The U.S. Counterterrorism Strategy: Addressing Radical Ideologies - Study Focusing on Al-Qaeda and ISIS Islamism and Violent Extremism, Evaluation of Preemptive and Preventive Approaches

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This study examines the U.S. Counterterrorism Strategy and National Security Strategy in regards to combating adversaries driven by radical ideologies. This study focuses on Al-Qaeda and The Islamic State's strategic campaigns to propagate their radical Islamist ideology and the spread of violent extremism. This study will evaluate the adequacy of the U.S. counterterrorism strategy in combating radicalization; will analyze the effectiveness and legitimacy of preemptive and preventive approaches to countering terrorist and implications on society. There is little understanding of radicalization. Al-Qaeda and its affiliates subscribe to jihadism, an Islamic extremist ideology, to incite violent attacks against American targets. Violence and terrorism are the foundation of Islamic extremists and serve to unify and legitimize their movement. This study suggests that while the U.S. Counterterrorism Strategy addresses radicalization, it does not provide an institutionalized mechanism to prevent violent extremism. The U.S. government needs to re-evaluate the application of hard and soft power when combating terrorists fueled by radical ideologies. Additionally, the U.S. law enforcement agencies need to cooperate in maintaining a balance between civil liberties and public safety to avoid undermining community outreach efforts to counter violent radicalization and terrorism.

CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION * Overview * Research Questions * Definitions * Assumptions * Limitations and Delimitations * Summary and Conclusions * CHAPTER 2 LITERATURE REVIEW * Introduction * Terrorism and History of its Meaning * Characterization of Terrorism * Understanding the Root Causes of Terrorism * Radicalism * Radicalization Process * Causes of Radicalization and Violent Extremism * Environmental or Societal Grievances * Social Mobility * Ideology * Islamism * Islamist Extremism * Current U.S. CT Strategy * Summary and Conclusions * CHAPTER 3 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY * Introduction * Research Question * Research Methods and Design * Data Collection, Processing, and Analysis * Methodological Approach * Threats to Validity * Summary and Conclusions * CHAPTER 4 PRESENTATION OF FACTS AND ANALYSIS * Introduction * Facts and Analysis * What is the U.S. CT Strategy? * What are radical ideologies? * Case Study Analysis * Case Study 1: "Many Paths to Muslim Radicalization" * Case Study 2: "A Persistent Threat" * What fuels/causes the appeal of this radicalism? * Who are the adversaries driven by these ideologies? * What are the challenges/threats of the future from these adversaries? * Data Aggregation * Primary Research Question * Summary and Conclusions * CHAPTER 5 CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS * Introduction * Conclusions * Recommendations * REFERENCE LIST