Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Chemical terrorism – Prevention – Government policy'

Thesis (M.A. in Security Studies (Security Building in Post Cinflict Environments)--Naval Postgraduate School, Dec. 2004.
Thesis Advisor(s): Gaye Christoffersen. Includes bibliographical references (p. 83-91). Also available online.

The contemporary threat of terrorism has changed the ways in which government and the public view the world. Unlike the existential threat from nation states in previous centuries, today, government and the public spend much of their effort looking for the inward threat. Brought about by high profile events such as 9/11, 7/7, and 3/11, and exacerbated by globalisation, hyper-connected social spheres, and the media, the threats from within are reinforced daily. In the UK, government has taken bold steps to foment public safety and public security but has also been criticised by some who argue that government actions have labelled Muslims as the ‘suspect other'. This thesis explores the counter-terrorism environment in London at the community/government interface, how the Metropolitan Police Service and London Fire Brigade deliver counter-terrorism policy, and how individuals and groups are reacting. It specifically explores the realities of the lived experience of those who make up London's ‘suspect community' and whether or not counter-terrorism policy can be linked to further marginalisation, radicalism, and extremism. By engaging with those that range from London's Metropolitan Police Service's Counterterrorism Command (SO15) to those that make up the radical fringe, an ethnographic portrait is developed. Through that ethnographic portrait the ‘ground truth' and complexities of the lived experience are made clear and add significant contrast to the aseptic policy environment.

This study researches the varying threats that emanate from terrorists who carry their activity into the online arena. It examines several elements of this threat, including virtual to virtual attacks and threats to critical infrastructure that can be traced to online sources. It then reports on the methods that terrorists employ in using information technology such as the internet for propaganda and other communication purposes. It discusses how the United States government has responded to these problems, and concludes with recommendations for best practices.

Under the competences of the European Union's intergovernmentally controlled Justice and Home Affairs policy, counter-terrorist co-operation and co-ordination of efforts have progressed at a rapid pace following the 11 September attacks on the USA. Given, however, that Europe has experienced entrenched terrorist campaigns for the past three decades, one could be forgiven for questioning, in light of the unique co-operative position of Western Europe, why it has taken so long for the membership of the EU to reach a common definition of terrorism. Also why is it that even now, the EU has failed to develop a common policy against terrorism? Political explanations are traditional responses to such questions, but there is a risk of underestimating the complexities of the European Project, and the effect which this has had on so many areas of transnational co-operation. By focusing therefore on the often-overlooked role played by European integration on counter-terrorist co-operation, in addition to empirical analysis of the efficiency of the co-operative structures, we place ourselves in a more beneficial position to understand the current situation. Intergovernmentalism, the controlling force of JHA co-operation, we find is not mutually exclusive to law-enforcement co-operation. Two theories tested for supranational influences - neo-functionalism and federalism - have also played their part, from the early 1960s onwards, in facilitating co-operation. The historical emphasis is important, because co-operation prior to the regulation of much of this area within the EU, following the Treaties of Economic Union, provides us with ample material for analysis and greater insight into the JHA process and counter-terrorism. Intergovernmentalism has helped push counter-terrorist co-operation along, but equally we find that it now serves as a hindrance in completing its development because of its in-built tendency to retain subsidiarity. Counter terrorist co-operation, we conclude, need not be restricted to intergovernmental control any longer.

