Thesis
Title: Implications of constructivists theory on the effectiveness of utilising
military action as the only viable alternative to suppress terrorism
1
, Abstract
The research question of the current thesis is to determine the implications of constructivist
theory on the effectiveness of utilising military action as a counterterrorism policy by the
United States against Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) as the only viable alternative. The
hypothesis, based on empirical data, is that a constructivist theory of international relations
denotes military strategy as an efficient strategy in prompting counterterrorism. The tested
variables are identity, change, norms, agents and structures, and state (actors). The findings
are that constructivist theory is a socially constructed intervention. Accordingly, the thesis
has different segments to validate the hypothesis. The first section outlines the problem
statement, research question and hypothesis, background of the problem, and theoretical
analysis of constructivist international relations. In the second chapter, a critical analysis of
literature review supports the view that international relations scholars have overlooked the
interpretation of the United States’ military approach in the fight against terrorism, using a
constructivist viewpoint. The third section discusses the research methods. Particularly, the
section affirms that the United States and Syria have not benefited from international
relations strategies to curb terrorism. The next segment, chapter four, provides the discussion
on the United States foreign policy (military intervention) in the war against ISIS to
empirically illustrate a constructivist international relations point of view. Additionally,
chapter five, the findings, provides the case study to correlate the variables of constructivist
international theory approach with the research question to test the hypothesis. Finally, the
thesis concludes that a constructivist international relations theory prompts the utilisation of
global efforts to address terrorism without causing major conflict. Accordingly, foreign
policy ought to be an intervention aimed at peace-building to shape political association,
emphasising constructivism as the only effective option.
2
, Table of Contents
Abstract......................................................................................................................................2
Table of Contents.......................................................................................................................3
1.1 The Problem Statement.....................................................................................................4
1.2 Research Question and Hypothesis..................................................................................6
1.3 Background of the Problem..............................................................................................8
1.4 Aim and Objectives..........................................................................................................9
1.5 Constructivist International Relations Theoretical Analysis............................................9
1.6 Limitation of International Theories Compared to Constructivism...............................11
1.8 Summary.........................................................................................................................15
Chapter 2: Literature Review...................................................................................................16
2.1 Overview.........................................................................................................................16
2.2 Constructivism................................................................................................................16
2.2.1 Features of Constructivism......................................................................................16
2.2.2 Concepts of Constructivism.....................................................................................18
2.3 Controversies Within Constructivism.............................................................................21
2.4 Counterterrorism.............................................................................................................21
2.5 Application of Constructivism to Counterterrorism.......................................................21
2.5.1 Counterterrorism Strategies in Different Nations....................................................24
2.6 The Origins of American Counterterrorism...................................................................25
2.7 Components of International System..............................................................................27
2.8 Gil Merom's Constructivism on Military Strategies.......................................................29
2.8 Summary: Key Tenets of Constructivism.......................................................................30
Chapter 3: Research Methods...................................................................................................31
3.1 Overview.........................................................................................................................31
3.2 Research Approach.........................................................................................................31
3.3 Research Paradigm.........................................................................................................32
3.4 Research Design.............................................................................................................33
3.5 Sampling.........................................................................................................................34
3.6 Ethics..............................................................................................................................35
3.7 Reliability and Validity...................................................................................................36
Chapter 4: Discussion...............................................................................................................38
4.1 Overview.........................................................................................................................38
4.2 Counterterrorism Discourse............................................................................................38
4.3 Norms and Decision-Making Processes in International Relations...............................40
4.4 The United States Security Culture................................................................................43
4.5 Institutional Framework of Foreign Policy in the United States....................................44
4.6 American Use of Military Intelligence Against Terrorism.............................................46
4.7 Radicalisation and Counterterrorism..............................................................................48
4.8 Operational Environment and Military Operations........................................................50
Chapter 5: Findings..................................................................................................................52
5.1 Overview.........................................................................................................................52
5.2 ISIS – Historical Context................................................................................................52
5.3 The United States Policy Approach Against ISIS..........................................................53
Chapter 6: Conclusion and Recommendations........................................................................55
6.1 Conclusion......................................................................................................................55
6.2 Recommendations...........................................................................................................57
References................................................................................................................................59
3
, Chapter 1: Introduction
1.1 The Problem Statement
The military action by the United States as a counterterrorism policy from (9/11/2001) to
2019, has not assisted in checking global integration threat. Unfortunately, almost every
president of the country, including Donald Trump has adopted military options. However,
none of them has been able to achieve success in addressing international relations using such
a strategy. Meanwhile, the country has unleashed effects because of its armed approach.
Thus, whether eliminating the existence of terror groups has guaranteed positive outcomes
requires evaluation. The approach of the current thesis is to examine how constructivist
international relations theory explains military action as a limited viable option to
counterterrorism. Taking the case of ISIS, the study identifies that the association between
the United States and ISIS fits into the examination using a constructivist framework.
