Dissertation
A Critical Analysis of Salafi Jihadist Militancy and Discourse
University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland
Doctor of Philosophy, University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland
2020
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.25907/00012
Abstract
Terrorism continues to threaten peace, stability, the state and human security. Organisations subscribing to the Salafi jihadist ideology, such as al-Qa’eda and ISIL present one specific threat and pose significant and persistent challenges to international peace and security. ISIL has organised and inspired various unsophisticated, remote-controlled and lone-actor attacks, despite its territory losses. Governments, researchers, security commentators and others attempt to understand the individual actors, their motivations, their discourses and the structural circumstances in which they develop. This thesis seeks to address some of these challenges.
A literature review was conducted to explore theoretical approaches to terrorist motivation generally and to clarify the ways in which psychological and sociological approaches can be applied to understand engagement with Salafi jihadist militant groups. Case-studies of Tunisia and the North Caucasus were utilised to examine the structural conditions of locations identified as milieus from which large numbers of non-state militants have joined groups such as ISIL. In-depth analyses of the discourses of sheikhs identified as being prominent among Salafi jihadist foreign fighters engaged in conflict in Syria were used to explore militant discourses.
Details
- Title
- A Critical Analysis of Salafi Jihadist Militancy and Discourse
- Authors
- Christopher Ruddy
- Contributors
- Shannon Brincat (Supervisor) - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, School of Social Sciences - Legacy
- Awarding institution
- University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland
- Degree awarded
- Doctor of Philosophy
- Publisher
- University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland
- DOI
- 10.25907/00012
- Organisation Unit
- Indigenous and Transcultural Research Centre; Tropical Forests and People Research Centre; University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland; Forest Research Institute; School of Law and Society; Sustainability Research Cluster; School of Law and Criminology - Legacy
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 99489107802621
- Output Type
- Dissertation
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