Al Shabaab as a transnational actor : a critical theoretical analysis

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dc.contributor.advisorSeegers, Annetteen_ZA
dc.contributor.authorReid, Gabrielle Paxtonen_ZA
dc.date.accessioned2016-07-25T11:29:39Z
dc.date.available2016-07-25T11:29:39Z
dc.date.issued2016en_ZA
dc.description.abstractThe Somalia-based militant group, Al Shabaab, has conducted mass casualty transnational terrorist attacks and has become a regional security threat. In an effort to uncover the best explanation of the drivers behind the group's use of transnational terror, a critical analysis of Rational Choice Theory, Spill-over Conflict Theory and Regional War Complex Theory was conducted. Evaluating each theory according to whether its assumptions held true, the theory offered a parsimonious explanation of Al Shabaab's use of transnational terror which could be supported by at least three types of evidence, the strengths and weaknesses of each theory, with regard to explaining Al Shabaab's transnational terror were identified. The findings showed that Al Shabaab as a transnational actor should not be seen as a linear transformation of the group, moving outwards from Somalia, but connected to an interlinked web between countries in the Horn of Africa, where domestic vulnerabilities such as political and socioeconomic marginalisation and a vulnerability to radicalisation allow for the cross-pollination of intent, and the capabilities to carry out attacks. As such, the regional and international interconnections captured by the Regional War Complex offered the best explanation of the drivers of Al Shabaab's use of transnational terror. Although Rational Choice Theory most clearly highlighted Al Shabaab's intent to transform from a domestic actor to a regional one, and the Spill-over Model showed that refugees could offer a recruitment source, it was the increased regional capabilities through the establishment of affiliates located outside of Somalia which gave the group the capacity to carry out transnational attacks and to operate as a transnational actor.en_ZA
dc.identifier.apacitationReid, G. P. (2016). <i>Al Shabaab as a transnational actor : a critical theoretical analysis</i>. (Thesis). University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Humanities ,Department of Political Studies. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/11427/20698en_ZA
dc.identifier.chicagocitationReid, Gabrielle Paxton. <i>"Al Shabaab as a transnational actor : a critical theoretical analysis."</i> Thesis., University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Humanities ,Department of Political Studies, 2016. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/20698en_ZA
dc.identifier.citationReid, G. 2016. Al Shabaab as a transnational actor : a critical theoretical analysis. University of Cape Town.en_ZA
dc.identifier.ris TY - Thesis / Dissertation AU - Reid, Gabrielle Paxton AB - The Somalia-based militant group, Al Shabaab, has conducted mass casualty transnational terrorist attacks and has become a regional security threat. In an effort to uncover the best explanation of the drivers behind the group's use of transnational terror, a critical analysis of Rational Choice Theory, Spill-over Conflict Theory and Regional War Complex Theory was conducted. Evaluating each theory according to whether its assumptions held true, the theory offered a parsimonious explanation of Al Shabaab's use of transnational terror which could be supported by at least three types of evidence, the strengths and weaknesses of each theory, with regard to explaining Al Shabaab's transnational terror were identified. The findings showed that Al Shabaab as a transnational actor should not be seen as a linear transformation of the group, moving outwards from Somalia, but connected to an interlinked web between countries in the Horn of Africa, where domestic vulnerabilities such as political and socioeconomic marginalisation and a vulnerability to radicalisation allow for the cross-pollination of intent, and the capabilities to carry out attacks. As such, the regional and international interconnections captured by the Regional War Complex offered the best explanation of the drivers of Al Shabaab's use of transnational terror. Although Rational Choice Theory most clearly highlighted Al Shabaab's intent to transform from a domestic actor to a regional one, and the Spill-over Model showed that refugees could offer a recruitment source, it was the increased regional capabilities through the establishment of affiliates located outside of Somalia which gave the group the capacity to carry out transnational attacks and to operate as a transnational actor. DA - 2016 DB - OpenUCT DP - University of Cape Town LK - https://open.uct.ac.za PB - University of Cape Town PY - 2016 T1 - Al Shabaab as a transnational actor : a critical theoretical analysis TI - Al Shabaab as a transnational actor : a critical theoretical analysis UR - http://hdl.handle.net/11427/20698 ER - en_ZA
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11427/20698
dc.identifier.vancouvercitationReid GP. Al Shabaab as a transnational actor : a critical theoretical analysis. [Thesis]. University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Humanities ,Department of Political Studies, 2016 [cited yyyy month dd]. Available from: http://hdl.handle.net/11427/20698en_ZA
dc.language.isoengen_ZA
dc.publisher.departmentDepartment of Political Studiesen_ZA
dc.publisher.facultyFaculty of Humanitiesen_ZA
dc.publisher.institutionUniversity of Cape Town
dc.subject.otherInternational Relationsen_ZA
dc.titleAl Shabaab as a transnational actor : a critical theoretical analysisen_ZA
dc.typeMaster Thesis
dc.type.qualificationlevelMasters
dc.type.qualificationnameMSocScen_ZA
uct.type.filetypeText
uct.type.filetypeImage
uct.type.publicationResearchen_ZA
uct.type.resourceThesisen_ZA
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