Swedish Foreign Fighters: A Domestic Problem?
| Název práce v češtině: | Švédští zahraniční bojovníci: Domácí problém? |
|---|---|
| Název v anglickém jazyce: | Swedish Foreign Fighters: A Domestic Problem? |
| Akademický rok vypsání: | 2016/2017 |
| Typ práce: | diplomová práce |
| Jazyk práce: | angličtina |
| Ústav: | Katedra bezpečnostních studií (23-KBS) |
| Vedoucí / školitel: | prof. Mgr. Oldřich Bureš, Ph.D., M.A. |
| Řešitel: | skrytý - zadáno vedoucím/školitelem |
| Datum přihlášení: | 20.09.2017 |
| Datum zadání: | 20.09.2017 |
| Zásady pro vypracování |
| Title: Swedish Foreign Fighters: A Domestic Problem?
Topic: Policy problems concerning Foreign Fighters in the case of Sweden Research question: How are Sweden’s counter-radicalisation measures working when it comes to dealing with returning Foreign Fighters? Key words: Violent Radicalisation, counter-radicalisation, foreign fighters, Sweden, terrorism. Outline: 1. Introduction 2. Theories and Literature Review: o Terrorism • Definition o Violent Radicalisation • Definition o ISIS and other violent extremist groups o Counter-radicalisation and de-radicalisation • Definitions o Problems o Glossary 3. Methodology: o Brief description of the format: Qualitative case study. o Policy analysis o Discourse analysis o Descriptive statistic o Interviews o Problems 4. Terrorism and Radicalization in Sweden o Islam in Sweden o Terrorism in Sweden o Foreign Fighters o Institutional Frameworks • The post- and pre-9/11 ear 5. Swedish counter-radicalisation efforts o Sweden’s strategy of battling hearts and minds • Education • Police • Law • Research institutions • Intelligence • Cooperation o Introduction to the Swedish counter-radicalisation model and how it came to be, what research, knowledge and assumptions lies behind the action plan and the strategy that has shaped it. How do these assumptions mirror the implementations? This will be analysed thoroughly. - Discourse analysis - Policy analysis o The first section will be followed by an analytical evaluation of the success the measures have had based on the problems and the funding flaws that the action plan had identified and sought to eliminate. The format will follow the specific measures that has been taken to thoroughly go through every part of the de-radicalisation model. This will be analysed through: - Discourse analysis - Policy analysis - Media coverage - Descriptive statistics Interviews 6. Swedish Response to returning Foreign Fighters o The last section concerns the return of the Foreign Fighters as an ending chapter that will mirror the endpoint of the problem with the Foreign Fighters as they cease to be foreign and are once again domestic. The chapter will be analytical and critically responsive to the measures taken with concern to lack of clear directions. This will be analysed through: - Discourse analysis - Policy analysis - Interviews 7. Conclusion 8. Bibliography |
| Seznam odborné literatury |
| 8. Bibliography:
Bjørgo, T. (2011). Forebygging av terrorisme og annen kriminalitet. PHS Forskning. [online] Oslo: Politihøgskolen. Available at: https://brage.bibsys.no/xmlui/bitstream/handle/11250/175076/forebygging%20av%20terrorisme.pdf?sequence=1 [Accessed 14 Sep. 2017]. Brown, K. and Saeed, T. (2015). Radicalization and counter-radicalization at British universities: Muslim encounters and alternatives. Ethnic and Racial Studies, 38(11), pp.1952-1968. Butt, R. and Tuck, H. (2014). European Counter-Radicalisation and De-radicalisation: A Comparative Evaluation of Approaches in the Netherlands, Sweden, Denmark and Germany. London: Institute for Strategic Dialogue. Cook, D. (2015). Understanding Jihad. 2nd ed. University of California Press. Cragin, R. (2013). Resisting Violent Extremism: A Conceptual Model for Non-Radicalization. Terrorism and Political Violence, 26(2), pp.337-353. Esman, A. (2010). Radical state. Santa Barbara, Calif.: Praeger Security International. Gustafsson, L. and Ranstorp, M. (2017). Swedish Foreign Fighters in Syria and Iraq: An analysis of open-source intelligence and statistical data. [online] Bromma: Swedish Defence University. Available at: http://www.fhs.se/Documents/Externwebben/forskning/centrumbildningar/CATS/publikationer/2017/Swedish%20Foreign%20Fighters%20webb.pdf [Accessed 14 Sep. 2017]. Hogg, M., Kruglanski, A. and van den Bos, K. (2013). Uncertainty and the Roots of Extremism. Journal of Social Issues, 69(3), pp.407-418. Hoskins, A. and O'Loughlin, B. (2009). Pre-mediating guilt: radicalisation and mediality in British news. Critical Studies on Terrorism, 2(1), pp.81-93. Irwin, N. (2015). The complexity of responding to home-grown terrorism: radicalisation, de-radicalisation and disengagement. Journal of Policing, Intelligence and Counter Terrorism, 10(2), pp.166-175. Kühle, L. and Lindekilde, L. (2012). Radicalisation and the Limits of Tolerance: A Danish Case-Study. Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies, 38(10), pp.1607-1623. Kühle, L. and Lindekilde, L. (2010). Radicalization among Young Muslims in Aarhus. [online] Aarhus: Centre for Studies in Islamism and Radicalisation (CIR) Department of Political Science, Aarhus University. Available at: http://www.ps.au.dk/fileadmin/site_files/filer_statskundskab/subsites/cir/radicalization_aarhus_FINAL.pdf [Accessed 14 Sep. 2017]. Lumbard, J. (2005). Islam, fundamentalism, and the betrayal of tradition. New Delhi: Pentagon Press. McCauley, C. and Moskalenko, S. (2011). Friction: How Radicalization Happens to Them and Us. Oxford University Press. Monaghan, J. and Molnar, A. (2016). Radicalisation theories, policing practices, and “the future of terrorism?”. Critical Studies on Terrorism, 9(3), pp.393-413. Olsen, J. (2008). Radicalisation in Danish Prisons. DIIS Policy Briefs. [online] Danish Institute for International Studies (DIIS). Available at: https://www.files.ethz.ch/isn/55774/jao_Radicalisation_in_Danish_prisons.pdf [Accessed 14 Sep. 2017]. Precht, T. (2007). Home Grown Terrorism and Islamist Radicalisation in Europe: From Conversion to Terrorism : an Assessment of the Factors Influencing Violent Islamist Extremism and Suggestions for Counter Radicalisation Measures: Research Report Funded by the Danish Minsitry of Justice. Ministry of Justice. Sageman, M. (2004). Understanding Terror Networks. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press. Saikal, A. (2003). Islam and the West. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan. Sedgwick, M. (2010). The Concept of Radicalization as a Source of Confusion. Terrorism and Political Violence, [online] 22(4), pp.479-494. Available at: https://counterideology2.files.wordpress.com/2010/10/the-concept-of-radicalisation-as-a-source-of-confusion.pdf. Vidino, L. and Brandon, J. (2012). Countering Radicalization in Europe. [online] London: International Centre for the Study of Radicalisation and Political Violence (ICSR). Available at: http://icsr.info/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/ICSR-Report-Countering-Radicalization-in-Europe.pdf [Accessed 14 Sep. 2017]. von Behr, I., Reding, A., Edwards, C. and Gribbon, L. (2013). Radicalisation in the Digital Era: The use of the internet in 15 cases of terrorism and extremism. Research Reports. [online] RAND Corporation. Available at: https://www.rand.org/pubs/research_reports/RR453.html [Accessed 14 Sep. 2017]. |
| Předběžná náplň práce v anglickém jazyce |
| 1. Introduction:
Sweden together with the other Scandinavian countries, Finland and Belgium have experienced more people leaving to fight for ISIS and to a smaller extent, Al Qaeda, than any other country in the world by capita and by Muslim population. This outflux of foreign fighters is seen by many researchers as a problem when they return to the country of origin. Different countermeasures have been taken by the Swedish government to counter the violent radicalization process that is viewed to be the starting point for making these people leave for fighting for a terrorist organization. However, not enough research has been done to the success of these measures and despite sources stating that about a half of the people that left to fight have returned, no clear political decision has been made about the response, the disengagement or de-programming of these individuals. While some politicians are of firm belief that they are impossible to turn back to society, other see them as synonym with criminals or members of former organized crime groups and would not like to see additional treatment to returning Foreign Fighters, but use the same measures as for criminals. So why is there so many coming from Sweden, what are the ways of radicalisation and what assumption to the Swedish and public servants have, to counter this phenomenon? Another way of asking would be: Why is there per capita such many foreign fighters coming from Sweden and is it still a recurrent theme despite the counter measures taken by Sweden? 2. Theories/Literature review: o Terrorism • Definition o Models of Radicalisation o Violent Radicalisation • Definition • Political Islam • Religion in Radicalisation • Social Network Theory Literature: Understanding terror networks by Marc Sageman what: the social, identifiable networks in terrorism, how groups come about and how they are linked issue: how embeddedness of network, pity crime and operational links are all working together and the importance to see a context. how: theoretical discussion why use: the theories behind social networks are important to understand terrorist networks. To understand how the networks work one would understand how changes and shifts, as counter radicalisation efforts hopefully brought about, would impact, and effect the network. To understand the importance of network also teaches us how groups collectively both join and act in jihad. How internet affect the relationship within the group and with the network. The book also contains important chapters on the evolution of the Jihad and its origin. • Internal and external radicalisation and theories behind them. Literature: Home grown terrorism and Islamist radicalisation in Europe by Tomas Precht What: the study is a thoroughly empirical and theoretical study of radicalisation in Europe, the author discusses the marginalisation of