Radicalization and terrorism research has been growing in funding and prestige over the last decades. This is partially due to the ‘War on Terror’ which has been raging for more than two decades...Show moreRadicalization and terrorism research has been growing in funding and prestige over the last decades. This is partially due to the ‘War on Terror’ which has been raging for more than two decades and shows no sign of slowing down. The need for practical application of the research has made that the field has become relatively one sided and occupied with ‘the other’. This research seeks to bridge that gap. To this extent this research focuses on the universal nature of radicalization and justification for violence. It does so by comparing and contrasting two very different groups. On one side Muslim extremists and on the other Western war criminals. The research was conducted applying thematic analysis to six autobiographies written by the violent individuals. Several universal themes were found which all lead to the application and justification of violence towards a civilian population. However, notable differences were also found which again emphasizes the complex nature of radicalization research. Overall, this paper shows that there are themes and perspectives which have not been touched upon by contemporary research and urges for more exploration of the topic. This paper, with its exploratory nature, aims to be the foundation on which future research can be performed.Show less
War brings about destruction and loss of human life, and should be avoided at all cost. Unfortunately, sometimes, the same values that makes us want to avoid war are the ones that need defending....Show moreWar brings about destruction and loss of human life, and should be avoided at all cost. Unfortunately, sometimes, the same values that makes us want to avoid war are the ones that need defending. At times, war is necessary to put an end to destruction and attacks on human life and restore a status quo based on these moral values. Looking at various tools, most notably contemporary just war theory, this master thesis will argue that the Western military powers have a moral right – if not a moral duty towards the oppressed foreign populations as well as their own citizens – to intervene militarily in Syria and Iraq, where the so-called Islamic State spreads fear, chaos and destruction. There is a caveat to this, however. Those who intervene must carefully consider their chances of success and assure a just peace in the wake of the violence that rules there. A just intention is meaningless if the end is not just too.Show less