Orientador: Roberto Romano da Silva
Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Filosofia e Ciências Humanas
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Resumo: O pensamento sobre a razão de Estado pode ser dito fundamental para a política moderna, já que seu desenvolvimento inicial coincide com o do próprio surgimento do Estado. Onde crescia a razão de Estado, crescia o Estado, que por sua vez fomentava aquela política. Acusada de ocorrer à revelia da moral, essa circularidade e o acúmulo de poder que ela envolve foi certamente responsável por consolidar o Estado como instituição quaseuniversal. A consolidação das instituições estatais não extinguiu, contudo, a razão de Estado, que como técnica de poder ou como pretensa racionalidade superior acompanhou os distintos momentos da política. A presente pesquisa examina inicialmente o contexto histórico e intelectual que originou o pensamento sobre a razão de Estado a fim de permitir uma visão panorâmica do tema na teoria política. Após o estudo histórico discorre-se sobre os diversos elementos que compõem este tema e analisa-se os modos pelos quais eles operam na prática política. Nesta primeira parte são utilizados diversos textos de reconhecidos estudiosos do pensamento político, como Friedrich Meinecke, Carl J. Friedrich, Quentin Skinner e Michel Senellart, mas recorre-se também diretamente aos textos históricos de Nicolau Maquiavel, Giovanni Botero, Thomas Hobbes e Gabriel Naudé. No estágio seguinte aplica-se o estudo inicial a um caso concreto. São estudadas algumas ações políticas e jurídicas do governo dos Estados Unidos, assim como leis criadas para combater o terrorismo, notavelmente aquelas que entraram em vigor após os ataques que o país sofreu em 11 de setembro de 2001. Antes de abordar o ponto central recupera-se fatores históricos que influenciaram os rumos do Estado americano e alguns eventos que constituem precedentes importantes da política antiterror. Após a devida contextualização, o trabalho centra-se na análise de uma lei de 2001, o Patriot Act, e nas ações estatais que ela possibilitou nos anos seguintes. Na segunda parte do trabalho utiliza-se, além de textos acadêmicos, artigos jornalísticos, documentos oficiais do governo americano, textos de leis, jurisprudência e relatórios e declarações de setores da sociedade civil e de comentadores de temas jurídicos. O exame da doutrina da razão de Estado, aplicado ao caso específico dos Estados Unidos no referido contexto corrobora a tese, pormenorizada no capítulo conclusivo, de que as recentes formas de combate ao terrorismo recuperam e fortalecem o pensamento sobre a razão de Estado, agora na situação particular dos Estados liberais-democráticos
Abstract: Reason of State theories might be considered fundamental to modern politics for its beginning occurs together with the emergence of States themselves. Where reason of State was rising, it helped the State growth that, in turn, stimulated reason of State policies. Criticized for having put aside moral concerns, such circularity and the accumulation of power it produces may be pointed as an important cause leading to the consolidation of the State as a quasi-universal institution. Nonetheless, the States did not extinguished reason of State after being consolidated. As techniques or as a specific rationality it was adapted for each new context of politics. This work starts by investigating the historical and intellectual context that gave birth to reason of State in order to show a panoramic view of the theme in the political theory. After the historical study I analyse several elements which constitutes reason of State and I present how they operate in political practice. For this first part several texts of recognized academics of political thought are used, such as Friedrich Meinecke, Carl J. Friedrich, Quentin Skinner and Michel Senellart, but I also resort to the historical texts of Niccolo Machiavelli, Giovanni Botero, Thomas Hobbes and Gabriel Naudé. At the next stage the previous study is applied to a concrete case. I analyse political and judicial actions of the American government and some legislation created to combat terrorism, particularly those that went in force after the attacks the country suffered on September 11, 2001 (9/11). Before dealing with the main point I present historical events which have influenced the course of the United States politics and some important precedents of the anti-terror policies. After proper contextualization the study is focused on the 2001 law called Patriot Act and on the state actions it has authorized in the years that followed its creation. In the second part, besides academic texts and news articles, I make use of official documents, statute texts, judicial cases, reports and declarations of civil society organizations and of legal themes' commentators. The study of reason of State doctrine applied to the specific case of the United States at the mentioned context corroborates the thesis addressed at the conclusive chapter stating that the recent anti-terror policies revive and strengthen reason of State thought, now acting at the particular situation of liberal democracies
Doutorado
Filosofia
Doutor em Filosofia

