Assessing the Character of Contemporary US/UK Counter Terrorism Engagement in West Africa
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Portsmouth
Department Name: Faculty of Humanities & Social Sciences
Abstract
Research Questions:
1. How have the USA and UK responded to increasing Islamist extremist insurgency in West Africa?
2. How are these engagements shaped by changing regional counter-terrorism coalitions?
3. How do these engagements affect counter terrorism, conflict resolution and regional governance trajectories?
Background/Rationale: Recent waves of Islamist insurgency (Al Qaeda in the Sahel and ISIS-aligned Boko Haram in the Lake Chad region) have profoundly impacted the security landscape in West Africa. In response, Western powers have been re-configuring their efforts to combat terrorism in the region, with most scholarship focusing on the robust interventionist role taken by France (the main external protagonist in the region). By contrast, and despite major security and development interests in the region, the on-going US/UK role (in training, exercises, logistics, surveillance & intelligence and military action) has been largely overlooked. To rectify this gap, this project assesses the character of recent USA/UK military/security engagements in West Africa examining the drivers of counter terrorism actions, the shaping of (and reactions to) changing regional security coalitions and the effects on counter terrorism, conflict resolution and political governance trajectories. The project is expected to be a qualitative study relying on elite interviews and discourse analysis. It would support the DTP's contribution to the ESRC Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF - see below).
1. How have the USA and UK responded to increasing Islamist extremist insurgency in West Africa?
2. How are these engagements shaped by changing regional counter-terrorism coalitions?
3. How do these engagements affect counter terrorism, conflict resolution and regional governance trajectories?
Background/Rationale: Recent waves of Islamist insurgency (Al Qaeda in the Sahel and ISIS-aligned Boko Haram in the Lake Chad region) have profoundly impacted the security landscape in West Africa. In response, Western powers have been re-configuring their efforts to combat terrorism in the region, with most scholarship focusing on the robust interventionist role taken by France (the main external protagonist in the region). By contrast, and despite major security and development interests in the region, the on-going US/UK role (in training, exercises, logistics, surveillance & intelligence and military action) has been largely overlooked. To rectify this gap, this project assesses the character of recent USA/UK military/security engagements in West Africa examining the drivers of counter terrorism actions, the shaping of (and reactions to) changing regional security coalitions and the effects on counter terrorism, conflict resolution and political governance trajectories. The project is expected to be a qualitative study relying on elite interviews and discourse analysis. It would support the DTP's contribution to the ESRC Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF - see below).
Organisations
Studentship Projects
| Project Reference | Relationship | Related To | Start | End | Student Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ES/P000673/1 | 01/10/2017 | 30/09/2027 | |||
| 1956397 | Studentship | ES/P000673/1 | 01/10/2017 | 30/09/2022 | Sorina Toltica |
| Description | Counterinsurgency Forum |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | I am part of COIN Forum, organised by the UK Ministry of Defence. It aims the bring together academic scholars and the doctrine development team for a discussion on counter insurgency. On every occasion I provide an update on my research and receive feedback from attendees (a mix of Land Warfare Centre staff, academic specialists and PhD scholars studying through a range of Universities). |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019,2020 |
| Description | Graduate Conference of the European War Studies Network |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | I have presented a conference paper containing initial findings from my research. It lead to useful exchanges between speakers and I ve been requested to provide more information on my research. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| URL | https://www.u-paris2.fr/fr/evenements/new-just-war-or-just-new-wars-assessing-strategic-legal-and-et... |
| Description | Modern Conflict and Research Symposium |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Poster Presentation based on inital research findings. Received interest from American scholar, which led to a possible collaboration for publication. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| URL | https://modernconflictresearch.wordpress.com/2020-abstracts/ |
| Description | Postgraduate Open Days |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | During both undergraduate and postgraduate open days I talk about my research subject and findings with participant interested in a relevant subject. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018,2019,2020 |
| Description | South Coast DTP Research Methods Festival |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | This was an event organised by myself and other fellow researchers to celebrate the research methods employed in our doctoral training partnership. I presented methods employed in my research as well as inital findings. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Teaching: Lecture on terrorism |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Undergraduate students |
| Results and Impact | I included in my terrorism lecture knowledge and research acquired during research. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |