Terrorism and Counter-Terrorism from a European Perspective · Terrorism and Counter-Terrorism from a European ... 1300-1700 “Insurgency and counterinsurgency ... and Counter-Terrorism

Final Syllabus

This syllabus is subject to change.

Terrorism and Counter-Terrorism from a European Perspective | DIS| Disciplines: International Relations, Political Science.

Terrorism and Counter-Terrorism from a European Perspective

Spring 2017 Copenhagen

Credits: 3 Study Tours: Århus (9-11 Feb) and Belfast/Brussels (Feb 26 – March 3)

Disciplines: International Relations, Political Science, European Humanities (History/Philosophy)

Faculty Member: Martin Cleemann Rasmussen Program Director: Neringa Vendelbo

Program Assistant: Alex Berlin

Meeting Time: Monday/Thursday 10:05 – 11:25 Classroom: V23-301

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 didn’t just appear out of the blue 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.

This course is a study of terrorism - its causes, aims, and forms - and of counterterrorism measures introduced by the international community and individual states. The course examines the implications of terrorism for international politics and the different approaches to countering it in the 20th and 21stcentury.

In order to better understand the concept and phenomenon of terrorism and the attempts to fight it as well as the many challenges faced, we will look at some of the many cases where the use of terror and attempts to deal with terrorism from a European perspective has been central elements.

It is both relevant and important to study terrorism from a European perspective, because (unfortunately) several European countries have a very long history of dealing with terrorism (e.g. Northern Ireland (IRA), Spain (ETA), Italy (Red Brigades), Germany (Red Army Faction), Russia (The People’s Will and The Black Widows) and in recent years also Belgium, France, and Denmark (Al Qaeda and IS). At the same time the actual use of terror, which are often not seen as such and in a different perspective by the terrorists themselves, gives an important perspective on why, how and to what extent terror is useful as a military and political tool for achieving the aims of the terrorists.

These perspectives will allow us to gain better insight as to why terrorism occurs, how terrorists organize and operate, experiences and problems of counterterrorism and the consequences of reacting in different ways to terrorism.

Learning objectives of the course: By the end of this course students will be able to better understand why

terrorism occurs, how terrorists organize and operate, aspects of counterterrorism possibilities and limits, and

what some of the consequences are of reacting in different ways to terrorism. Students will also have an

understanding of a number of historical and contemporary European conflicts, where terror has been a key

element, which will strengthen the student’s abilities to use comparative analysis.

http://disabroad.org/copenhagen/summer-courses/terrorism-and-counter-terrorism-from-a-european-perspective/

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Instructor:

Martin Cleemann Rasmussen

MA (Russian and History, University of Copenhagen 2004, graduated on Civil-Military relations in Russia, 1993-

99). Associate professor at the Royal Danish Officer Academy (2011- ), Senior Advisor NordGEN at the

Nordic Council of Ministers 2005-2009 on Russia and the CIS. Lectures to the general public on military and

security affairs as well as used as analyst on Russian matters in Danish news media. With DIS since 2015.

Approach to Teaching: This course will be a combination of lectures and a discussion-based course using case

studies, manual simulations as well as group-work.

Midterm-exam: This class includes a midterm-exam, which is a 1 hour and 20 minuttes exam to be taken on

the subjects covered in class, field studies, study tours etc. The exam is based on a test where a number of

short questions are to be answered. The use of computers and aid is allowed and the test is taken using the

canvas system. The midterm counts for 20% of the overall grade.

Study tour work and activities: During the study tours a number of activities (small summaries of key points in

presentations, critical analysis of points and visits, engaging in Q and A with lectures and peers, and

groupwork). This accounts for 10% of the overall grade.

Final paper/project and thesis: The final paper/project consists of a subject to be chosen and analyzed by the

student. To prepare and focus the work with the paper/project each student is to prepare a short thesis

outlining the subject, the approach and the main elements and main sources, which will constitute the paper

or project. The length of this thesis is to be max 2. Pages. The paper/project thesis counts for 10% of the

overall grade.

The paper if chosen, is to be 8-9 pages excl. sources. It is also possible to hand in a project like a manual

simulation game to reflect a case-study with prior acceptance through the thesis from the lecturer. Group

work for such a simulation (Max 3 students pr. group) is acceptable. The subject chosen for project/paper can

have been covered in class, but this is not a requirement as long as the subject is relevant for the themes and

methods of this course. Students are encouraged to seek out-of-the-box approaches to their subjects like

comparative approaches to subject, manual simulations, boardgames, and create their own materials for the

project. No matter which form is chosen all students are expected to use academic methods and reflect

critically on sources, methods, arguments and products created and put forward. The final paper/project

constitutes 20% of the overall grade.