Approved for public release; distribution in unlimited.
Since World War II, the Philippines has confronted threats from communist insurgents, Muslim secessionists, and a few other agitators. Recently, however, a new threat has emerged-- this time coming from a terrorist organization known as the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG). Although the ASG is a relatively small group, it has wrought great injury to the Philippine image as of late. Common among the groups presenting a threat to internal security are that their strategies and tactics tend to be unconventional and asymmetric. This thesis seeks to determine how special operations can improve the AFP's capability to address internal security threats. The study begins by examining the security environments in which the AFP currently operates, and then proceeds to study emerging security environments in which it will likely operate. The current special operations capability of the AFP is explored and assessed, while inquiring whether it needs enhancing. Case studies of past AFP special operations against groups which posed major internal threats are analyzed to determine whether or not the doctrine and strategy of the AFP was correct, especially regarding its use of Special Operations Forces (SOF). Furthermore, this study considers the United States (U.S.) model for special operations, namely the U.S. Special Operations Forces, in proposing a special operations strategy for the AFP that is feasible, suitable, and sustainable. It is suggested that such an examination will produce a strategy that is relevant, adaptable, and responsive to dealing with the internal security environments likely to be encountered by the Philippine government.
Major, Philippine Army

Electronic surveillance for foreign intelligence purposes was largely unregulated prior to 1978. The Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 (hereinafter "FISA") was enacted to implement a judicial authorization process for foreign intelligence electronic surveillance that would effectively balance competing needs for national security and civil liberty under the Fourth Amendment. This study examines the evolution of FISA and its effectiveness under the Fourth Amendment, as assessed by federal reviewing courts and scholars since the statute's enactment. The study concludes that the FISA electronic surveillance authorization process has been effective in providing a constitutional mechanism to obtain foreign intelligence information.

Government policy in Australia and the United States has been fundamentally altered by the advent of modern terrorism. Billions of dollars have been spent on domestic counter-terrorism measures, new legislation has been introduced which challenges the balance between civil liberties and security, and foreign policy has shifted to the extent that these nations have taken military action at considerable expense, straining international diplomatic relations. This thesis explores how public opinion in these nations has changed over recent decades, and explores how the impact of recent high-visibility mass casualty terrorist attacks, exacerbated by the rapid spread and dissemination of terrorist messages by the media, has resulted in high levels of public anxiety which has increased public willingness to trade civil liberties for increased security, and influenced public confidence in the capability of government responses to terrorism - both of which are fundamental components of a strategy of terrorism. This thesis draws upon two surveys; the 2007 Australian Election Study, and a national survey of the United States conducted in 2002 by Stony Brook University to conduct a comparative analysis of public opinion toward terrorism to critically assess current policy responses to terrorism. It was found that in both nations there are a similar range of demographic variables, which predict levels of anxiety, satisfaction with Government responses to combat terrorism, and a willingness to trade civil liberties for increased security. It was also found that, even when controlling for these variables, anxiety and concern about terrorism continue to have a statistically significant relationship with government satisfaction and willingness to trade civil liberties for increased security. It was further found that the perceived threat of terrorism acts as a significant mediating variable on the relationship between anxiety, and willingness to trade civil liberties for increased security and satisfaction with government, supporting previous research which suggests that confidence in government is based to some extent, on citizens' feelings of security, and theories that there is a clear linkage between public expectations and support for increased government expenditure. There is also evidence to suggest that the mediating influence of the perceived threat of terrorism increases over time leading to the conclusion that both those who are pessimistic and optimistic about the threat of terrorism become more strongly polarised to their respective views. These findings suggest that successful Government policy must acknowledge the importance of public opinion in understanding the impact of terrorism. Policy should seek to reflect the unique and powerful influence of media frames, and as a response, policy makers should adopt strategies to combat the natural drawbacks of traditional counter-terrorism efforts in this arena. Policy makers must, therefore, seek to make counter-terrorism efforts more transparent and seek to de-sensationalise terrorism as part of a targeted media strategy which enables Government messages to have primacy in the immediate aftermath of a terrorist attack and undermines the key precepts of terrorist strategy. -- provided by Candidate.

