Leiden University Student Repository

Van Dillen, Lee (2019)

The Discursive Production of Ivory-poaching as the New Terrorist Threat

Bachelor thesis | International Studies (BA)

Ivory-poaching in Sub-Saharan Africa is increasingly framed as a global security concern by various instances that claim that terrorist networks are involved in the killing of elephants and the trade of their tusks. The poacher-as-terrorist narrative is used by these instances to legitimise the militarisation of anti-poaching efforts, which has serious consequences for local African communities and the fight against ivory-poaching. Even though the narrative has globally gained much attention, many people argue that the narrative is problematic, as evidence for the involvement of terrorist networks in ivory-poaching and the ivory-trade in Sub-Saharan Africa is lacking. By conducting a case study on the alleged involvement of Boko Haram in ivory-poaching and the trade of elephant tusks in the wider Lake Chad Basin, this thesis will research whether the threat of Boko Haram is used to support the poacher-as-terrorist narrative, and if this is problematic.

Ivory-poaching

terrorism

Boko Haram

green militarisation

Author

Van Dillen, Lee

Faculty

Faculty of Humanities

Specialisation

Africa

Supervisors

Stathopolous, Athanasios

ECTS Credits

15

Language

en