In recent times, religion has become a powerful force in giving legitimacy to terrorist actions. The present work considers this highly salient fact, as well as stresses the necessity to consider the historical and social contexts and group power resources in any meaningful analysis of violent protest movements. Quantitative rigor is combined with a sensitivity to context. Terrorism is operationalized by taking a time-based count of terrorist killings of innocent people. Regime acts of omission and commission are coded as time series interventions. The analysis also includes a continuous variable measuring the incidence of economic distress in Punjab. A case is also made for the superiority of Box- Jenkins time series techniques for the quantitative analysis of problems of this nature.

This thesis deals with instruments in the fight against financing of terrorism, introduced on the international level. The thesis focuses on three key instruments in fight against terrorism financing, the International Convention for the Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism, the resolution of the Security Council of the United Nations no. 1373 (2001) and the Nine Special Recommendations of the Financial Action Task Force. The instruments are described with regard to the circumstances under which they were created and their progressive development. The thesis is trying to answers the question of the significance of dealing with the issue of terrorism financing from the view of international law as well as assessing the described instruments. The diploma thesis consists of an introduction, five chapters and the conclusion. The introduction briefly clarify the issue of terrorism and it's financing as well as expresses the reasons for the need to address these issues on the international level. The second chapter deals with the United Nation Organization and it's contributions in this issues and then leads on the look at the Resolutions of the General Assembly of the United Nations. The chapter three provides an insight on the instruments - universal conventions in fight against terrorism...

,, What is despicable on terrorists is not so much their extremism as intolerance and disregard for others. " Robert Francis Kennedy In my opinion this quote best reflects the core of terrorism, which is based on extremism and its supporters that are trying to achieve their goals by using all possible and for us often impossible instruments. The purpose of this work is to explain terrorism and terrorists in the terms of their behavior and actions and try to reveal the true motives and mindset of advocates the terrorist acts and attempt to find the exemplary and decisive punishment which could potentially have an impact on their future actions. I decided to investigate this issue after seeing several events connected with the terrorist organization, Islamic State, whose horrific crimes shocked the world such as the murder of US journalist James Foley, attacks in several locations in Paris and the proclamation of Caliphate on the territory of Syria and Iraq. In the following chapters I will endeavor to outline the terrorism in terms of its definition, typology and specific types of groups. Furthermore, I will explain ways of terrorists' thinking and contemplation and their motives for terrorist acts. Finally, I will attempt to describe the entrance to a terrorist organization and the process of...

Doctor of Philosophy / Security Studies / Dale R. Herspring / Since the late 1970s Saudi Arabia has experienced transnational terrorism in sporadic waves whose character has evolved over time. While most of the literature on these waves of terrorism focuses on religious extremism this dissertation argues that terrorism in Saudi Arabia, although framed in religious terms, is not the result of religious factors alone, but more importantly a function of external variables. Taking the role of religious extremism into consideration, this dissertation underlines the importance of external factors on the mobilization of transnational terrorist groups throughout the Islamic world and particularly in Saudi Arabia. It argues that religious extremist terrorism cannot be examined in isolation from the context of the developments that ignite it and revolutionize its doctrine. This dissertation examines three key regional political developments – the Iranian revolution, the 1990 Gulf war, and the 2003 Iraq war – together with terrorist violence in their aftermath to show how the significant political events transformed extremist worldviews from passive to violent to organized terrorism. Though the character of these three political events and the terrorist acts that they unleashed differ widely in context, scope, and character, there are common threads among all three that illuminate how different dynamics contribute to the evolution of transnational terrorist mobilization. The dissertation identifies how the development of a politico-religious ideology, shaped and revolutionized by the presence of political crises, became a driving force behind much of the terrorism following these major political events. By exploring the interplay of popular perceptions, political entrepreneurs, and state responses, this dissertation seeks to better understand the complex dynamics involved in the evolution of transnational terrorism in Saudi Arabia.