Manual simulations: This class will use a number of manual simulations, which aims to increase the students’

awareness and understanding of issues, dilemmas and decisions involved in terrorism and counterterrorism.

Manual simulations include elements from leadership training, roleplaying and crisis management. All students

are expected to prepare VERY THOROUGHLY for each of the simulations and it is expected, that students

actively engage in all simulations and indulge in the roles assigned. Manual simulations constitute 20% of the

overall grade.

Expectations of the students: As the course is partly a discussion-based course, case studies and manual

simulations, a high degree of student participation, preparation and engagement is required. Throughout the


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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 counterterrorism.

Field Studies/guest lectures:

FS 1 Wednesday 1st of Feb. 0830-1230, “The Urban guerilla and beyond – Tracing WWII in Copenhagen”

FS 2: Wednesday 15th of March 1300-1700 “Insurgency and counterinsurgency (COIN) operations – Lessons (not) learned” Field study to the Royal Danish Officer Academy

GL 1 (Date and title TBA) Guest Lecture: Major Niels Vistisen, Danish Defence Academy. GL 2 (Date TBA): Propaganda as a tool of radicalization – Jon Kyst, EEAS (European External Action

Service)

Study Tour to Århus, Belfast and Brussels to look respectively at radicalisation and counter-initiatives , The

conflict in Northern Ireland, Muslim extremism and so-called religious terrorism.

Grading and Evaluation: Participation and engagement 20% Study tour work and activities 10%

Manual simulations 20% Midterm exam: 20% Final paper/project thesis: 10% Final paper/project 20%

Class Representatives: Class representatives will be elected at the beginning of the semester. Please

communicate your feedback on the course to the two representatives. See DIS Canvas if you are unsure who

they are.

Policies:

Attendance: You are expected to attend all DIS classes when scheduled. If you miss multiple classes the Director

of Teaching and Learning and the Director of Student Affairs will be notified, and they will follow-up with you to

make sure that all is well. Absences will jeopardize your grade and your standing at DIS. Allowances will be made

in cases of illness, but in the case of multiple absences, you will need to provide a doctor’s note.

Laptops in class: You may use your laptop for note-taking or fact-checking in my class. Usage not related to the

class or our subject is unacceptable to the purpose of this class. Students should also refrain from any

activity/behavior that may be disturbing to other students who are making the effort to be attentive. I am relying

on your integrity and your respect for our objectives. If you are using your laptop for reasons not related to class,

I will reduce your class participation grade significantly.

Academic Honesty: DIS expects that students abide by the highest standards of intellectual honesty in all

academic work. DIS assumes that all students do their own work and credit all work or thought taken from

others. Academic dishonesty will result in a final course grade of “F” and can result in dismissal. The students’


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home universities will be notified. DIS reserves the right to request that written student assignments be turned

in in electronic form for submission to plagiarism detection software. See the Academic Handbook for more

information, or ask your instructor if you have questions.

Disability and Resource Statement: Any student who has a need for accommodation based on the impact of a

disability should contact the Office of Academic Support ([email protected]) to coordinate this. In order to

receive accommodations, students should inform the instructor of approved DIS accommodations within the

first two weeks of classes.

Schedule of classes, readings to be done for each class, and assignment due dates.

CLASS SCHEDULE: (1) Thursday, 19 January: Introduction to class Readings: Epstein, Edward Jay “How Edward Snowden sabotaged the war on Terrorism”

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2015/01/14/are-all-terrorists-muslims-it-s-not-even-close.html

Dean Obeidallah, “Are all Terrorists Muslims? It’s not even close”,


(2) Monday, 23 January: History of terrorism Q: What characterizes specific terror groups? Does terror differ from conventional military conflicts? Can you talk with terrorists? Readings: Isabelle Duyvesteyn, “The Role of History and Continuity in Terrorism Research”, in Magnus Ranstorp, ed., Mapping Terrorism Research (London: Routledge 2007) Powell, J. “Talking to terrorists – How to end armed conflict,” (GB, Vintage, 2015), pp 1-14

(3) Thursday, 26 January: History of terrorism continued – Q: What are some of the methods and problems related with analyzing terrorism? Readings: Richard Jackson, Lee Jarvis, Jeroen Gunning, Marie Breen-Smyth, ”Conceptualizing Terrorism”, in

Terrorism: A Critical Introduction (Palgrave 2011), pp. 99-123 Powell, J. “Talking to terrorists – How to end armed conflict,” (GB, Vintage, 2015), pp 15-41

(4) Monday, 30 January: Terrorism and counterterrorism case study 1: Denmark during WWII.

