Course Syllabus
| Terrorism and Counter-Terrorism from a European Perspective C |  |
| Semester & Location: |
Spring 2018 - DIS Copenhagen |
| Type & Credits: |
Core Course - 3 credits |
| Core Course Study Tours: |
Western Denmark (Short Tour) Brussels, Belgium and Paris, France (Long Tour) |
| Major Disciplines: |
International Relations, Political Science |
| Faculty Members: |
Steen Kjærgaard |
| Program Director: |
Neringa B. Vendelbo- nb@dis.dk |
| Time & Place: |
Monday and Thursday, 8.30 to 9.50, ST3-22 |
Description of Course
Terrorism and counter-terrorism has been on everybody’s mind and has been a top-priority security issue since 9/11. However, terrorism did not just appear unexpectedly on that horrifying September day when the towers fell. It has been a part of European and world politics for decades and even centuries before.
European countries have had a very long history of dealing with terrorism, e.g. Northern Ireland (IRA), Spain (ETA) and Italy (Red Brigades). Moreover, terror attacks continue to occur in Europe, e.x. in Belgium, France, and the United Kingdom, prompting anti-radicalisation programs and robust counter operations in the respective states. Simultaneously, international efforts to defeat and destroy phenomena like The Islamic State and like-minded groups operating out of northern Africa is a top European priority due to the direct links to terrorism on European soil.
This course is a study of terrorism - its causes, aims, and forms – with a particular focus on counter-terrorism and the measures introduced by the international community and individual states. The course examines the implications of terrorism for European politics and the different approaches to countering it in the 21st century.
These perspectives will allow us to gain better insight as to why terrorism occurs, how terrorists organize and operate, the experiences and problems of counter-terrorism, and the consequences of reacting in different ways to terrorism.
Learning Objectives
By the end of this course, students will:
- Be able to understand the root causes of terrorism better and gain valuable insights in aspects and dilemmas of counter-terrorism both in a domestic and in a European context.
- gain an understanding of some historical and contemporary European conflicts where terror has been a key element, which will strengthen the student’s abilities to use comparative analysis
Faculty
Steen Kjærgaard
Major (Army). Military Analyst. Graduated Joint Command and Staff College (MA) 2010. He works under the Defense and Security studies at the Danish Institute for International Studies (DIIS). Teaching background from heading the department for War studies at the Danish Military Academy. He holds valuable experiences from service at the Danish Defence Intelligence service. Currently completing MA in “International Security” at the University of Leicester (UK).
Readings
Textbooks used:
- Hoffman, Bruce, Inside Terrorism. Third Edition. NY: Columbia U Pr, 2017 (Will be issued to students)
Selected articles etc.
- Coker, C. “Asymmetrical Warfare: Ends or Means?”, in John Olsen, ed., Asymmetric Warfare (Oslo: Norwegian Air Force Academy 2002
- Danish Institute for Human Rights, “Practical Guidance Paper on Counter-terrorism and Human Rights”, 2012
- Dolnik, Adam ”13 Years since Tokyo: Re-visiting the ”superterrorism” Debate”, Perspectives on Terrorism, Vol. II, 2008
- Duyvesteyn, Isabelle “The Role of History and Continuity in Terrorism Research”, in Magnus Ranstorp, ed., Mapping Terrorism Research, London: Routledge 2007
- Elster, Jon “Motivations and Beliefs in Suicide Missions”, in Diego Ambetta, ed., Making Sense of Suicide Missions, Oxford: OUP 2005
- Gus Martin, ”Violence in the Name of Faith: Religious Terrorism”, in Understanding Terrorism: Challenges Perspectives, and Issues, Sage 4th ed., 2013
- Gurr, Ted: Why Men Rebel, Princeton, NJ: PUP 1970
- Hoffman, Bruce “Radicalization and Subversion: Al Qaeda and the 7 July 2005 Bombings and the 2006 Airline Bombing Plot”, in Studies in Conflict and Terrorism, #32 2009
- Jackson Richard, Lee Jarvis, Jeroen Gunning, Marie Breen-Smyth,,”Conceptualizing Terrorism”, in Terrorism: A Critical Introduction, Palgrave 2011.
- Lipman Report: “The Rising Tide of Cyberwarfare: Cyberterrorism and Cybercrime in a Climate of Heightened Global Risk and Economic Instability”, September 2009
- Nacos, Brigitte L. ”Terrorist Propaganda and the Media”, in Terrorism and Counterterrorism: Understanding Threats and Responses in the Post-9/11 World (Pearson, 2nd ed. 2007.
- Obeidallah, Dean “Are all Terrorists Muslims? It’s not even close”,
- Powell, J. “Talking to terrorists – How to end armed conflict,” GB, Vintage, 2015.
Field Studies
This course consists of two field studies which will show students different aspects of counter-terrorist operations and the challenges imposed in these.
- Field Study 1: 21 February, 8.30-12.30: “Danish Approaches to counter terrorism. The political and operational perspectives. Visit Danish Institute for International Studies.
- Field Study 2: 2 May, 13.00-17.00: “The Distant War” exhibition at Tøjhusmuseet inclusive a discussions with Commanding Officer of Infantry Unit (Royal Hussars Regiment) from the ISAF Campaign at the tactical level.
Guest Lecturers
Dr Mani Crone, Danish Institute for International Studies. (Conf.)
Special Consultant Esben Damm, (Conf.)
