Centre for the Study of Terrorism and Political Violence (CSTPV) Researchhttps://hdl.handle.net/10023/2392024-03-28T09:59:28Z2024-03-28T09:59:28ZThe role of civil society actors in peacemaking : the case of GuatemalaBrett, Roddyhttps://hdl.handle.net/10023/163042023-04-25T23:49:12Z2017-04-24T00:00:00ZThis article builds upon recent scholarship in critical peace studies that focuses on the role of civil society actors in formal peacemaking processes, in short, peace talks, and post-conflict peacebuilding. The article specifically explores the role of civil society actors in the Guatemalan peace process. The research addresses the possible tensions and potential complementarities in processes where civil society enjoys a mandated role in centralised, formal peace negotiations carried out between the state and armed actors in talks levied within the liberal peace framework. In the case of Guatemala, non-state actors participated to an unprecedented extent in the peace negotiations, and Guatemala has not relapsed into armed conflict. However, post-conflict Guatemala is a violent and unstable country. Consequently, the study challenges the assumption that peacemaking is necessarily more successful in those instances where provisions have been established to guarantee the participation of civil society.
2017-04-24T00:00:00ZBrett, RoddyThis article builds upon recent scholarship in critical peace studies that focuses on the role of civil society actors in formal peacemaking processes, in short, peace talks, and post-conflict peacebuilding. The article specifically explores the role of civil society actors in the Guatemalan peace process. The research addresses the possible tensions and potential complementarities in processes where civil society enjoys a mandated role in centralised, formal peace negotiations carried out between the state and armed actors in talks levied within the liberal peace framework. In the case of Guatemala, non-state actors participated to an unprecedented extent in the peace negotiations, and Guatemala has not relapsed into armed conflict. However, post-conflict Guatemala is a violent and unstable country. Consequently, the study challenges the assumption that peacemaking is necessarily more successful in those instances where provisions have been established to guarantee the participation of civil society.Understanding collective violence : the communicative and performative qualities of violence in acts of belongingMurer, Jeffrey Stevensonhttps://hdl.handle.net/10023/119982023-04-26T00:23:30Z2014-11-01T00:00:00ZThis chapter explores the motivations for joining violent groups across arange of circumstances. In particular, the chapter will explore the similarities in the role of violence as a marker of identity within groups as diverseas street gangs and ethnic communities. Frequently, membership inviolent groups is explained in terms of individual material gain or theattainment of individual fame, in very rationalist and individualistic terms.This focus on individual choice and motivation suggests the use or disinclination to use violence is an expression of individual agency. Indeed, many of studies on civil wars or other armed conflicts treat joining these violent groups and the participation in violent acts as being anti-social, as if the choice to engage in violence is one wholly against social norms or social values. However, much can be gained by seeing these groups in completely the opposite light: gangs, communal factions, militias, even terrorist organisations can be seen as highly social environments. This chapter will examine the performative qualities of violence and the role that violence plays in the experience of belonging in large groups and in collective identity formation.
2014-11-01T00:00:00ZMurer, Jeffrey StevensonThis chapter explores the motivations for joining violent groups across arange of circumstances. In particular, the chapter will explore the similarities in the role of violence as a marker of identity within groups as diverseas street gangs and ethnic communities. Frequently, membership inviolent groups is explained in terms of individual material gain or theattainment of individual fame, in very rationalist and individualistic terms.This focus on individual choice and motivation suggests the use or disinclination to use violence is an expression of individual agency. Indeed, many of studies on civil wars or other armed conflicts treat joining these violent groups and the participation in violent acts as being anti-social, as if the choice to engage in violence is one wholly against social norms or social values. However, much can be gained by seeing these groups in completely the opposite light: gangs, communal factions, militias, even terrorist organisations can be seen as highly social environments. This chapter will examine the performative qualities of violence and the role that violence plays in the experience of belonging in large groups and in collective identity formation.A critical analysis of the role of the internet in the preparation and planning of acts of terrorismHolbrook, Donaldhttps://hdl.handle.net/10023/94862023-04-25T23:41:59Z2015-09-01T00:00:00ZThe purpose of this paper is to offer a critical assessment of the way in which the internet and online material features as part of the process individuals embark on to plan acts of terrorism. The paper begins by evaluating concepts used to describe the role of the internet in the context of terrorism and political violence before analysing a single case study in detail in order to explore particular nuances that emerge which shed light on the relationship between perpetrator on the one hand and online content and behaviour on the other. The case study, in turn, is developed into a conceptual appraisal of terrorist use of the internet. The paper concludes by exploring the important distinction between the “theoretical” application of online learning as set out in terrorist propaganda and the hurdles that individuals face in practice.