Muslims, the Islamic ideology public debates, with specific connections to Denmark. Issue: there is a great need to counter radicalisation in Europe due to its growing danger. There is theories and successful models for doings so found in Europe. Why use: The study research radicalisation and its countermeasure in Europe, and many of the theories that are stated are the ones that the Swedish government follow. Following the assumtions and theories that the Swedish government have is the only way to analyse its function and effect on the society. • Loss of identity and sense of belonging • Media and Internet - Literature: Pre-mediating guilt: radicalisation and mediality in British news by Andrew Hoskins and Ben O’Loughlin What: medias contribution to radicalisation in Great Brittan Issue: media with the use of terms and their lack of knowledge in the field is contributing to radicalisation How: discourse analysis of the British media between 2007-2008 Why use: Swedish media would likely have the same role in either radicalising or counter the process in Sweden as the British one have in Great Brittan. • Literature: Radicalisation in the digital era by RAND what: radicalisation on the internet and the use of internet in terrorism issue: how the internet is used by extremist groups and by individuals in the process of radicalisation why use: apart from the study which explains how the internet is used, the report also include a substantial literature review of what the previous studies on radicalisation and especially radicalisation on internet have come about, including the access, the broader distance and the impact of “echo chambers”. o ISIS and other violent extremist groups • Ummah and the Islamic community • The near and far enemy. Is ISIS Salam’s Islamic state for justifying global jihad? - Literature: Mohammed ‘abd al-Salam What: inspirational text for many jihadist, motivating Muslims to conduct the “lesser” of jihad, the jihad of the sword, the violent. Issue: the Muslim world is facing a great enemy in the west with their war on Islam and their expansionist agenda Why use: the argumentation used in the literature in valuable to understand the legitimising that is being used. To understand them from their own words. • Foreign Fighters. Swedish centre for asymmetric threat studies - Literature: Swedish foreign fighters what: a research being made on Swedish foreign fighters. Who they are, were they came from. issue: Sweden has seen many foreign fighters both leaving and returning, the report is aiming to clear the image of who these people are and how many they are. How: an analysis mostly built upon information and statistics from unclassified Swedish intelligence for the secret service. Why use: the information provided in the research is valuable to have information on what it is that Sweden is working against. The analysis gives an in-depth picture of the people and the process of they go through upon their departure. The research in my study will use, and build on, much of the analysis and information provided. o Counter Radicalisation • Definition • Soft power initiatives • Literature: European counter radicalisation vs middle eastern counter radicalisation - The different aspects of European and Middle eastern de-radicalisation methods. • Literature: Comparative evaluation of counter radicalisation approaches case of The Netherlands, Sweden, Denmark, and Germany by Riazat Butt and Henry Tuck, Institute for Strategic Dialogue. What: the report investigates and evaluate the counter-radicalisation and de-radicalisation efforts conducted in each of these Western European Countries. Issue: The comparison is good and goes deeply into the problems and the success the different programs have had in comparison to each other. How: The Report is built on research and Interviews Why used: It provides valid insights into how Sweden’s strategy can be viewed in comparison of other European countries, even if less history of Swedish development and effect, the study have an important comparative perspective that is valuable to know. My study will not contain any elements of cross-country comparison. • Literature: Sympathisers vs. radicalized (case study in Denmark by Kühle) What: investigate the claimed support for violent extremist groups in the Danish suburb areas. Issue: Denmark has equally if not more problems with foreign fighters and have experience more of what is seen as threat and therefore taking measures faster and, by some argued, further. Why important: As Sweden is using much of the Danish action plan as a model for themselves (with some modification), the geographical and cultural closeness, and the border with Denmark as the only land connected border makes the Danish research, together with the obvious Swedish, the most relevant to look deeper into. Conclusion: Kühle’s case study of Denmark de-radicalisations strategy point to the difference between sympathising and being radicalised, something that the Danish model, a model that Sweden looks up to, partly if not completely overlooks. • Counter radicalisation measures as counterproductive (case study of