Terrorism Studies Commons^™

Jihad As Discourse: The Houthi Movement's Official Rhetoric On The 2023–2024 Red Sea Attacks, Moh. Iqbal Bulgini, Imam Khomaeni Hayatullah

Journal of Terrorism Studies

This study examines how Ansar Allah (the Houthi movement) constructs and legitimises a jihad discourse through official speeches and formal statements issued by military spokesperson Yahya Sarea and the movement's official platforms during the 2023–2024 Red Sea attacks. Employing Norman Fairclough's three-dimensional Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) framework—integrating textual analysis, discursive practice, and sociocultural context—the study analyses a purposive corpus of 45 verified institutional texts. Three dominant and mutually reinforcing discursive formations are identified: (1) the Humanitarian-Juridical Discourse, which reconstitutes armed attacks as legally and morally obligatory acts of protection; (2) the Anti-Hegemonic Resistance Discourse, which constructs the movement as a …

Indonesia And The Global Maritime Fulcrum: Structural Crisis Of The Four Pillars Of Maritime Power, Frisca Ayu Suciandika

Journal of Terrorism Studies

This article critically examines Indonesia’s position in realizing its vision as a Global Maritime Fulcrum through an analysis of four main pillars of maritime power: maritime science, financial strength, maritime industry, and naval defense. The study is motivated by the paradox between Indonesia’s vast geographical and historical potential as an archipelagic state and its limited structural capacity to build modern maritime power. This research employs a qualitative descriptive approach using library research and critical analysis of academic literature, international data, and Indonesian maritime policy documents. The findings show that Indonesia still faces an epistemic deficit in maritime science due to …

Critical Geopolitics And The Reconstruction Of Meaning: A Discourse Analysis Of The 'Terrorism' Label Applied To Hamas By Western Hegemony, Cahaya Mulyani Sakti, M.Hamdan Basyar

Journal of Terrorism Studies

The emergence of Hamas in 1987 cannot be separated from the configuration of modern colonialism and the continuity of occupation that shaped the political reality. Hamas’s early phase was rooted in socio-religious activities through education and community empowerment programs, before evolving into armed resistance against the occupation. The labeling of Hamas as a “terrorist” organization began in the mid-1990s in U.S. legal documents, which subsequently generated debate and gave rise to counter-narratives. This study employs the frameworks of critical geopolitics (Ó Tuathail & Agnew) and the Discourse-Historical Approach (Wodak) to analyze the labeling of Hamas as “terrorist” by Western hegemony. …

Governance Structures And Conflict Mitigation Strategies In Food Supply Chains: Evidence From Niger State, Nigeria, Araoye Olarinkoye Ajiboye, Aminu Kandi Suleiman, Habila Daniel Diko, Tayo Moses Adebayo

Journal of Terrorism Studies

Food supply chains in fragile and semi-institutionalised economies continue to experience persistent instability driven by weak governance structures and recurring conflicts among market actors. However, despite extensive studies on food system challenges in Nigeria, there remains limited empirical understanding of how governance structures interact with conflict mitigation mechanisms to shape system stability at the local market level. Available literature tends to treat governance and conflict management as separate processes, thus overlooking their interdependent dynamics within everyday market operations. This study addresses this gap by examining governance structures and conflict mitigation strategies in food supply chains in Niger State, Nigeria. Anchored …

The Effect Of Incompatibility Types On The Escalation Of Global Armed Conflicts, Michael Haratua Rajagukguk, Ruben Cornelius Siagian Rcs

Journal of Terrorism Studies

Global armed conflicts show variations in intensity influenced by the type of issue incompatibility. This study aims to analyze the influence of territorial, ideological, and combined incompatibilities on the probability of high-intensity conflict escalation, as well as its implications for conflict mitigation strategies. Global conflict dyadic data were analyzed using a multilevel logistic regression model with controls for time, region, and conflict type. The results show that ideology-based conflicts have a lower probability of reaching high intensity than territorial conflicts (OR ≈ 0.51, p < 0.05), while conflicts with a combination of ideology and territory tend to be at greater risk of high escalation (AM effect ≈ +26.6 points), although the effect is not yet statistically significant. Temporal analysis shows a downward trend in conflict intensity over time, especially in the post-Cold War period, while regional effects and conflict types show significant variation. These findings fill a gap in the literature on the dual interaction of ideological and territorial claims, showing that the highest escalation of violence occurs when symbolic and material dimensions are intertwined. In conclusion, conflict escalation is more influenced by a combination of issues and structural characteristics of conflict than by ideology alone. The novelty of this research lies in the identification of the strengthening effect of dual incompatibility and the downward trend in conflict intensity after the Cold War, which emphasizes the importance of a relational and temporal context-based mitigation approach in global conflict management.

