory in the Middle East?

Rise Of Non-State Actors In Middle East: Regional Dimensions, Shams Uz Zaman Mr.

Mr. Shams uz Zaman

The situation in the Middle East has become extremely precarious due to issues which can be traced back to the colonial era. Imprudently drawn state borders, unsettled disputes like Palestine and ethno-religious schisms accentuate the inter-state and intra-state rivalries which have spun out of control due to foreign interventions. Extremist radical Islam acquired new dimensions after 9/11 which consequently painted the 2003 Iraq war in ideological colours. A new trend of radicalization is visible across the region from Lebanon to Pakistan, which has resulted in the emergence of non-state actors. The raging conflict in and across the Middle East can …

Defeating Isis: The Need For A Cooperative Effort, Sabrina Chikhi

Journal of Interdisciplinary Conflict Science

The purpose of this paper is to highlight the importance of a collective approach in the fight against the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria also known as ISIS. The approach of the international community had been doomed to failure because it excluded key players in the region. In order to annihilate this terrorist group and the threat it poses to international security, this article proposes a revision of the approach to the resolution of this problem through the inclusion of all the parties susceptible to secure an efficient contribution to that endeavor before the situation becomes irremediable. In order …

Twelve Years Later: Afghan Humanitarian Aid Workers On War On Terror, Emmanuel C. Ogwude

Department of Conflict Resolution Studies Theses and Dissertations

Using narrative research study founded in social constructionism, I explored the lived experiences of thirty Afghan humanitarian aid workers in Kabul, Afghanistan, to discover how they experienced the war on terror. Ten participants were individually interviewed and their stories, personal experiences, perceptions, and voices have been presented in this study. I also facilitated a focus group of twenty Afghan NGO directors, and their views are echoed in the study. The participants represented a diversity of different humanitarian service specialties that cater to Afghan individuals, communities, and government agencies in areas such as education, human rights and good governance, food and …

German Foreign Fighters In Syria And Iraq, Daniel H. Heinke, Jan Raudszus

Dr. Daniel H. Heinke