Denna studie hade som syfte att undersöka olika individers föreställningar och uppfattningar om terrorism. För att undersöka detta ämne har semistrukturerade intervjuer genomförts med sex olika individer. Studiens första huvudresultat och även den viktigaste slutsatsen var att olika individer har olika uppfattning om vad terrorism är och hur det ska definieras, men att den gemensamma idén är att målet eller syftet är det som avgör om det rör sig om terrorism. De flesta intervjupersonerna ansåg att både fysiskt och psykiskt skadade människor kan vara offer för terrorism. Huvudresultatet gällande terrorister handlade om föreställningar kring terroristers utseende, till exempel “stort skägg” och “muslimer”. Vad gäller medias framställning av terrorism upplevde de flesta intervjupersoner att media vinklar och utelämnar information, samt har en viss påverkan på deras uppfattning om terrorism. Intervjupersonerna nämnde också en ökad rädsla och oro för terrorism, något som dock inte påverkade deras vardagliga rutiner och handlingar. / This study has exanimated different individuals’ conceptions and perceptions of terrorism. To examine this issue we have done semi-structured interviews with six different individuals. The first main result of the study and the most important conclusion was that different individuals had different perceptions about what terrorism is and how it should be defined. Most of the interviewees counted both physically and psychologically harmed people as victims of terrorism. The main result when it comes to conceptions about terrorists looks was that terrorists have “big beard” and were “Muslims”. When it comes to medias representation of terrorism most of the interviewees believed that media angle and leave out information, and that this had some influence on their perception of terrorism. The interviewees also mentioned an increased fear and concern about terrorism, something that did not affect their daily routines and activities.

Master of Arts - International Relations / The events of September 11 (9/11) have proved to be the catalyst for the evolution of ‘traditional’ terrorism methodologies into those of a transnational dimension. As a consequence, 9/11 has reshaped the international security community’s perceptions regarding the transnational threat of terrorism. Security analysts have called for a ‘networked’ response as the most effective strategy of defence against global terrorist networks. Hence, efforts to contain the threat of transnational terrorism will be more effective if implemented in conjunction with policies and mechanisms designed to facilitate international counter-terrorism co-operation. Therefore, taking into account the ‘perceived’ intelligence failure of 9/11, intelligence and anti-terrorism law enforcement agencies of governments committed to the ‘war against terrorism’ will need to integrate their intelligence capabilities and establish operational co-ordination on a multilateral level as an effective counter-terrorism mechanism. This research will focus on the multilateral intelligence sharing and counter-terrorism co-ordination mechanisms implemented post-9/11 by governments and International Organisations, such as the UN’s Counter Terrorism Committee and NATO’s invoking of Article 5, to contain and confront transnational terrorism. It is not within the scope of this study to analyse the reasons and ideologies behind 9/11 and modern-day terrorism.