Hybrid Threats In The Lake Chad Basin: The Nexus Between Terrorism, Illicit Wealth, And Transborder Crime, Cletus C. N. Nwadiogbu

Journal of Terrorism Studies

Threats to security in the Lake Chad Basin have changed over the years and hybrid elements have become interweaved. Sustained Boko Haram and ISWAP activities have increased the insecurity in the region, enabling the mixing of armed insurgency and organized criminals, including narcotics dealers, extortion rackets, arms trafficking, drugs production and smuggling, kidnapping and fuel smuggling among Nigeria, Niger, Chad and Cameroon states. Nexus elements of illicit wealth, illicit transborder crime and terrorism were thus analysed as interdependent and contributing elements to Hybrid threats in the Basin. The study used a hybrid design (qualitative-quantitative) documenting data from the following institutions: …

Transactional Peace Without Reconciliation: A Dialectical Analysis Of Power In Trump’S Israel–Palestine (Hamas) Peace Plan, Syaiful Rohman, Lydia Freyani Hawadi, Moh. Iqbal Bulgini Ib

Journal of Terrorism Studies

Abstract

The Israel– Palestine (Hamas) conflict in the Gaza Strip has persisted for decades, marked by cyclical violence and chronic diplomatic stalemate. One of the latest attempts to end this enduring conflict emerged from the initiative of U.S. President Donald J. Trump through the so-called “20-Point Gaza Peace Plan,” which was claimed to offer a comprehensive solution. However, this approach has been widely criticized for its transactional nature, perceived bias, and neglect of the historical and existential complexities underlying the conflict. This article aims to critically analyze Trump’s peace initiative through the philosophical framework of Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel (1807), …

Impact Of Pakistan-Nigeria Defense Cooperation On The Nigerian Armed Forces, Adekunle James Okhogbe

Journal of Terrorism Studies

The study examined the impact of Pakistan-Nigeria Defense Cooperation on the Nigerian Armed Forces. The study utilized a descriptive survey and documentary research design to provide a comprehensive analysis of the cooperation’s dimensions. The target population comprised serving personnel across the Nigerian Armed Forces, including the Army, Navy, and Air Force, estimated at approximately 20,000 members nationwide. Using the Taro Yamane sample size determination technique, a sample size of 400 respondents was drawn from this population. Primary and secondary data collection methods were applied. Descriptive statistics and multiple linear regression analysis were employed to analyze the data. The findings revealed …

The Rise Of Lukarawa: Analyzing The Factors Contributing To The Emergence Of A New Terrorist Group In Nigeria, Eziho Promise Ogele

Journal of Terrorism Studies

The paper examined historical and socio-economic factors contributing to the emergence of Lakurawa terrorism in North West Nigeria. The Lakurawa is one of the terrorist organizations operated in Nigerian Republic's forests that is situated along its shoreline, which became a haven for terrorist groups. Approximately seven camps are operating in areas such as Bangi, Dankano, Galmi, Maradi, Masallata, and YarBasira. The strategic location enables free movement between Nigeria and Niger, facilitating the establishment of hidden camps within the vast bushlands of the region. The absence of the federal government created an ungoverned space, leading to a power vacuum. The paper …

The Dynamics Of Terrorism And Counter-Terrorism: The South Africa Experience, Oluranti Samson Afowowe

Journal of Terrorism Studies

Defining Terrorism within the context of South African government promulgated Terrorism Act of 1967 as’ action(s) that endanger the maintenance of law and order’, innocuously suggest that the phenomenon of terrorism in South African political space is not a recent development. This study examines the historical, socio-economic and demographic dis-equilibrium as indicative factors of terrorism within the context of South Africa. Theoretical postulations on the phenomenon of terrorism within the context of South Africa state experience also engaged the attention of this study. Attempts are made to identify the nexus between social relationships and the nature, essence and political dimensions …

Understanding The Complexity Of Child Soldier Recruitment Problems In Sudan, Maskur Riyadi

Journal of Terrorism Studies

This study examines human rights violations in the recruitment of child soldiers in Darfur, Sudan, where more than 300,000 boys and girls under the age of eighteen were recruited by government armed forces, militias, or non-state armed groups. Using a qualitative literature study, this study aims to examine the factors behind the recruitment of child soldiers and examine the phenomenon using international humanitarian law. This study concludes that the recruitment of child soldiers is caused by competition for limited natural resources, easy access to weapons, and unequal levels of education and economy. The violations found based on humanitarian law are; …