Denmark by Lindekilde) • Literature: Radicalisation in Danish prisons by Jon A. Olsen What: A case study of Danish prisons and the possibility for radicalisation and what can be done about it Issue: Denmark share many of the problems that Sweden have with foreign fighters and radicalisation. How: case study of Danish prisons Why use: This study will be valuable in the analyse of the Swedish prison model. Even if Swedish prison system have come out with their own plan for countering radicalisation, this research is more academically and theoretically oriented. • Literature: Forbyggning av terrorisme by Tore Bjorgo. What: a critical analysis of the Norwegian counter measure system and recommendation to what could be done better Issue: the problems with counter terrorism in Norway and Bjorgo instead suggest more close imitation of the models used for counter criminality. How: critical analysis of the present counter measures in Norway. Why use: the critics and the conclusions that Bjorgo is reaching can hopefully contribute and be applicable to many of the measures used in Sweden and the system that it is built on, due to Norway’s and Sweden’s cultural and geographical closeness. • Literature: The complexity of responding to home-grown terrorism: radicalisation, de-radicalisation, and disengagement by Nathan Irwin What: a critical analysis on de-radicalisation and disengagement Issue: the development and strategies in counter radicalisation and measures to deal with homegrown radicalisation. How: a critical discussion. Why use: the study is one of few that simultaneously addresses disengagement and counter radicalisation, something that this study will be addressing in the case of Sweden. The research places a focus on the assumptions that lies behind the strategies, a model this study will follow. The author also brings in the problems and complexity with different models which will be valuable in discussions on ethics and research problems. o Problems • Ethics • Informants • Time o Glossary 3. Methodology: o Qualitative case study of counter-radicalisation, de-programming and counter radicalisation efforts and their success. o How to measure success o A. How was the problem conceptualised and analysed o B. What measures did they implement o C. How were the measures intended to work, what kind effects had the Swedish government planned. o D. By analysing the reports, measure the success from some stated variables indicating success in reaching the goal and purpose of the policies by the Swedish Government. When appropriate, add complementary interviews. o Interview study • Ethical problems of interviews • Locality and considerations • Semi-structured and structured Interviews • Interviews. will be used when appropriate and when data is insufficient due to either the actuality of the policy process or limitations of the material. Both opinion, change and success will be used and especially regarding new policies and the effect it has had on the subjects of the de-radicalisation policy. Have they experienced a difference, have they gained directives and wat are there experience regarding the change in policy, do they experience a problem? o Change of policy and the Swedish model, political analysis • Evaluation reports and analysis by the different institutional forums and ministries • The policy implementations and direct measures taken countering radicalisation • The new institutions for research, policing, and international cooperation. • The Swedish national strategy against terrorism o News coverage. will be systematic coverage of the articles and the writings in relation to foreign fighters and counter-narrative in counter-radicalisation efforts. o Descriptive statistics and public documents. These will be analysed to see where the foreign fighter’s origin from in Sweden, how many arrest that has taken place, and the quantitative information that is provided by both the Swedish secret service, the local news source and the juridical publicness. o Discourse analysis. Will be used on documents created for either assessment of the work that has been done, description of the history and the decisions made to evaluate the problems and the causes of the problem, and relevant media coverage of either decisions or events with a link to either terrorism or violent extremism. - a comparative discourse analysis is considered to compare the specific news coverage to distinguish potential divergence between reports on different groups of violent extremism. o Problems: some of the work that is done in Sweden is aimed or include family of identified risk, youth centres or criminals, all of whom would be consider vulnerable groups and therefore not be included in this study more than indirectly discussed from a theoretical perspective. 