4
Title: Implications of constructivists theory on the effectiveness of utilising
military action as the only viable alternative to suppress terrorism
1
, Abstract
The research question of the current thesis is to determine the implications of constructivist
theory on the effectiveness of utilising military action as a counterterrorism policy by the
United States against Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) as the only viable alternative. The
hypothesis, based on empirical data, is that a constructivist theory of international relations
denotes military strategy as an efficient strategy in prompting counterterrorism. The tested
variables are identity, change, norms, agents and structures, and state (actors). The findings
are that constructivist theory is a socially constructed intervention. Accordingly, the thesis
has different segments to validate the hypothesis. The first section outlines the problem
statement, research question and hypothesis, background of the problem, and theoretical
analysis of constructivist international relations. In the second chapter, a critical analysis of
literature review supports the view that international relations scholars have overlooked the
interpretation of the United States’ military approach in the fight against terrorism, using a
constructivist viewpoint. The third section discusses the research methods. Particularly, the
section affirms that the United States and Syria have not benefited from international
relations strategies to curb terrorism. The next segment, chapter four, provides the discussion
on the United States foreign policy (military intervention) in the war against ISIS to
empirically illustrate a constructivist international relations point of view. Additionally,
chapter five, the findings, provides the case study to correlate the variables of constructivist
international theory approach with the research question to test the hypothesis. Finally, the
thesis concludes that a constructivist international relations theory prompts the utilisation of
global efforts to address terrorism without causing major conflict. Accordingly, foreign
policy ought to be an intervention aimed at peace-building to shape political association,
emphasising constructivism as the only effective option.
2
, Table of Contents
Abstract......................................................................................................................................2
Table of Contents.......................................................................................................................3
1.1 The Problem Statement.....................................................................................................4
1.2 Research Question and Hypothesis..................................................................................6
1.3 Background of the Problem..............................................................................................8
1.4 Aim and Objectives..........................................................................................................9
1.5 Constructivist International Relations Theoretical Analysis............................................9
1.6 Limitation of International Theories Compared to Constructivism...............................11
1.8 Summary.........................................................................................................................15
Chapter 2: Literature Review...................................................................................................16
2.1 Overview.........................................................................................................................16
2.2 Constructivism................................................................................................................16
2.2.1 Features of Constructivism......................................................................................16
2.2.2 Concepts of Constructivism.....................................................................................18
2.3 Controversies Within Constructivism.............................................................................21
2.4 Counterterrorism.............................................................................................................21
2.5 Application of Constructivism to Counterterrorism.......................................................21
2.5.1 Counterterrorism Strategies in Different Nations....................................................24
2.6 The Origins of American Counterterrorism...................................................................25
2.7 Components of International System..............................................................................27
2.8 Gil Merom's Constructivism on Military Strategies.......................................................29
2.8 Summary: Key Tenets of Constructivism.......................................................................30
Chapter 3: Research Methods...................................................................................................31
3.1 Overview.........................................................................................................................31
3.2 Research Approach.........................................................................................................31
3.3 Research Paradigm.........................................................................................................32
3.4 Research Design.............................................................................................................33
3.5 Sampling.........................................................................................................................34
3.6 Ethics..............................................................................................................................35
3.7 Reliability and Validity...................................................................................................36
Chapter 4: Discussion...............................................................................................................38
4.1 Overview.........................................................................................................................38
4.2 Counterterrorism Discourse............................................................................................38
4.3 Norms and Decision-Making Processes in International Relations...............................40
4.4 The United States Security Culture................................................................................43
4.5 Institutional Framework of Foreign Policy in the United States....................................44
4.6 American Use of Military Intelligence Against Terrorism.............................................46
4.7 Radicalisation and Counterterrorism..............................................................................48
4.8 Operational Environment and Military Operations........................................................50
Chapter 5: Findings..................................................................................................................52
5.1 Overview.........................................................................................................................52
5.2 ISIS – Historical Context................................................................................................52
5.3 The United States Policy Approach Against ISIS..........................................................53
Chapter 6: Conclusion and Recommendations........................................................................55
6.1 Conclusion......................................................................................................................55
6.2 Recommendations...........................................................................................................57
References................................................................................................................................59
3
, Chapter 1: Introduction
1.1 The Problem Statement
The military action by the United States as a counterterrorism policy from (9/11/2001) to
2019, has not assisted in checking global integration threat. Unfortunately, almost every
president of the country, including Donald Trump has adopted military options. However,
none of them has been able to achieve success in addressing international relations using such
a strategy. Meanwhile, the country has unleashed effects because of its armed approach.
Thus, whether eliminating the existence of terror groups has guaranteed positive outcomes
requires evaluation. The approach of the current thesis is to examine how constructivist
international relations theory explains military action as a limited viable option to
counterterrorism. Taking the case of ISIS, the study identifies that the association between
the United States and ISIS fits into the examination using a constructivist framework.
4
