Research Catalog

Title

Counterterrorism and counterinsurgency in Somalia : assessing the campaign against Al Shabaab / Seth G. Jones, Andrew M. Liepman, Nathan Chandler.

Author

Jones, Seth G., 1972-

Publication

• Santa Monica, Calif. : RAND, [2016]
• ©2016

Items in the Library & Off-site

Details

Additional Authors

• Liepman, Andrew
• Chandler, Nathan
• National Defense Research Institute (U.S.), publisher, issuing body.

Description

xv, 90 pages : color illustrations, color maps; 23 cm

Summary

"This report analyzes the U.S. and allied campaign against the al Qa'ida-linked terrorist group al Shabaab in Somalia, examines what steps have been most successful against the group, and identifies potential recommendations. It concludes that, while al Shabaab was weakened between 2011 and 2016, the group could resurge if urgent steps are not taken to address the political, economic, and governance challenges at the heart of the conflict. This study finds that a tailored engagement strategy which involved deploying a small number of U.S. special operations forces to conduct targeted strikes, provide intelligence, and build the capacity of local partner forces to conduct ground operations--was key in degrading al Shabaab. Still, progress in Somalia is reversible in the absence of continued and consistent pressure and political, economic, and social reforms. Today's terrorism and insurgency landscape defies easy solutions, with challenges from the Islamic State, al Qa'ida, and other groups across the Middle East, Europe, Asia, and Africa. While there has been a significant focus on how and why the U.S. and other Western governments have failed to degrade terrorists and insurgents in Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan, Libya, and other countries, there has been far less attention on successful efforts to degrade groups. In Somalia, there has been limited progress. The challenge will be preventing a reversal"--Publisher's description.

Alternative Title

Assessing the campaign against Al Shaba'ab

Subjects

• Terrorism > Somalia > Prevention > 21st century > Evaluation
• Islamic fundamentalism > Somalia > 21st century
• Shabaab (Organization)
• Counterinsurgency > Somalia > 21st century > Evaluation
• Insurgency > Somalia > 21st century
• Religious militants > Somalia > 21st century

Note

• "RR-1539-OSD"--Page 4 of cover.

Bibliography (note)

• Includes bibliographical references (pages 71-80) and index.

Contents

Preface -- Box, Figures, and Tables -- Summary -- Acknowledgments -- Abbreviations -- Chapter 1. Introduction: Research Design -- Outline of the Report -- Chapter 2. The Evolution of al Shabaab: Phase One: Ideological and Historical Origins, 1960s-2005 -- Phase Two: Proto-Insurgency, 2005-2007 -- Phase Three: Rebirth and the Rise of the Islamists, 2007-2009 -- Phase Four: The Heyday of al Shabaab, 2009-2011 -- Phase Five: Retreat and Adaptation, 2011-2016 -- Conclusion -- Chapter 3. The Weakening of al Shabaab: Strategic Options -- The Decline of al Shabaab -- Conclusion -- Chapter 4. Recommendations -- APPENDIX: Data Collection Sources and Notes -- About the Authors -- References -- Index.

Call Number

JFE 17-2391

ISBN

• 0833094815
• 9780833094810

LCCN

2016498055

OCLC

959330796

Author

Jones, Seth G., 1972- author.

Title

Counterterrorism and counterinsurgency in Somalia : assessing the campaign against Al Shabaab / Seth G. Jones, Andrew M. Liepman, Nathan Chandler.

Publisher

Santa Monica, Calif. : RAND, [2016]

Copyright Date

©2016

Type of Content

text

Type of Medium

unmediated

Type of Carrier

volume

Bibliography

Includes bibliographical references (pages 71-80) and index.

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Added Author

Liepman, Andrew, author.

Chandler, Nathan, author.

National Defense Research Institute (U.S.), publisher, issuing body.

Research Call Number

JFE 17-2391