Esta pesquisa tem como objeto de estudo a percepção de ameaça terrorista em São Paulo, no contexto dos Jogos Olímpicos Rio 2016. Os objetivos da pesquisa foram caracterizar a percepção da população de São Paulo em relação à ameaça terrorista e dimensionar a efetividade do programa governamental de sensibilização contra ameaça terrorista concebido em proveito da segurança durante os jogos olímpicos. Ao longo de seis meses, de fevereiro a julho de 2016, o autor integrou a equipe do programa e participou da capacitação de 4.287 (quatro mil duzentos e oitenta e sete) profissionais dos setores de turismo, segurança pública e defesa. A pesquisa adota o método do estudo de caso e a base de dados é composta por 1.109 (um mil cento e nove) formulários de pesquisa. Com base em 13 (treze) características do terrorismo extraídas das obras de Alex Schmid, David Rapoport e Martha Crenshaw, o pesquisador investiga a percepção de ameaça terrorista no grupo amostral, obtendo como resultado os seguintes elementos: fanatismo e/ou extremismo religioso (85,57%); violência física e/ou psicológica (62,23%); intimidação, medo e incerteza (60,90%); objetivos políticos (55,37%); uso das redes sociais (53,22%); planejamento (51,79%); estratégia (50,77%); indivíduos isolados (45,04%); grupos não estatais (37,56%); propaganda (36,34%); vítimas aleatoriamente escolhidas (35,41%); clandestinidade (33,98%); ação tática (17,60%). Quanto ao programa governamental de sensibilização contra ameaça terrorista, os resultados apontam um aumento de 34,31% (trinta e quatro vírgula trinta e um por cento) no índice de percepção dos concludentes do curso, indicando a efetividade do instrumento. / The object of this research is the perception of terrorist threat in São Paulo, in the context of the Olympic Games Rio 2016. The objectives of the research were to characterize the population\'s perception of the terrorist threat and to assess the effectiveness of the government\'s program of sensitization against terrorist threats designed to improve resilience during the Olympic Games. Over the course of six months, from February to July 2016, the author joined the program team and participated in the training of 4,287 ( four thousand two hundred and eighty-seven) professionals in the tourism, public security and defense sectors. The research adopts the case study method and the database is made up of 1,109 (one thousand one hundred and nine) research forms. Based on (13) thirteen characteristics of terrorism extracted from the works of Alex Schmid, David Rapoport and Martha Crenshaw, the researcher investigates the perception of terrorist threat in the sample group, resulting in the following elements: fanaticism and / or religious extremism (85 , 57%); physical and / or psychological violence (62.23%); intimidation, fear and uncertainty (60.90%); political objectives (55.37%); use of social networks (53.22%); planning (51.79%); strategy (50.77%); isolated individuals (45.04%); non-state groups (37.56%); advertising (36.34%); randomly selected victims (35.41%); clandestinely (33.98%); tactical action (17.60%). As for the government\'s program to raise awareness against terrorist threats, the results indicate a 34.31% (thirty-four point thirty-one percent) increase in the perception of the conclusive students of the course, indicating the effectiveness of the instrument.

Globalization is a phenomenon that connects people from all around the world to a single unit. It affects people on an economic, political and cultural level and because of that we can study and analyze many aspects within globalization. Globalization gives us many things aswell as opens up oppertunities for groups to strike back because they do not share the same view.   The aim with this essay is to examine and analyze to what extent the economic, political and cultural dimensions opens up oppertunities for islamic terrorism to emerge and how globalization have changed the states’ actions against islamic terrorism. The theoretical starting points are the dimensions of globalization and realism and they will help answer the essay’s questions which are the following: What conditions have the dimensions of globalization made it possible for islamic terrorism to emerge? How has the states’ actions to counter islamic terrorism changed with globalization?    The study shows that each dimension opens up oppertunities for islamic terrorism to emerge in some regard. The study also shows that globalization have changed the states’ actions against islamic terrorism.

Magister Legum - LLM / This paper aimed at analysing what was South Africa's response to its international obligations regarding the 9/11 events and how does such response comply with the country's constitutional framework. This study gave a brief outline of the most significant legislative changes in a number of countries and then concentrate on the South African anti-terrorism legislation. It identified the provisions of the Act that have been discussed most controversial throughout the drafting process and analysed whether they comply with constitutional standards. Particular emphasis was laid on the possible differences between the South African Act and comparative legislation that derive directly from the apartheid history of the country. / South Africa

Leadership within local police organizations should be able to, but do not, process information and create actionable strategies aimed toward proactive counterterrorism practices. This problem could lead to future terrorist attacks within the United States if police agencies do not adjust their tactics in response to growing terrorist threats. A possible cause of this problem is that leadership within local law enforcement agencies is reactive in nature and as a consequence, do not encourage officers to engage in proactive strategies. Using Easton's conceptualization of systems theory as the foundation, the purpose of this case study of a single law enforcement agency in the southwest was to explore how police leadership influences counterterrorism strategies. Research questions focused on how police leadership processed information within their organization to develop counterterrorism tactics. Data were collected from interviews with police leadership and officers, observations of policing activities, and document review of policies, directives, and unclassified reports. These data were coded and analyzed following Yin's procedure for schematic analysis. The results indicated that this agency has a successful counterterrorism strategy based on 6 organizational pillars of leading, proactive, learning, processing, policy, and communication. This study may promote positive social change by helping police leaders identify which system inputs provide the best detail for developing counterterrorism policy, and what community partnerships help police identify terrorism threats.