Raising Allah’s Banner: The Case of the Jama-at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM).
| Název práce v češtině: | Raising Allah’s Banner: The Case of the Jama-at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM). |
|---|---|
| Název v anglickém jazyce: | Raising Allah’s Banner: The Case of the Jama-at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM). |
| Akademický rok vypsání: | 2022/2023 |
| Typ práce: | diplomová práce |
| Jazyk práce: | angličtina |
| Ústav: | Katedra bezpečnostních studií (23-KBS) |
| Vedoucí / školitel: | prof. PhDr. Emil Aslan, Ph.D. |
| Řešitel: | skrytý - zadáno vedoucím/školitelem |
| Datum přihlášení: | 18.10.2023 |
| Datum zadání: | 18.10.2023 |
| Zásady pro vypracování |
| Title
Raising Allah’s Banner: The Case of the Jama-at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM). Research Question Which relational mechanisms and arenas of interactions spark the violent radicalisation of the JNIM coalition? Keywords JNIM ; Sahel ; jihadism ; violent radicalisation ; political violence ; terrorism Motivation This Master’s thesis will focus on the al-Qaeda-affiliated Jama-at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), and more specifically the group’s process of violent radicalisation and use of political violence. To do so, I will apply the relational perspective theoretical framework as part of the social movement theory (SMT). This research project is both relevant and intriguing. I will have the opportunity to explore the concepts of violent radicalisation and political violence going beyond factors of explanation focusing on the ‘why’, such as ideology or push and pull factors, or the groups’ organisational structure, aims, tactics, and capabilities. In fact, issues related to (violent) radicalisation and/or terrorism have often been assessed, amongst others, through studies exploring the ‘root causes’ of it (i.e. the ‘why’), pathways to radicalisation at the micro level, or the role of specific ideologies, thus missing other important considerations. When it comes to violent groups or organisations, these are usually assessed through their organisational structure, aims, tactics, and capabilities. This thesis will therefore assess processes of radicalisation at the groups’ meso level by focusing on the ‘how’ and ‘when’ radicalisation and political violence occurs. The ‘how’ and ‘when’ refer to “the complex web of relational patterns and practices that shape and are shaped by the interactions among a variety of actors and parties involved in contention, as well as by surrounding, at times contingent, events and circumstances”. As will be explained below, applying a relational perspective theoretical framework to understand JNIM’s process of radicalisation and use of political violence appears as particularly promising. Finally, this research topic is also tragically actual as the region is the theater of ever-increasing violent conflicts since 2012. Methodology The analysis of this thesis will be largely based on secondary literature on the topic. The analysis will also be informed by semi-structured and/or structured interviews of experts in the field. The goal would be to secure interviews with practitioners, scholars, and military officials. This thesis will follow the relational perspective theoretical framework as part of the social movement theory. More particularly, I will borrow the theoretical framework offered by Alimi, Bosi, and Demetriou (2015). Additions and/or modifications to this framework will potentially be made in case this would enrich the analysis of the topic. Contribution This thesis will contribute to the understanding of violent radicalisation, political violence, and terrorism in the Sahel, as well as violent extremism organizations in the region. The case of JNIM is intriguing as it is an umbrella of different affiliated groups. Interestingly, it appears that the most lethal group is not so much JNIM as a whole, but the Katiba Macina, an affiliated group of JNIM. Even more so fascinating is what has been dubbed the “Sahel exception”, namely the absence of confrontation and/or collaboration between JNIM and the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara (ISGS), which has now, however, ended. Moreover, the conflict in the region involves a variety of actors ranging from the local context to the international one, all with competing interests, adding to the complexity of the state of affairs in the region. Thus, understanding how and when JNIM’s acts of violence emerge, increase, and/or persist is important. These questions cannot be answered by looking solely at the ‘causes’ of violent radicalization and/or terrorism, or by looking at the groups’ organization, intentions, and capabilities. This is even more so important given the fact that the primary focus of counter-terrorism operations were essentially directed at the ISGS, allegedly due to its direct connections to global jihadism, although the more violent group was, and remains, JNIM. Finally, it remains to be seen what the future holds as French troops are withdrawing from the region. Therefore, applying the relational perspective theoretical framework to inform the intricate patchwork of relational practices and patterns that influence and are influenced by interactions between the JNIM and all these actors and parties involved in the conflict appears as particularly relevant for this topic. Secondarily, this thesis will bring interesting contributions not only to the study of (violent) radicalisation and terrorism, but also to the fields of study of insurgency and counter-insurgency as well as peace studies, and more particularly peace-keeping. |
| Seznam odborné literatury |
| Méryl Demuynck and Julie Coleman, “Local Governance As A (De-)Legitimizing Tool for Competing Violent Extremist Groups in Central Mali”, in The Rule is For None But Allah: Islamist Approaches to Governance, edited by Joana Cook & Shiraz Maher, Oxford University Press, 2023: 187-204.
