Citation
Phillips, Sarah. Al-Qaeda and the Struggle for Yemen
. Survival Vol 53, no. 1 (2011): 95-120. DOI: 10.1080/00396338.2011.555605.
Findings
The author finds support for the idea that Western stabilization aid to Yemen is less likely to be effective against terrorism because it provides limited incentive to the government to reform the system that is creating the underlying grievances. The government of Yemen survives through a patronage system, and with income from oil sales greatly reduced, it has relied on Western aid to sustain itself. In sustaining the government, however, Western aid is creating political barriers to reform that is badly needed to address socio-economic challenges faced by the population. AQAP has positioned itself as a conductor for entrenched grievances, which are inextricably linked to the regime's exclusionary approach to the creation and distribution of wealth. In this sense, AQAP is also succeeding in gaining supporters by portraying the government as illegitimate. Western stabilization efforts have been slow to recognize that AQAP cultivates a successful narrative of illegitimacy; such aid appears to address the manifestations of governmental weakness (socio-economic instability) but not its source. AQAP's political appeal is also heightened by the U.S. air-strikes that help the group to paint the Yemeni regime as an American puppet, thus fueling the illegitimacy narrative.
Tags
Lever of Power: Military Lever of Power: Development Method: Qualitative Geoscope: Single country UN Region: Western Asia DOD Region: CENTCOM Country: Yemen Type: Article Year: 2011
Research Background
- Research questions
- How have Western stabilization efforts undermined CT effectiveness?
- Hypotheses
- Western stabilization aid to Yemen is less likely to be effective against terrorism because it provides limited incentive to the government to reform the system that is creating grievances, which in turn, fuel AQAP's growth. (inferred)
Variables or Concepts
- Independent variables & concepts
- Western stabilization aid
- Dependent variables & concepts
- CT effectiveness (inferred)
Methodologies
- Qualitative method description
- Case study of Western stabilization efforts in Yemen based on secondary sources and interviews
Time Frame
- Start: 1962
- End: 2010