Counterterrorism and human rights: Explaining differences in the scope and brutality of states' responses to terrorism

Mariya Y Omelicheva, Purdue University

Abstract

In my dissertation, I investigate a largely unexplored question of differences in the scope and brutality of states' responses to terrorism using statistical analysis of 15 states, the former Soviet republics of the USSR (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Estonia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan), studied over 13 years (1993-2005), and in-depth cases studies of Estonia, Georgia, and Kyrgyzstan. I use event data collection techniques to generate data on different aspects of foreign and domestic counterterrorism measures of the post-Soviet states. The purpose of the statistical analysis is to examine the impact of those factors that have been traditionally viewed as the key determinants of states' counterterrorism responses. I test the influence of terrorism, states' material capabilities, political regime, political conflict, global counterterrorism and human rights norms, as well as a number of control variables on states' responses to terrorism. The hypotheses tested in the dissertation are derived from two theoretical approaches to states' behavior, namely, Rationalism and Constructivism. The results of the statistical tests demonstrate that, although the identified conditions are important for explaining states' responses to terrorism, they are insufficient to account for the full range of variation in the scope and brutality of counterterrorism measures. To gain a better understanding of states' counterterrorism policies, I suggest focusing on the reference groups of states that governments look to for policy guidance. The scope and brutality of a state's counterterrorism policies largely depend on the types of counterterrorism measures promoted by the state's reference groups. The reference group is a state or a group of states, which perspectives policy-makers use for interpreting and responding to various situations encountered in the realms of domestic and international politics. With respect to counterterrorism, a reference group is a group of states that guide and orient other states' responses to terrorism by (1) endorsing and enforcing principles of counterterrorism activities; and (2) providing information about the legitimacy and effectiveness of counterterrorism policies. In my dissertation, I develop and utilize the reference group perspective for explaining counterterrorism policies of the former republics of the Soviet Union.

Degree

Ph.D.

Advisors

Hoffman, Purdue University.

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