2015-09-01T00:00:00ZHolbrook, DonaldThe purpose of this paper is to offer a critical assessment of the way in which the internet and online material features as part of the process individuals embark on to plan acts of terrorism. The paper begins by evaluating concepts used to describe the role of the internet in the context of terrorism and political violence before analysing a single case study in detail in order to explore particular nuances that emerge which shed light on the relationship between perpetrator on the one hand and online content and behaviour on the other. The case study, in turn, is developed into a conceptual appraisal of terrorist use of the internet. The paper concludes by exploring the important distinction between the “theoretical” application of online learning as set out in terrorist propaganda and the hurdles that individuals face in practice.¿Es eficaz el terrorismo? Consideraciones, problemas y marco de investigación futuraEnglish, Richardhttps://hdl.handle.net/10023/90092024-02-24T00:42:25Z2016-04-01T00:00:00ZFor both intellectual and practical reasons, the question "Does terrorism work?'' is vital. And yet it has largely been eclipsed by other debates within the scholarly literature on terrorism. This article considers some of the recent contributions to the emerging discussion of the question. It then outlines some of the problems inherent in the academic debate that has taken place thus far on the subject, and sketches a framework for making future scholarship in this area more inclusive, systematic and dialogically fruitful than it has been to date.
2016-04-01T00:00:00ZEnglish, RichardFor both intellectual and practical reasons, the question "Does terrorism work?'' is vital. And yet it has largely been eclipsed by other debates within the scholarly literature on terrorism. This article considers some of the recent contributions to the emerging discussion of the question. It then outlines some of the problems inherent in the academic debate that has taken place thus far on the subject, and sketches a framework for making future scholarship in this area more inclusive, systematic and dialogically fruitful than it has been to date.A social movement theory typology of militant organisations : contextualising terrorismMarsden, Sarah Victoriahttps://hdl.handle.net/10023/85282023-04-25T23:40:30Z2015-01-01T00:00:00ZTypologies are ubiquitous in terrorism studies, illustrating their continued appeal as a tool to further our understanding of this form of political violence. Despite this, to date, the promise of an empirically derived typology has largely been neglected. In addressing this gap, this article sets out a typology developed from Social Movement Theory. Using a novel statistical technique to derive a three-dimensional framework for categorising militant groups, the typology incorporates both organisational characteristics and the wider political context. The result is a typology defined by three conceptual constructs: political capacity, war-making capacity, and network capacity. Alongside these organisational features, imposing measures of the wider political opportunity structure reveals eight types of militant organisation. To explore the utility of the framework, a preliminary analysis interprets the typology in light of the presence of wider conflict. That a robust relationship is found between the various types and whether groups were operating in peacetime, civil war, or low-intensity conflict, goes some way to demonstrating its utility as an analytical tool. Conclusions draw attention to the importance of contextualising militant groups in their socio-political setting, and the benefits of combining theory alongside empirical analysis to develop robust characterisations of violent organisations.
Date of acceptance 8/8/14
2015-01-01T00:00:00ZMarsden, Sarah VictoriaTypologies are ubiquitous in terrorism studies, illustrating their continued appeal as a tool to further our understanding of this form of political violence. Despite this, to date, the promise of an empirically derived typology has largely been neglected. In addressing this gap, this article sets out a typology developed from Social Movement Theory. Using a novel statistical technique to derive a three-dimensional framework for categorising militant groups, the typology incorporates both organisational characteristics and the wider political context. The result is a typology defined by three conceptual constructs: political capacity, war-making capacity, and network capacity. Alongside these organisational features, imposing measures of the wider political opportunity structure reveals eight types of militant organisation. To explore the utility of the framework, a preliminary analysis interprets the typology in light of the presence of wider conflict. That a robust relationship is found between the various types and whether groups were operating in peacetime, civil war, or low-intensity conflict, goes some way to demonstrating its utility as an analytical tool. Conclusions draw attention to the importance of contextualising militant groups in their socio-political setting, and the benefits of combining theory alongside empirical analysis to develop robust characterisations of violent organisations.