Bart Schuurman and Max Taylor, “Reconsidering Radicalization: Fanaticism and the Link Between Ideas and Violence”, Perspectives on Terrorism 12, no. 1 (2018): 3–22. http://www.jstor.org/stable/26343743. Charles Tilly, “Terror as Strategy and Relational Process“, International Journal of Comparative Sociology (SAGE) 46, no. 1–2 (2005): 11–32. https://doi.org/10.1177/0020715205054468 Daniel Eizenga, and Wendy Williams, “The Puzzle of JNIM and Militant Islamist Groups in the Sahel”, Africa Center for Strategic Studies, 2020. http://www.jstor.org/stable/resrep27050. Donatella Della Porta, “Radicalization: A Relational Perspective“, Annual Review of Political Science 21, no. 1, (2018): 461-474. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-polisci-042716-102314 Eitan Y. Alimi, Lorenzo Bosi, and Chares Demetriou, “The Dynamics of Radicalization: A Relational and Comparative Perspective“, Oxford University Press, 2015: 352 pp. Folahanmi Aina, “Mapping the contours of Jihadist groups in the Sahel“, King’s College London, October 28, 2021. https://www.kcl.ac.uk/mapping-the-contours-of-jihadist-groups-in-the-sahel International Crisis Group, “JNIM: Rise of a Malian Jihadist Coalition”, in Mali: Enabling Dialogue with the Jihadist Coalition JNIM. International Crisis Group, 2021. http://www.jstor.org/stable/resrep38453.5. Katherine Zimmerman, “Salafi-Jihadi Ecosystem in the Sahel”, American Enterprise Institute, 2020. http://www.jstor.org/stable/resrep24617. Megan Zimmerer, “Terror in West Africa: a threat assessment of the new al Qaeda affiliate in Mali”, Critical Studies on Terrorism 12, no. 3, (2019): 491-511. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/17539153.2019.1599531 Nasr Wassim, “ISIS in Africa: The End of the “Sahel Exception””, New Lines Institute, June 2, 2020. https://newlinesinstitute.org/nonstate-actors/isis-in-africa-the-end-of-the-sahel-exception/ Paul Hedges, “Radicalisation: Examining a Concept, Its Use and Abuse”, Counter Terrorist Trends and Analyses 9, no. 10 (2017): 12–18. http://www.jstor.org/stable/26351560. Randy Borum, “Radicalization into Violent Extremism I: A Review of Social Science Theories”, Journal of Strategic Security 4, no. 4 (2011) a): 7–36. http://www.jstor.org/stable/26463910. Randy Borum, “Radicalization into Violent Extremism II: A Review of Conceptual Models and Empirical Research”, Journal of Strategic Security 4, no. 4 (2011) b): 37–62. http://www.jstor.org/stable/26463911. |
| Předběžná náplň práce |
| Outline
1. Introduction 2. Literature review a. Violent radicalization and processes of violent radicalization b. Political violence c. Militants, insurgents, and terrorist organizations 3. Theoretical framework 4. Methodology 5. Sub-Saharan Africa a. Short introduction to the region b. Short summary explaining the current situation c. Quick overview of existing violent groups in the region 6. Jama-at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) a. Short summary of the situation before the emergence of JNIM in 2017 b. Short introduction to JNIM 7. Analysis 8. Conclusion and limitations 9. Reference / Bibliography |