Q: What were the key elements and dilemmas shaping the struggle between the Danish resistance movement and the Germans during WWII? We will address some of this using the manual simulation game “By all means” –(in class). Readings: Jespersen, Knud “A history of Denmark” ( 2011), pp. 26-35

Hong, Nathaniel “Occupied – Denmark’s Adaptation and Resistance to German Occupation 1940-1945” (2012), pp 229-269. Interviews (on canvas)






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**Election of class representatives

FIELD STUDY: Wednesday, February 1 (8.30-12.30) – “The Urban guerilla and beyond – Tracing WWII in Copenhagen”

(5) Thursday, 2 February: Ideological terrorism and European extremewing Terrorism Q: How to make sense of ideological terrorism, bombings and Religious Terrorism Q: How to make sense of religious rhetoric? Readings: Bruce Hoffman, “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, pp. 1100-1116 Gus Martin, ”Violence in the Name of Faith: Religious Terrorism”, in Understanding Terrorism:

Challenges Perspectives, and Issues (Sage 4th ed., 2013) , pp. 158-191

Jon Elster, “Motivations and Beliefs in Suicide Missions”, in Diego Ambetta, ed., Making Sense of Suicide Missions (Oxford: OUP 2005), pp. 233-258

Core Class week (Week 6)

(6 Feb – 8 Feb Copenhagen) (9 Feb- 11 Feb Århus)

(6) Monday, 13 February: Terrorism in the context of National Independence – Case study on the conflict in Northern Ireland Q: How do we understand terrorism in the context of struggles for National Independence?

Readings: O´Brien, Brendan, “A pocket History of the IRA”,pp 5- 42. The movie “Michael Collins”, (in class) Optional: Gus Martin,”Violent Ideologies: Terrorism from the Left and the Right”, in Understanding Terrorism:

Challenges Perspectives, and Issues (Sage 4th ed., 2013) , pp. 192-243 (7) Thursday, 16 February: Terrorism in the context of National Independence – Case study on the conflict in

Northern Ireland (cont.) Q. How does a conflict reignites and what role does terror and counterterror plays? Which strategy and tactics can be used by the parties? Does the means justify the goals?

Readings: O´Brien, Brendan, “A pocket History of the IRA”,pp 79- 117.

Watch before class “The War in Northern Ireland, BBC-Documentary. Optional: Watch before class “ Soldiers story”, BBC-Documentary Optional: Watch before class “Banditcountry – South Armagh. BBC. 1976. (8) Monday, February 20: Terrorism in the context of National Independence – Case study on the conflict in

Northern Ireland (cont.)


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Q: Is peace possible in an age-old conflict? And how is this done? The challenges of military-political interest , cooperation and the issue of personalities.

Negotiating an agreement – a manual simulation approach Readings on Following Page Readings: Mallie, Eamonn: “A Green vs Orange War that neither side can win”, 8. January 2017. Powell, J. “Talking to terrorists – How to end armed conflict,” (GB, Vintage, 2015).pp.243-278. Optional: “The lessons of History” in Powell, J. “Talking to terrorists – How to end armed conflict,” (GB, Vintage, 2015), pp 309-332.

(9) Thursday, February 23: Propaganda as a tool for radicalization in todays Europe. Guest lecture by Jon Kyst,

European External Action Service (EEAS)

Midterm-exam. Test is taken through the DIS-canvas system.

Long Study Tour – Belfast/Brussels February 26–March 3

(10) Monday, 6 March: Debrief and workshop on lessons learned during the study tour

(11) Thursday, 9 March: Terrorism, Media, social media and the internet Q: What is the relation between terrorism and the traditional Media? Is communication a terrorist weapon? Readings: Epstein, Edward Jay “How Edward Snowden sabotaged the war on Terrorism”


Brigitte L. Nacos, ”Terrorist Propaganda and the Media”, in Terrorism and Counterterrorism: Understanding Threats and Responses in the Post-9/11 World (Pearson, 2nd ed. 2007), pp. 221-240