4. History: Terrorism and Radicalization in Sweden o Islam in Sweden o Terrorism in Sweden o Foreign Fighters - o Who are they and how many are they. facts and statistics 5. Swedish counter-radicalisation efforts • The post- and pre-9/11 era o Sweden’s strategy of battling hearts and minds • Education • Police • Law • Research institutions • Intelligence • cooperation o Sweden’s counter radicalisation policy and measures taken • A. The evaluation of causes • B. Theorized Solutions • C. Implemented measures • D. Evaluation of results • Sweden’s counterterrorism strategy – pre-empt, prevent, and protect • Sweden’s measures against violent extremism. - the action plan cover the three most prominent environments for violent extremism, and does not focus on one particular group. This to prevent stigmatisation of one group. - National cooperation: strengthen gender equality, democratisation, No Hate Speech, education and support for counter initiatives and organizations. - Identified risks: support for relatives, social service, evolve religious institutions support, knowledge, and methods. - support for leaving the violent extremism: local support, mapping methods, youth centres, criminal care, and prisons. - Cooperation: education, dialog, material, digital educational material - stop and prevent anti-democratic messages on the internet. • Sweden’s strategy against money laundry and financing of Terrorism. o Influential and important people o Magnus Norell – The new terrorism as non-political and militarily religious. o Mona Sahlin – Minister of democracy and head of the anti-violent extremism measures, also leader of Sweden’s Feminism Party. o Mosques • What have changed • Complementary Interviews with regular attendance and imams o Public Opinion • Have there been any change • Complementary interviews o Media • The media image, discourse analysis • Complementary Interviews with journalists o Education • New institutions and programs • Research facilities, what have been accomplished and how • Complementary Interviews with lectures/researchers/students o Communitys • Policy analysis, how have the communities been approached • Complementary Interviews with young Muslim in communities of high Muslim population o Prisons/Criminal care • Study of change routines and policies. • Report on counter radicalisation in prisons. Dated 2016 • Complementary Interviews with prison personnel and policy makers o Laws and institutional frameworks • Anti-terrorism law • Anti-training • Anti-finance • Anti-supporting • Statistics of prosecuted and arrested people on terrorist grounds. - The first arrested - the financially supporters - Sweden’s first big terrorist attack. Rakhmat Akilov o Border control • Danish border - Change of policies - Complementary Interviews with personnel • Airport control - Change of policies - Complementary Interviews with personnel o Cooperation o National cooperation - The 5 authorities and the work between them. who does what and how is this working - The ministry of immigration and the national Intelligence – a impossible relationship. - Foreign Intelligence office and the Secret police. o International cooperation • EU cooperation regarding information, recommendation, and intelligence - Sweden as many other EU states does not work solely nationally with questions of Radicalisation and counterterrorism, much of the policies that is implemented is with a cooperation with EU as a supranational entity or with programmes transnationally with member states. Other changes and implementations have come directly from EU, other have been bilaterally came up and other policies have come by observing and learning from other member states with more experience and knowledge. - European Policy Planners' Network (EPPN) - Radicalisation Awareness Network (RAN) - Europol • Scandinavian cooperation - the Scandinavian countries are the countries that, together with Belgium and Finland has the most foreign fighters leaving for ISIS and to a lesser extent Al-Quada. Some cooperation has been done between the sister nations. Especially regarding border control. • NATO and US cooperation and information sharing o Military and policing • Intelligence • The renewed focus on terrorism and counter radicalisation • The new mandatory military duty for men and women in the age of 18, starting from 2018 and the connection to the new perceived security situation in Sweden. 6. Swedish Response to returning Foreign Fighters o Different policies and municipal contradictions • Lund’s decisions to rehabilitate returning Foreign fighter, a decision that had bad both critic and potential followers from other cities and municipalise. o Transnational comparison o Critical analysis 7. Conclusion: o Ways of radicalisation in Sweden - the background to the understanding - the focus groups o The Swedish response - The ideas and inspiration for the action plan and the strategic model - What could have been made differently o The success of the Swedish response in the different areas of measures. - How do they evaluate their own success - What have changed - In the line of changed perceptions, how is the present opinion - with everything considering, can the Swedish model be called successful in fulfilling the set-up goals and ambitions? - why has it not had more success. - What would have been more successful, in the lines the theoretical model followed o The problems and responses to the return of the Foreign Fighters. o Suggested improvements |