Terrorist and Criminal Networks and the Study of Contemporary Conflict

In the past decade the proliferation of violent clandestine actors has made it to the top of the security agenda of national and international organizations. Locally embedded but transnationally connected terrorist and criminal groups, such in the Balkans, Southern Caucasus, or Central Africa, manifest disproportionate and unprecedented effects which challenge the existing capacities to counter them. Central features of this development are the merging of economic and political motives and the intermeshing of warfare and crime, the blurring of the combatant/collaborator/civilian distinction, and often the ambiguity of the conflict cleavage itself. The grey zones between legal and illegal behaviour, or between legitimate political insurgence and illegitimate profiteering are, nevertheless, crucial to address in the context of conflict resolution and peace building operations. This course will (1) focus upon the organizational and operational characteristics of clandestine networks, (2) examine the dynamics of “spoiling” in undermining peace-building processes and protracting conflict, (3) train analytical as well as communicative skills of the participants. The course is organized as a round-table research workshop in 4 modules. The introductory and task assignment session (module 1), will be followed by the analysis and discussion of current research (modules 2 and 3), and the presentation of the own research projects of the participants (module 4). The deliverables of the course for all students are: (i) continuous and active participation, (ii) chairing and providing the minutes of one thematic session during modules 2 and 3 (40%), and (iii) developing a (collaborative) research project, presenting an exposé for it at the end of module 3, as well as their project results during module 4, and turning in a written draft by the end of the semester (60%). All readings for the course will be retrievable online under the course link in my homepage (Course Materials ), or over the GSI intranet (DocuCIP).

Arbeitsform: Übung

Literatur: 

• Newman, E. and Richmond, O.: Peace Building and Spoilers. In: Conflict, Security & Development 6, 2006, S. 101-110;
• Raab, J. and Milward, H.B.: Dark Networks as Problems, in: Journal of Public Administration Research and Theory 13, . 2003, S. 413-439.