Brigitte L. Nacos, ”Anti- and Counterterrorism in the News”, in Terrorism and Counterterrorism: Understanding Threats and Responses in the Post-9/11 World (Pearson, 2nd ed. 2007), pp. 257-271 Lipman Report: “The Rising Tide of Cyberwarfare: Cyberterrorism and Cybercrime in a Climate of Heightened Global Risk and Economic Instability”, September 2009

(12) Monday, 13 March: Approaches to terrorism: Sociological explanations Q: Can identity dictate this type of behaviour? Readings: Ted Gurr, Why Men Rebel, (Princeton, NJ: PUP 1970), pp. 155-192

Wednesday 15 March: Field study 2: 1300-1700. Royal Danish Officers Academy. “Lessons (not) learned from IRAQ and Afghanistan”

Readings: The Distant War




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Powell, J. “Talking to ISIL” in“Talking to terrorists – How to end armed conflict,” (GB, Vintage, 2015), pp 369-373

(13) Evening guest lecture by journalist Najib Khaja, 18.00-19.30. (Mandatory)

(14) Thursday 16 March: Approaches to Terrorism (cont.) : Rationalist explanations Q: A tool of the weak?

Readings: Christopher Coker, “Asymmetrical Warfare: Ends or Means?”, in John Olsen, ed., Asymmetric Warfare (Oslo: Norwegian Air Force Academy 2002), pp. 319-340.

Deadline: Final paper/project thesis handed in as hardcopy and sent to [email protected]

Long Study Tour 2 / Travel Break

March 18 – March 26

(15) Monday, 27 March: Superterrorism & dealing with terrorism Q: Is there anything new about the most recent wave of terrorism? And how do we deal with it? How when institutions prove inadequate? Readings: Adam Dolnik, ”13 Years since Tokyo: Re-visiting the ”superterrorism” Debate”, Perspectives on

Terrorism, Vol. II, 2008 http://www.terrorismanalysts.com/pt/articles/issues/PTv2i2.pdf Coll, Steve: Ghost Wars – The secret history of the CIA….”, pp. 245-256 (2005) (16) Thursday, 30 March: Torture, drones and the art of killing by joystick Q: Does it work? And if it works, is it then okay to torture and kill computer-gamestyle? How to treat the

enemy?

Readings: Jeffrey Addicott, ”YES, The truth about American state interrogation techniques, torture and the

ticking time-bomb terrorist”, in Richard Jackson and Samuel Justin Sinclair, ed., Contemporary

Debates on Terrorism (Routledge 2012), pp. 152-158

Robert Becher, ”NO, Why torture is wrong”, in Richard Jackson and Samuel Justin Sinclair, ed.,

Contemporary Debates on Terrorism (Routledge 2012), pp. 159-164

Audrey Kurth Cronin, “Why Drones Fail: When Tactics Drive Strategy”, Foreign Affairs July/August

(2013)

Daniel Byman, “Why Drones Work: The Case for Washington’s Weapon of Choice”, Foreign Affairs

July/August (2013)


mailto:[email protected]

http://www.terrorismanalysts.com/pt/articles/issues/PTv2i2.pdf

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(17) Monday, 3 April: Domestic Issues in Counter-Terrorism: Security vs Freedom, Society of Surveillance

“Mission impossible? - A manual approach to security vs. freedom”

Readings: David Cole: ”Confronting the Wizard of Oz: National Security, Expertise, and Secrecy”, in

Connecticut Law Review, Vol. 44, July 2012 #5, pp. 1618-1625,

http://connecticutlawreview.org/files/2012/09/7.Cole-FINAL.pdf

Optional: Philip Heymann, Terrorism, Freedom and Security – Winning Without War (MIT Press 2003), pp.

158-179

Ami Pedahzur and Magnus Ranstorp: ”A tertiary model for countering terrorism in liberal

democracies: The case of Israel”, in John Horgan and Kurt Braddock, ed., Terrorism Studies: A

Reader (Routledge 2012), pp. 313-330

David Lyon: ”Introduction”, in Surveillance after September 11 (Polity 2003), pp. 1-12

(18) Thursday, 6 April: Presentations (manual simulation presentations (optional) and Wrap-up

Final paper/project due 6 April. Hand in a printed paper and submit a copy by e-mail to [email protected]


http://connecticutlawreview.org/files/2012/09/7.Cole-FINAL.pdf

mailto:[email protected]

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Terrorism and Counter-Terrorism from a European Perspective · Terrorism and Counter-Terrorism from a European ... 1300-1700 “Insurgency and counterinsurgency ... and Counter-Terrorism