State Narrative Dominance In Terrorism Reporting: A Critical Discourse Analysis Of Kompas Coverage, Putri Khairunnisa

Journal of Terrorism Studies

This study examines Kompas.com’s news construction of the bombing at the Makassar Cathedral Church on 28 March 2021 by integrating Entman’s Media Framing theory with Fairclough’s Critical Discourse Analysis. Using all news reports published between 28 March and 5 April 2021, the study finds that Kompas frames the event through security-oriented diction, agent–action structures that foreground state authorities as the primary actors, and high-modality statements that minimize uncertainty during the early crisis phase. Intertextual references to previous terrorism cases accelerate the labeling of the perpetrators as part of the JAD network. At the level of discursive practice, reliance on official …

Evaluating The Effects Of The Counterinsurgency On Boko Haram In Nigeria, Godwin Ejuvwedia Sadjere, Ekene Jude Onyiriuka, Justice Chinedu Mbam, Eloghosa Anderson Ikponmwonba, Ngozi Palmer Onyiriuka, Samuel Adedeji Afolabi

Journal of Terrorism Studies

Boko Haram insurgency debuted in Nigeria in 2009 and has been on for more than eleven years and has become intractable even after the government instituted a counterinsurgency in 2013. This paper analysed the effect of the counterinsurgency on Boko Haram and the insurgency in Nigeria in general based on attacks by the insurgents.

Historical data on attacks by Boko Haram and other criminal groups were collected using web scraping by Python and subjected to statistical analysis to build a relationship between the insurgency and the counterinsurgency. Eleven years data from 2012 were collected but six years data from 2017 …

The Evolution Of India’S ‘Counter-Terrorism (Ct)’ Policy In The 21st Century, Mule Rohit Ashok

Journal of Terrorism Studies

The changing nature of modern terrorism has proved a major threat to the global security architecture. The 9/11 terrorist attack on the United States of America, the world's ‘Police State’, is apparent. Consequently, the international community launched collective fights at different levels to deal with it. However, the nation-state at the individual level also designed a ‘Counter-Terror (CT)’ policy mechanism within the scope of the foreign policy paradigm to safeguard national security. India, since its independence, has consistently faced security challenges from terrorism from its neighbours, and has followed the same suit. The major CT policy was grounded in the …

Exploring The Dark Horizon : Artificial Intelligence (Ai) As Cyberterrorism Tools, Krisnayanto Krisnayanto, Suryadi Suryadi

Journal of Terrorism Studies

This Journal utilizes a thorough literature review approach to explore the evolving relationship between artificial intelligence (AI) and its potential use as a tool for terrorism. With the rapid advancement of AI technologies, there is a growing concern about their possible misuse by terrorist groups. This study extensively examines existing research, policy documents, and expert opinions and investigates the complex connections between AI and terrorism. The literature review delves into historical examples, current case studies, and emerging trends to clarify the various ways in which AI could be employed for harmful purposes by terrorist organizations. By analyzing recruitment strategies, communication …

Emerging Technologies In Boko Haram's Operations And Counter-Terrorism Efforts In Central Africa, Abraham Ename Minko

Journal of Terrorism Studies

The interplay between terrorism and technology in Central Africa has intensified, particularly with Boko Haram’s rise. This research explores how emerging technologies enhance Boko Haram's operations and the corresponding counter-terrorism efforts. It examines Boko Haram’s use of social media for recruitment, encrypted messaging for secure communication, and advanced weaponry like drones and improvised explosive devices (IEDs). These technologies have expanded Boko Haram’s reach and operational efficiency, challenging security forces. The study also evaluates technological countermeasures implemented by Central African governments and international bodies, including surveillance, cyber intelligence, and data analytics. It assesses the effectiveness of these measures, noting successes and …

Impact Of Crime On Interstate Transport Operations In Northcentral Nigeria, Muhammed Etudaiye Ohida

Journal of Terrorism Studies

The study investigated the impact of crime on interstate road transport operations in north-central Nigeria. The study relies on descriptive statistics to describe the features of the populations. 200 questionnaires were purposefully administered to the four major interstate motor parks in the capital of some north-central states (i.e., Minna, Lokoja, Benue, and Lafia) using random sampling techniques. The gathered data was analysed using percentages and charts, while the T-test statistics were used to test the study hypothesis. The result shows that there is a statistically significant influence of crimes on interstate transport operations in north-central Nigeria. The study concluded that …

