New Tactical Objectives for Terrorist Groups in Somalia and Yemen

Abstract The phenomenon of terrorism is not new. For centuries groups have sought political change through the use of violence and intimidation against a civilian population. Much like the society it exists in, the method of terrorism continues to change. One of the more recent developments is the spread of homegrown, self-radicalized terrorist operatives in Western nations. Groups like Al-Shabaab in Somalia and Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) have led the pack in promoting these internal threats. The new tactical objective of encouraging self-radicalization of Western citizens carries significant implications for counter-terrorism policies

Switzerland and 'Colonialism without Colonies'. Reflections on the Status of Colonial Outsiders.

In this essay the theoretical focus of postcolonial theory has been shifted from the cultures and societies of former formal colonies to those countries that have an explicit self-understanding as an outsider within the European colonial power constellation. Using the example of Switzerland, it analyses the presence and perseverance of colonial structures and power relations in a country that has never been regarded as or understood itself as an official colonial power. In a first step, we compare present debates on colonialism in Switzerland with those in neighbouring countries, i.e. France, Germany, Italy and Austria. In a second step, we trace previous research that postulates a link between Switzerland and colonialism, and apply the concept of ‘colonialism without colonies’, which, in contrast, engages with methods and themes that have emerged from postcolonial studies. Finally, we present a specific case study on ‘Swiss commodity racism’ in order to elucidate the concept ‘colonialism without colonies’