A Critical Analysis of Women's Agency in Terrorism : The Case of Al-Shabaab

Abstract

Terrorism is a growing security issue for the twenty-first century. Unfortunately, most of what is understood or assumed about terrorism is based on traditional and realist understandings of the problem. There has been a skewed focus on male recruits and their participation. One way in which inaccurate research and representation of men in terrorist organisations has been portrayed is through the fact that behind women’s participation in terrorist organisations, a motivation is always given to explain their participation. This is where a gap in literature has been identified. In order to fill this gap, this study uses the feminist theoretical approach to form an understanding of women’s autonomy in Al-Shabaab through a lens that is not masculinist and free from gendered stereotypes. Furthermore, this ensures a broad bottom-up analysis of women in Al-Shabaab. A case study of Al-Shabaab found that women are victimised by Al-Shabaab, but also some women are autonomous actors of Al-Shabaab. Women are victimised in various ways including sexual and physical abuse, and through the limitations of various freedoms. However, some women do play more active roles, including acting as recruiters, fundraisers, teachers, explosive experts, suicide bombers, and spies among others. When comparing these two groups of women it is evident that even women who are victimised by Al-Shabaab do in some situations participate in the terrorist organisation’s activities. However, the reason for victims’ participation is purely due to their need for survival, whereas autonomous actors are motivated by diverse factors which include economic motivators, revenge, the need for power and influence, and a shared ideology and religion of Al-Shabaab. Motivation is also found to be an important tool in creating innovative counter-insurgency campaigns and strategies against Al-Shabaab. By questioning what Al-Shabaab’s motivations are, it is found that not only are its motivations different from its goals and aims, but in many cases the importance of its motivations outweighs its ideological and religious importance. By exploiting the motivations of Al-Shabaab, it is possible to create doubt within its members or potential members’ minds that Al-Shabaab’ goals and aims are not what it projects; but rather, that it uses its ideology and religion to manipulate those that share similar beliefs to join the cause. Thus, creating cracks in Al-Shabaab, its legitimacy and its authority without the use of any weapon, creating an innovative counter-insurgency strategy