Assessing Bioterrorism Preparedness In Indonesia: Challenges And Strategic Frameworks For National Security, Toni Toni, Haliansyah Haliansyah

Journal of Terrorism Studies

Bioterrorism represents a growing global threat, necessitating robust preparedness frameworks to safeguard national security. This study aims to assess Indonesia's bioterrorism preparedness by identifying key challenges and proposing strategic frameworks for improvement. Using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM), this quantitative research examines the relationship between Government Capacity (independent variable), Crisis Management Effectiveness (intervening variable), and National Security Preparedness (dependent variable). A structured survey was distributed to key stakeholders, including public health officials, security experts, and policymakers, yielding 100 valid responses. Data analysis through SEM revealed that Government Capacity significantly influences Crisis Management Effectiveness, which in turn positively impacts National Security Preparedness. …

State Sponsored Terrorism As A Tool For Proxy War, Brice Tseen Fu Lee, Juan Pablo Sims, Kotchaphop Kornphetcharat

Journal of Terrorism Studies

This paper explores the role of state-sponsored terrorism as a tool in proxy wars, examining its effectiveness in achieving short-term geopolitical objectives and its long-term consequences. By analyzing historical and contemporary case studies, such as Iran’s support for Hezbollah and Pakistan’s backing of militant groups in Kashmir, the paper demonstrates how states use financial, military, and intelligence resources to empower non-state actors. The analysis applies realist, constructivist, and asymmetrical warfare theories to understand the motivations behind state sponsorship and the risks involved, including blowback and international sanctions. The paper concludes by assessing the future of state-sponsored terrorism in light of …

Killing Through Death: An Empirical Study On The Drivers Of Modern Suicide Terrorism, Leopoldo García Beneito

Journal of Terrorism Studies

Departing from the idea that suicide attacks are a special form of terrorism, this article aims to shed light on some of its characteristics and particular dynamics to help better understand the phenomenon and effectively combat it. To that end, the article begins by exploring the trend of both types of terrorism, suicide and non-suicide, for after reviewing the main theories and findings on the topic by the academia in the literature review section. Following this overview, four variables are identified as potential drivers of suicide terrorism: inequality, foreign intervention, political freedom, and Islamic faith. The expected relationship between these …

Impacts Of Terrorism In Education Sector Due To Internal Displacement: Case Study Cabo Delgado- Mozambique From 2017 To 2022, Isaque Joaquim

Journal of Terrorism Studies

The study aims to analyze the impacts of internal displacement in the education sector due to terrorist conflict ongoing in the northern region of Mozambique (Cabo Delgado). The internally displaced people (IDPs) in Mozambique establish themselves within the country. They abdicate their normal life and adapt themselves to the means of subsistence, and most of the time with little support from the government which does not ensure a dignified life in basic needs: education, health, and protection. This situation has been happening in the northern province of Mozambique, where access to education is deficient, mainly in rural areas. Thus, the …

Terrorist Financing In The Digital Age: An Analysis Of Crypto Currencies And Online Crowd Funding, Eziho Promise Ogele

Journal of Terrorism Studies

This study examines the potential risks of emerging payment technologies and value transfer systems in facilitating terrorist activities. Through an analysis of publications, blogs, and websites associated with terrorist groups and their supporters, the research reveals a growing interest in leveraging cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and online crowdfunding platform to support funding, planning, and implementation of terror attacks. While concrete evidence of large-scale cryptocurrency use by terrorist groups is limited, there are indications of links to several terror attacks globally. This study demonstrates the potential for cryptocurrencies to facilitate clandestine activities, utilizing a document published by ISIS that outlines instructions undetected. …

Exploring The Use Of Music In Deradicalization, Pulung Agustanto, Arthur Josias Simon Runturambi, Puspitasari .

Journal of Terrorism Studies

This study seeks to explore music as an alternative method to enrich the variety of deradicalization programs in the framework of counterterrorism. The use of ethnic and local culture-based music is not only intended to prevent radicalism but also as an instrument of recovery therapy for terrorism prisoners in correctional institutions (Lapas). The offer of the programmatic agenda departs from the assumption that deradicalization so far still lacks a cultural approach. Moreover, the archipelago has a variety of music from various ethnicities, for example Javanese music, Sundanese music, Balinese music, Ambon music, and others that are rich in spiritual and …

Addressing The Gap: A Need For A Gender-Based Approach In Indonesia’S Deradicalization Program, Raneeta Mutiara

