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dc.contributor.advisorCox, Eric
dc.contributor.authorMcCauley, Madison
dc.date2017-12-18
dc.date.accessioned2018-05-01T20:17:17Z
dc.date.available2018-05-01T20:17:17Z
dc.date.issued2017
dc.identifier.urihttps://repository.tcu.edu/handle/116099117/21687
dc.description.abstract"Figures from Palestinian officials tonight confirmed Hamas's shock win in the Palestinian parliamentary election over the once-dominant Fatah party. Polls had predicted a coalition between the two parties as the most likely outcome of the vote, but a surprise surge in support for the Islamists took a party that calls for the destruction of the state of Israel into power." This was just one of the reports on Thursday, January 26, 2006 when Hamas was elected to power in Palestine. Hamas, an organization which is regarded as a terrorist organization in the United States, Israel, Canada, Japan, Egypt, and for a period of time by the European Union was now a legitimately elected political party. These nations consider a terrorist group one that utilizes the "unlawful use or threat of violence against a state or the public as a politically motivated means of attack or coercion." How could it be that a group of this nature would be elected to political power? The process is relatively simple, a group historically known for terrorism begins to take on the role of provider for the people of the nation's basic needs, such as food, shelter, clean water, education, and healthcare. It happens to be the case that the group is able to be more successful at provision than the sitting government. And ultimately, the terrorist group legitimizes into a political party and a viable candidate for democratic election. This process can be referred to as "going mainstream." In order to avoid the uncomfortable and potentially threatening position of having democratization efforts backfire it is important ask ourselves: under what conditions do terrorist groups go mainstream and what effect does that have on the strategic manner in which the United States promotes global democratization? The implications of this process and its outcomes are vast and of vital importance to the strategic interactions of the United States. Theoretically, it is important to understand the causes and motivations of de-radicalization so that more groups can be encouraged to reject violence and pursue their goals through less harmful, legitimate political means. Practically, this study will lend its way to better navigation of democracy and peace promotion.
dc.titleTerrorism In The Mainstream: A Study To Evaluate The Conditions That Push Terrorist Organizations To Choose Political Processes Over Violence
etd.degree.departmentPolitical Science
local.collegeAddRan College of Liberal Arts
local.collegeJohn V. Roach Honors College
local.departmentPolitical Science
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