Realism and the Media in the age of Modern Terrorism
Author
Arai, Sascha
Term
4. term
Publication year
2008
Pages
72
Abstract
The September 11, 2001 attacks marked a turning point in modern terrorism, combining unprecedented loss of life with unconventional methods. Al Qaeda sought to build a caliphate by waging a holy war against the United States and its allies. This raises a central question: how far can a non-state actor challenge the authority of a sovereign state? The United States responded by attacking the Taliban and Al Qaeda in Afghanistan. These operations were initially fairly successful, yet key sources of strength for Al Qaeda remained. When the United States shifted its focus to the war in Iraq - launched without United Nations Security Council approval - it misjudged its position in relation to Al Qaeda and created space for the network to reorganize. This thesis examines the extent to which Al Qaeda has been able to jeopardize state power and what that implies for the realist paradigm, an approach in international relations that emphasizes state power and security. It also analyzes the media - television news and the internet - as crucial tools for both terrorists and counterterrorism actors to influence audiences. The study considers how Al Qaeda used media to justify its actions and present itself as fighting for Muslim communities, and how the United States used media to build consent for the Iraq invasion. In particular, it looks at Al Qaeda’s exposure on Al Jazeera and the role of CNN in helping the United States gain public support.
Angrebene den 11. september 2001 markerede et vendepunkt i moderne terrorisme med hidtil uset tab af menneskeliv og usædvanlige metoder. Al Qaeda søgte at opbygge et kalifat ved at føre hellig krig mod USA og dets allierede. Det rejser et centralt spørgsmål: hvor langt kan en ikke-statslig aktør udfordre en suveræn stats myndighed? USA svarede igen ved at angribe Taliban og Al Qaeda i Afghanistan. Operationerne var indledningsvis forholdsvis succesfulde, men vigtige kilder til Al Qaedas styrke bestod. Da USA flyttede fokus til krigen i Irak - iværksat uden godkendelse fra FN's Sikkerhedsråd - fejlvurderede det sin position over for Al Qaeda og skabte rum for, at netværket kunne omgruppere. Denne afhandling undersøger, i hvilket omfang Al Qaeda har kunnet bringe statsmagten i fare, og hvad det betyder for det realistiske paradigme, en retning i international politik der lægger vægt på staters magt og sikkerhed. Den analyserer også mediernes rolle - tv-nyheder og internettet - som afgørende redskaber for både terrorister og aktører i bekæmpelsen af terror til at påvirke publikum. Studiet ser på, hvordan Al Qaeda brugte medier til at retfærdiggøre sine handlinger og fremstille sig som forkæmpere for muslimske befolkninger, og hvordan USA brugte medier til at skabe opbakning til invasionen af Irak. Særligt belyses Al Qaedas eksponering på Al Jazeera og CNN's rolle i at hjælpe USA med at opnå folkelig støtte.
[This apstract has been rewritten with the help of AI based on the project's original abstract]
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