Journal of Terrorism Studies

An effective deradicalisation program is the key to combating violent extremism and reducing potential harm to society from radical ideologies. A gender-based approach to tackling violent extremism among women has received esteemed recognition from the governments of many countries. Various international organizations and scholarly institutes have also approved the advantages of this method. This work aims to find and address the gap in the current deradicalization program in Indonesia for future development in both academic and practical areas of this subject matter. An integrative literature review is used as a method that involves synthesizing previous research and integrating empirical findings …

Unraveling The Conflict-Ridden Weave: The Regional Security Of The Sahel Region Amidst Wagner Group’S Presence, Ghifarie Aulia Ramadhany, Mohammad Apridio Salahuddin Hakim, Abel Josafat Manullang

Journal of Terrorism Studies

Mercenaries or guns for hire have been a considerable force to reckon with in the international system. Their involvement in the conflicts of all scales have their share of contribution to the eventual outcome of the conflict. Such is the case of the Wagner Group. As a non-state actor, the Wagner Group has engendered numerous tempests across the world, one of them is the Sahel region. Their presence in the Sahel region has been a focal point of disputes within the international community. Against that backdrop, the paper seeks to shed light on how the regional security complex of the …

Fall Of Mosul To Isis: Jostle Of Narratives Between Conspiracy Theory And Betrayal, Hamied Al Hashimi, Moh Arak Alzghwabi

Journal of Terrorism Studies

This article examines the rise and conflict of narratives about the fall of the Iraqi city of Mosul to the Islamic State (ISIS), which marks its tenth anniversary this year (2024). ISIS occupied parts of Iraq from 2014 to 2017, and its defeat required Iraqi mobilization and international support from the international coalition. This article attempts to trace the narratives and their conflicts about the main cause of Mosul’s fall to ISIS. The fall of Mosul was like a snowball that rolled and grew, as it spread to a large area of Northwestern Iraq. It has been shown that several …

Ai: A New Lone-Wolf Terrorism In The Digital Era (Preliminary Analysis), Marthsian Yeksi Anakotta Mya

Journal of Terrorism Studies

This article addresses two fundamental inquiries: can AI engage in acts of terrorism? If so, how might such a phenomenon occur? My hypothesis posits that AI is capable of independently committing acts of terrorism, a classification derived from the study of terrorism known as lone-wolf terrorism. To address these dual issues, this article adopts a criminological approach, which is further elaborated through an examination of lone-wolf terrorism and the advancement of artificial intelligence. As is widely recognized, contemporary terrorist organizations have harnessed technological advancements in the realm of information and communication to perpetrate acts of terrorism within the digital sphere. …

When Cultural Expressions Exploited By The Right-Wing Groups: A Comparative Analysis Between The Case Of Indonesia And Germany, Yosua Praditya

Journal of Terrorism Studies

Culture is the expression of life that has been held by society for centuries, but it is possible for it to be hijacked by right-wing groups for their own purposes. Since it is an essential component in the formation of collective identities, it is misappropriated by the group to cultivate its ideology and to fragment social cohesion. The case between Indonesia and Germany has been chosen to analyse the similarities of right-wing characters in exploiting culture, including music, through the lens of Margareth Archer's cultural theory and Ulrich Beck's risk society theory, and later compared using Midlarsky’s extremism perspective. …

The Ambivalence Of The United States In Returning The Houthis As Global Terrorists, Ahmad Bahrul Anshori, Basyir Arif

Journal of Terrorism Studies

The re-designation of the Houthi militant group as a terrorist organisation by the United States (US) could reignite conflict tensions in the Middle East region. This US decision shows the inconsistency of Joe Biden's administration, which had revoked the Houthis' terrorist status at the beginning of his administration. This research aims to analyse the motives for the US decision to re-designate the Houthis as a terrorist group. The method used in this research is an exploratory descriptive qualitative method using data collection techniques, namely observation and literature study. The results of this study conclude that the US's changing attitude towards …

Implication Of Artificial Intelligence On National Security For The Nigeria Security Agencies, Musa Zakari

Journal of Terrorism Studies

The study examines the implications of AI for national security in Nigeria in the field of military logistics for Nigerian security agencies. A documentary research design was utilized for the study. Document analysis of existing policies, reports, and case studies related to AI and national security in Nigeria was utilized. The study revealed that artificial intelligence (AI) has significant prospects for national security for Nigeria's security agencies. It was revealed that AI-powered technologies enable advanced surveillance capabilities, such as facial recognition and video analytics, which aid in identifying potential threats and monitoring security situations more effectively. The Air Force uses …