Extract
[...] In a second part, we will now try to outline the main similarities and differences of the British strategies to counter both terrorist attacks. To start with, we will focus of its 'overseas' strategy and behavior. Obviously, the first difference that comes into our mind is the fact that Northern Ireland is part of the United Kingdom, whereas countries where the 'war on terror' is fought are more distant, Afghanistan for instance; however, if we analyze the British strategies on both grounds, the difference is not that evident. [...]
[...] We will test the hypothesis that British Counterterrorist strategies and policies do not differ from a case to another. The dependent variable will be the British's counterterrorism strategies and policies, determined by its independent variable, terrorists group. However, we will only focus on two case studies, the Irish Republican Army (IRA) and Al Qaeda organization, using a Most Similar System Design (MSSD). Both organizations are well known by British government and citizens: the conflict with Irish insurgents particularly threatened the English population between the 1970's and the 1990's, when the terrorist group launched bombing attacks on cities, killing and injuring many civilians. [...]
[...] On the other hand, no consensus so far has been envisaged for Al Qaedq, maybe because the terrorist motivations are too irrational for a government to take them into consideration, maybe because those motivations have never been clearly understood. These queries are not the aim of this paper; however they clearly shows that the British and American governments' strategies are organized in a very clear perspective of getting rid of terrorist threat by shattering their network. Furthermore, the British government also enacted counterterrorism measures to protect its mainland from terrorist threat. [...]
[...] Bibliography An anatomy of terror: a History of terrorism, Sinclair Andrew, Macmillian 2003 Inside Al Qaeda: global network of terror, Gunaratna Rohan, Berkley Book 1961 The United Kingdom's strategy for countering international terrorism, British Government Publications collection, March 2009. Speak no Evil: the British broadcasting ban, the media and the conflict in Ireland, Henderson Lesley, Glasgow University Media group, 1990. Understanding terrorism: challenges, perspectives and issues, Martin Gus, Sage Publications 2006. The British war on terror: Terrorism and Counterterrorism on the home front since 9-11, Steve Hewitt, continuum, 2008. Politics as a vocation, Max Weber, Duncker & Humblodt, Munich, 1919. The Clash of Civilization and the remaking of World Order, Samuel P. [...]
[...] Comparing the British counter terrorist policies and strategies : The IRA and Al Qaeda In Politics as a Vocation (1919) Max Weber states that "States posses the monopoly of violence". Counter terrorism strategies, on the contrary, underline the fact that because other actors also have access to the use of violence, the State is in charge of its regulation in order to maintain security and territorial integrity. Counter-terrorism, broadly defined, would be the means taken by the state to both prevent and respond to terrorists threats. [...]
