Course Syllabus

Terrorism and Counter-Terrorism from a European Perspective

 

Semester & Location:	Summer 2023, session 2 - DIS Copenhagen
Type & Credits:	Summer Course
Core Course Study Tours:	Munich & Nuremberg, Germany
Major Disciplines:	International Relations, Political Science
Faculty Members:	Steen Kjærgaard steen.kjaergaard@dis.dk
Time & Place:	Daily, 1400-1700 (Break 1520-1540) Fi44-Kosmo 405

 

Description of Course

 The terror bombings in New York on 9 September 2001 displayed the magnitude and implications of jihadism as a driver for terrorism and Europe saw a significant peak in jihadist-motivated violence in the decades that followed. However, Europe has seen the ugly face of terrorism motivated by either political, secessionist or ideological ends forever. Therefore, terrorism and effective ways to counter terrorism have been and remain top-tier security concerns of governments, security authorities and scholars.

According to the 2023 Global Terrorism Index (GTI) Ideologically motivated terrorism continues to be the most prominent and deadliest form of terrorism in Europe. Whereas on a global scale, Islamic State (IS) and its affiliates remain the world’s deadliest terrorist group in 2022 - for the eighth consecutive year. GTI forwards that terrorism thrives in countries with poor ecologies and climate-induced shocks.

While the predominant terrorism threat in  Europe still comes from militant Islamist actors, far-right extremists pose an increasingly growing threat to a smaller target set - namely religious and ethnic minorities, individuals and groups with opposing political views and people identifying as LGBT+. The Christchurch shootings on 15 March 2019 are the low peak to bear evidence that Right-wing extremism, bears the potential for terrorism on European soil and thereby adds to the concerns. 

European countries have had a very long history of dealing with terrorism. Terror groups in Northern Ireland (IRA), Spain (ETA), Italy (Red Brigades) and Germany (RAF) fought for a multitude of national ends. However, with the Palestinian Black September group's attacks on the 1972 Munich Olympic games, the use of terror methods for political ends became internationalized. Norway saw a new form of terrorism with the Lone Wolf right-wing extremist Anders Behring Breivik's attack on a political youth Camp in 2011. The most prominent jihadism-motivated attacks happened in Belgium and France in 2015-2016, following the gruesome Al-Qaida attacks on London and Madrid public transportation a decade earlier.

The result has been robust counter-terrorism operations, bolstered legal frameworks and comprehensive social anti-radicalization programs. Simultaneously, international efforts to defeat and destroy The Islamic State and like-minded groups operating out of the Middle East and Northern Africa are still 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 21^st century.

By attending this course, you will gain insight as to why terrorism occurs, how terrorists organise and operate and the dilemmas and problems which come with counter-terrorism in a democratic state in peacetime. You furthermore have studied a terror organisation in depth, have conducted briefings, and simulations and produced a study paper in which you have demonstrated your ability to synthesise the content of the course in a specific context.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this course, students will:

• Gain an understanding of historical and contemporary European conflicts where terror has been a critical element, which will strengthen the student’s abilities to use comparative analysis.
• Understand the causes and drivers of terrorism.
• Gain valuable insights into aspects such as intelligence and the role of digital media and democratic dilemmas of counter-terrorism both in a domestic and an European context.
• Be able to analyse, assess and present orally and in writing the phenomenon of terrorism and counter-terrorism and related aspects.

Faculty

Steen Kjærgaard.

Steen is a military analyst at the Royal Danish Defense College. His work revolves around hard security issues, such as military security,  counter-terrorism and international law.  Steen has a teaching background from being an instructor at the Danish Military Academy.  Steen holds valuable experiences from service at the Danish Defense Intelligence service and more international deployments. Steen holds Command and Staff College (MA) from 2010 and a Master of Arts in “International Security” from the University of Leicester (UK), 2018. Steen has been an external lecturer with DIS since 2018

Readings

Textbook- To be picked up during the arrivals workshop

• Hoffman, Bruce, Inside Terrorism. Third Edition. NY: Columbia U Pr, 2017 (To be picked up at library during book pickup)

Reports:

The 2023 Global Terrorism Index (GTI 2023)

2023 Threat Assessment Danish Defence Intelligence Service

Danish Institute for Human Rights, “Practical Guidance Paper on Counter-terrorism and Human Rights”, 2012

Scholarly articles:

Bellamy, Alex (2006) ´ No Pain, No Gain? Torture and Ethics in the War on Terror

Daniel Byman (2014) The Intelligence War on Terrorism

Byman, Daniel ´Why drones work´ or Byman / Daniel. "Do targeted killings work?" Foreign Affairs (2006): 95-111.

Crone, Manni  (2016) ´Radicalization revisited: violence, politics and the skills of the body´

Cronin, Audrey ´Why drones fail´ Foreign Affairs (2013).

Doward, (2015) ' Media Coverage of terrorism´ leads to further violence

Greenwood, M  (2019)' Local and globalist Foreign Fighters'

Greenwood, Maja Touzari. “When Foreign Fighters Come Home: The Story of Six Danish Returnees.” Perspectives on Terrorism, vol. 13, no. 4, 2019, pp. 27–38. JSTOR, https://www.jstor.org/stable/26756701. Accessed 19 Jun. 2022.

Gurr, Ted: Why Men Rebel, Princeton, NJ: PUP 1970

Kane&Lonsdale, Understanding Contemporary Strategy, Intro to Terrorism pp. 224 - 237

Ravndal, J., & Bjørgo, T. (2018). Investigating Terrorism from the Extreme Right: A Review of Past and Present Research. Perspectives on Terrorism, 12(6), 5-22.

Hemmingsen, Anne Sofie(2015) ‘An Introduction to the Danish Approach to Countering and Preventing Extremisk and Radicalization.

Moe, Louise Wiuff (2017) ’The Politics of Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism 

Rogers, Paul. "Security by ‘Remote Control’ Can It Work?." The RUSI Journal 158.3 (2013): 14-20.

This course consists of two field studies showing students different aspects of counter-terrorist operations and the challenges imposed in these.

• Field Study 1: Visit the Shia Muslim Mosque, ’The Imam Ali Mosque
• Field Study 2: A study of drivers behind Foreign Fighters in Syria. Maja Greenwood

Guest Lecturers

The Danish Approach to Countering Radicalization (Muhammed Hee)

Global Terrorism Index presentation (Serge Strobants) via zoom.

Milosz Cortes: Terrorism in Russia

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 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.

Study Tours

Study tours are an integral part of the core course as we take the classroom on the road and see how the theory presented in the classroom is translated into practice in the field. You will travel with your classmates and DIS faculty/staff on a study tour in Munich (Germany) including a day visit in Nuremberg.

 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) Critical participation and engagement in class and study tour participation.          

(2)  Individual Reflective journal and individual presentation.

(3)  Final Exams. Personal presentation

For further instructions, go to assignments in Canvas.                                                          

Grading

Assignment	Percent
Student Engagement	20%
Individual Reflection	40%
Exam Paper	40%