Special Consultant Thomas Nissen, (Conf.)
Approach to Teaching
This course will be a combination of lectures and a discussion-based course using case studies as well as group-work. The teaching will facilitate a reflective learning process as well as a critical and constructive feedback, that aims to sharpen the analytical skills as well as the overall academic methodology of the students.
Expectations of the Students
As the course is partly a discussion-based course and case studies, a high degree of student participation, preparation and engagement are required. Throughout the course, you will also have to develop and practice your own critical thinking by analyzing texts, concepts as well as specific cases to understand the complexity of the field of terrorism and counter-terrorism.
Core Course Week and Study Tours
Core Course week and study tours are an integral part of the core course as we take the classroom on the road and see how theory presented in the classroom is translated into practice in the field. You will travel with your classmates and DIS faculty/staff on two study tours; a short study tour during Core Course Week to Hamburg and a long study tour to Brussels.
Expectations for study tours:
- Participate in all activities
- Engage in discussions, ask questions, and contribute to achieving the learning objectives
- Respect the destination, the speakers, DIS staff, and your fellow classmates
- Represent yourself, your home university and DIS in a positive light
While on a program study tour DIS will provide hostel/hotel accommodation, transportation to/from the destination(s), approx. 2 meals per day and entrances, guides, and visits relevant to your area of study or the destination. You will receive a more detailed itinerary prior to departure.
Travel policies:
You are required to travel with your group to the destination. If you have to deviate from the group travel plans, you need approval from the program director and the study tours office.
Evaluation
(1) Participation and engagement in class. Engaged study tour participation.
(2) Individual Reflective journal based experiences.
Students must prepare a max 500-word reflective journal based on findings from the CCW, short study tour and the field trip in combination with the teaching until now. SThe studentmust elaborate a minimum of two entries.
A group planned and executed manual simulation.
(3) Long study tour assessment.
Main topic. ´Freedom of Speech´ an absolute or a relative in a world of terror´.
Groups must consider the role and nature of ´Satire´ as part of a democratic society’s resilience towards terrorism. Must include comparable Danish, Belgian and French perspectives.
Background case to consider: The Attacks on ´Charlie Hebdo` in 2015
Deliverable: a Powerpoint briefing and presentation of max 10 slides.
(4) Final paper: individual work
Students will deliver a 2500 word (exclusive bibliography) essay on a topic of own choice.
The topic must be approved by the instructor. Student will have to present one page (max) synopsis including a research question and literature list.
For further instructions, go to assignments in Canvas.
Grading
| Assignment |
Percent |
| Student Engagement / Blog Post Activities | 20% |
| Midterm Assessment | 20% |
| Long Study Tour Assessment | 20% |
| Final Paper | 40% |
Study Tour Information
Short Study Tour
The aim of the short study tour is:
To gain a deeper insight into community-based anti-radicalization initiatives.
To better understand the comprehensive approach to Danish counter-terrorism by exploring at first hand how units of special military forces, special units and police operate in a common unity of effort.
To explore the role of arts and culture, including documentaries in deepening understanding and sustaining resilience towards terrorism by disseminating critical knowledge of the phenomenon.
To experience the social and local fabric of the largest provincial town of Denmark at thereby deepen the esocial bonds of the group.
Long Study Tour
The Long Study tour aims to provide students a first-hand experience of the key political/operational approaches and dilemmas of modern-day counter-terrorism in two of Europe’s cities which have recently experienced terrorism. The populations of both Brussels and Paris experience the threat and horror of terrorism as well as the consequences of counter-terrorism and its implications on society, civil rights and everyday life.
Brussels is at the very epicenter of the EU´s institutional earthquake with BREXIT, euro-skepticism and an immigration-crisis. At the same time, Belgium has more nationals fighting for jihadist forces as a proportion of its population than any other Western European country. In combination with a hard-pressed security apparatus and a complex institutional set up, Belgium, and especially Brussels, has become a hub of jihadist-recruiting and terrorist activity.
In Brussels, our goal will be multifaceted: visiting the places of the most recent terror attack in Europe (in which ISIS claimed responsibility), gaining insights into the religious terrorism and radicalization, as well as understanding the EU and Belgian perspective on combating terrorism.
Paris, located only two hours by train from Brussels, finds itself in a more or less permanent condition of Martial Law. Since its initiation in 2015, the on-going counter-terrorism operation “Sentinelle” has put more than 10.000 heavily armed soldiers on the streets of France´s cities and key infrastructure. Though now normal for many French, the enormity of the operation and its implementation in Paris, a major world city with millions of inhabitants and tourists, poses tremendous challenges of both economic, security and political character.
In Paris we will visit key locations related to recent terror attacks as well as gain an insight-view into the actual running of operation “Sentinelle” and the implications and challenges faced from a counter-terrorism perspective of such an operation. Furthermore we will explore French approaches to international Counter-Terrorism efforts with a specific focus on the current operations in the Mahgreb and Sahel areas (Northern Africa).
Academic Regulations
Please make sure to read the Academic Regulations on the DIS website. There you will find regulations on:
Coursework, Exams, and Final Grade Reports
Policy on late papers
Late papers will be accepted, but your grade for the paper will be reduced by half a point for each day that it is late.
Use of laptops in class
I expect a professional classroom etiquette of presence during the sessions. You will need to bring a laptop for the class assignments.
DIS - Study Abroad in Scandinavia - www.DISabroad.org
Course Summary:
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