Department of Political Science

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Browsing Department of Political Science by Subject "9/11 terrorist attacks"

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    Terrorism and international counter-terrorism regime in Africa: A comparative analysis of Kenya and Tanzania
    (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2021-03) Tyitende, Rui Antonio; Struckmann, Christiane; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of Political Science.
    ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The 9/11 terrorist attacks on the United States fundamentally altered the degree and scope of transnational security cooperation and collaboration, more specifically, counter-terrorism cooperation. Within 24 hours of this historic occurrence, the United Nations Security Council unanimously passed Resolution 1368,which resulted in far-reaching consequences for its 194 member states. The adoption of Resolution 1373 followed three weeks later, and this compelled all member states to domesticate specific counter-terrorism legislation that criminalised terrorist activities and the financing thereof. This thesis argues that from a regime-theory perspective, the United States acts as the global enforcer of the international counter-terrorism regime by inducing cooperation and collaboration with other weaker states in the international system to ensure compliance. The study adopted four political factors that explain the varying degrees of compliance with the counter-terrorism regime demonstrated by Kenya and Tanzania. The study argues that Kenya is a more willing partner in the global fight against terrorism because of its perceived perception of the threat it faces. Unlike Kenya,Tanzania has been a reluctant participant and has suffered the hegemonic wrath of the United States when its nationals were barred from travelling to the United States on 31 January 2020 due to the country not sharing terrorism-related information with the United States. Although Tanzania passed its Prevention of Terrorism Act, 2002 with minimum obstruction, this has not been sufficient for the country to be portrayed as a supportive state on the ‘Global War on Terrorism’ since it is yet to designate the Islamic State and Al-Shabaab as terrorist organisations. Furthermore, the study provided a comprehensive overview of the terrorism landscapes of Kenya and Tanzania and concluded that the former faces a significant threat from terrorism because of its geographical proximity to the threat, its porous borders and its decision to be an active participant in the African Union Mission in Somalia to dismantle and obliterate Al-Shabaab.