This thesis examines counterradicalisation policy and associated measures addressing the issue of 'citizen terrorists' in the United States of America and the United Kingdom. It asks: why has counterradicalisation emerged as a counterterrorism strategy in the US and the UK? The thesis argues that counterradicalisation policies have emerged in the US and the UK because they are a response to a type of terrorist threat perceived by those states as both new and as exhibiting certain distinctive features. This threat, Al-Qaeda inspired homegrown extremism, concerns acts of violence committed by citizens who reject the anchoring of political life in a secular institution such as the state. The ideas which drive these citizens are global, 'anti-systemic' and concerned with the nature of political community. The thesis argues that counterradicalisation has emerged in response to states' perceptions of the symbolic violence of this threat in the context of the nation-state and that as a result we should understand counterradicalisation in terms of ongoing negotiations about political community and citizenship. It shows that counterradicalisation policies in the US and the UK seek to manage a threat perceived as inherently ideational and driven by the ideas, beliefs and values of citizens. This invokes particular constraints and debates which inform and shape the policy. The thesis engages with several bodies of literature in making this argument. Most importantly, it engages with citizenship theory and uses concepts of citizenship and political community to structure its empirical analysis. In doing so, it contributes to debates in citizenship theory concerning the liberalisation and contraction of citizenship, finding that counterradicalisation in the US and the UK demonstrates a considerable narrowing of ideational and informal aspects of citizenship. It also engages with literature on transnationalism and with emerging research on counterterrorism policy. This thesis contributes to what to date has been an under-theorised field, namely the relevance of terrorism and counterterrorism to the broader theoretical concerns of International Relations. In particular it moves the analysis of counterradicalisation beyond the field of Critical Terrorism Studies that has to date dominated this topic. In doing so it establishes a framework for future research concerning interaction between post 9-11 counterterrorism, citizenship and political community in International Relations.

In the consciousness of the inhabitans of the Czech Republic, first of all extraordinary natural events of catastrophic character as floods, fires and an important phenomenon today, windstorms, remain. However, in the last decades, as a result of the development of economy, we are surrounded more and more by chemical substances, becoming a part of our lives which can cause the occurrence of extraordinary situations, for example during the storage, transport or their usage. They can influence us first of all by the occurrence of possible accidents. For this reason, the goal of this thesis is to elaborate a comprehensive survey and a more detailed characteristic of the most frequently applied or through chemical terrorism misused dangerous chemical substances. The system of the protection of inhabitants in the Czech Republic, the tasks of citizens as well as bodies of the public administration, the way of protection financing, co-operation on the international level as well as of individual components of protection of inhabitants as e.g. warning and announcing, evacuation system, emergency survival, shelters, decontamination, individual as well as unpremediated protection are described here. The knowledge of the public in that issue as well as differences in knowledge between intentionally selected age categories were established by means of a questionnaire.

Text in English
This research project, within the context of security risk management in general and aviation security in particular, aimed to explore the impact of the application of international and local air cargo security regulations on South Africa, with specific reference to the regulations of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), as well as the European Union (EU) and the United States of America (USA). In South Africa, since the early 2000s, the South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) has been the lead agency for dealing with and managing the needs for air cargo security. This oversight by SACAA culminated in 2009 with the promulgation of the SACAA Regulation commonly known as Part 108. Accordingly the primary research focus was on the impact Part 108 has had on the air cargo industry in South Africa. In addition, it compared the South African regulations with those of the USA and EU regulations; explored the compliance of the various roleplayers; sought to understand the enforcement of the regulations; and examined the effectiveness of the available security and screening methods. Furthermore, the research attempted to determine whether these regulations had any effect on preventing or deterring crime in the air cargo sector.
Criminology and Security Science
M. Tech. (Security Management)