Performative Power and Terrorism in Europe in the 2010's

• Thesis title in Czech: Performative Power and Terrorism in Europe in the 2010's
• Thesis title in English: Performative Power and Terrorism in Europe in the 2010's
• Key words: Terrorism, counterterrorism, performativity, performative power, De Graaf
• English key words: Terrorism, counterterrorism, performativity, performative power, De Graaf
• Academic year of topic announcement: 2016/2017
• Thesis type: diploma thesis
• Thesis language: angličtina
• Department: Department of International Relations (23-KMV)
• Supervisor: Dagmar Rychnovská, M.A., LL.M., Ph.D.
• Author: hidden - assigned by the advisor
• Date of registration: 23.06.2017
• Date of assignment: 23.06.2017
• Date and time of defence: 22.06.2018 12:30
• Venue of defence: Jinonice - U Kříže 8, Praha 5, J3093, Jinonice - místn. č. 3093
• Date of electronic submission: 16.04.2018
• Date of proceeded defence: 22.06.2018
• Opponents: prof. PhDr. Emil Aslan, Ph.D.

References

This diploma thesis uses a number of primary and secondary source materials, which will allow me to find answers to both research questions stated above. When it comes to primary sources, it mainly concerns official statements by government organs. The most important secondary sources will be:
1. De Graaf, B., Why Communication and Performance are the Key in Countering Terrorism.
2. De Graaf, B., Evaluating Counterterrorism Performance: A comparative study.
3. De Graaf, B., Why Communication and Performance are Key in Countering Terrorism.
4. De Graaf, B., Theater van de Angst.
5. Rapoport, D.C., The Four Waves of Rebel Terror and September 11.
6. Kessels, E.J.A.M., Countering Violent Extremist Narratives. (The Hague Center for Counter Terrorism)
7. Chalk, P., The Liberal Democratic Response to Terrorism, Terrorism and Political Violence Vol. 7, No. 4.

Preliminary scope of work

This diploma thesis called ‘Performative Power and Terrorism in Europe in the 2010s’, deals with the evolution of terrorism, counterterrorism and the use of the theory of performative power, as coined by Beatrice de Graaf in 2010. Since the recent attacks in Paris (13th of November 2015) and Nice (14th of July 2016), terrorism has become a hot topic again for both scholars and policymakers. De Graaf has provided a schedule of fourteen signifiers in order to measure the performativity of authorities, and the extent to which they are capable of influencing public fears and opinion when it comes to terrorism. A schedule that should concretise the way in which theory can be ‘translated’ to practice. By means of two case studies, regarding the terrorist attacks mentioned above, the theory and its signifiers will be analysed. The result of this analysis was stunning. This paper argues the theory and the signifiers are partially flawed and anachronistic. Although De Graaf considers her theory to be universal, the research conducted in this document reveals shortcomings and proves it does not stand the test of time. In order to make performative power and the signifiers time-resistant it has to be altered. Recommendations are therefore provided at the end of this paper.

Preliminary scope of work in English

I. Introduction
In a time of terrorist attacks in Western Europe (such as in Paris, Nice, Brussels, Berlin and London), states have to react to an increased feeling of insecurity among its citizens. It concerns a period that marks the beginning of counterterrorism policy in the Europe after the 9/11 attack. History has proven to us that despite similar threats in the cases mentioned above, the nature of the response to such threats is totally diverse in different states.
Dutch counterterrorism expert Beatrice de Graaf analyses different responses within the ‘security dispositif’ and the framework of her ‘performative power’ in Evaluating Counterterrorism Performance: A comparative study. She uses fourteen ‘signifiers’, analysing both material and immaterial effects of governmental responses to terrorism, such as policy implementation on the part of the police, intelligence services and the judiciary. This offers her the chance to frame issues such as the public mind or the power of mobilising popular support for counterterrorism. Her research does focus on counterterrorism in the Netherlands, the FRG, Italy and the United States. In the end, she concludes that low levels of performative power from the side states can have a positive effect on all cases of counterterrorist measures.
II. Relevance
Times however do change. Is the conclusion of De Graaf, which referred to terrorism in the ‘roaring seventies’ still valid? After all, society has changed half a century after the terrorist waves that De Graaf has been describing in her book. The whole nature of society has changed, and terrorism seems to put a bigger burden on society than in the seventies, and also the means for both terrorists and governments to influence the public (e.g. via social media) grew. By selecting two contemporary cases of terrorist attacks (Paris and Nice), this thesis hopes to find out to what extent the theory of performative power as coined by De Graaf is still applicable to contemporary cases of terrorism in Europe.
III. Research question
Given the objective of this thesis, the following research question has been formulated:
- Research question: To what extent is the theory of performative power as coined by Beatrice de Graaf still applicable to contemporary cases of terrorism in Europe?
IV. Aim and contribution of the thesis
As mentioned above, the main goal is to analyse to what extent the theory of performative power as coined by Beatrice de Graaf is still applicable to contemporary cases of terrorism in Europe. It does so by analysing the French government’s reaction and capability to change its CT policy after the Paris and Nice attacks, according to the fourteen signifiers developed by De Graaf. Moreover, this thesis will criticize De Graaf’s other conclusions regarding terrorism, which she claims are universal.
V. Theory
Theoretically, this thesis will be based on several streams of thought, of which the first one will be the so-called securitisation theory, as developed by the Copenhagen School). This theory is seen as one of the most important contributions to security studies over de past decades. The theory claims that security is intersubjective and socially constructive. This will be of immensive importance the the research, since the fourteen signifiers as mentioned by De Graaf are largely based on the reaction of society to insecurity.
The other main theory being used, will be the Foucauldian discourse analysis (on which De Graaf built her theory too). Foucauldian discourse analysis is a way of discourse analysis which focuses on relationships in society, based on power and expressed with language and practices.
VI. Methodology
As mentioned before, the signifiers play a big role in measuring the performative power of governments. De Graaf had many sources at her disposal, but she decided to focus on the publications and archives of security services, minutes of the policy-making authorities and interviews with (former) civil servants of those organisations. Although some of these sources are hard to reach and/or classified for the topic of this research, there are many official (press) publications by the authorities. Therefore this paper’s sources will be limited to those official publications or interviews with those who are professionally involved (from the side of the authorities) with the topic.
VII. Thesis outline
To guide the development of the research, this paper will be structured as follows:
Introduction
- Introduction to the chosen topic
- Motivation for research
- Aim of the work
- Research question
- Contribution of the diploma thesis
- Structure and outline of the diploma thesis
Literature review
- Description of where Western and European Society are when it comes to terrorism.
- Review of the influence of terrorism now, and back in the 1960’s and 1970’s.
- Introduction to concepts such as Rapoport’s four waves of terrorism, as well as securitisation theory.
- Positioning of these debates, which serves the operationalisation of De Graaf’s theory.
Theoretical framework
- Introduction to the theory of De Graaf and the fourteen signifiers and its operationalisation.
- Definition of performative power according to De Graaf.
- Explanation of how De Graaf’s perceives the way policymakers react to terrorism in society.
- Performativity in relation to counterterrorism and the discourse around it.
The Paris attacks
- A brief summary on the events of the attacks on November 13th,2015.
- Analyses of CT measures taken.
- Schematising performativity according to De Graaf’s fourteen signifiers.
The Nice attacks
- A brief summary on the events of the attacks on July 14th, 2016.
- Analyses of CT measures taken.
- Schematising performativity according to De Graaf’s fourteen signifiers.
Comparison chapter
- Comparison of results
Conclusions
- Drawing conclusions from conducted analysis.
- My point of view on De Graaf’s theory and CT policy.
- Possible future research.