Islamic State of Iraq and Syria’s (ISIS’) Activities in the Middle East and United States of America’s Counter – Terrorism Strategies (2014 – 2017)

International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS) | Volume IV, Issue II, February 2020 | ISSN 2454–6186

 Islamic State of Iraq and Syria’s (ISIS’) Activities in the Middle East and United States of America’s Counter – Terrorism Strategies (2014 – 2017)

Victoria Anowia and Professor Mike Oddih
Department of Political Science, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Anambra State, Nigeria

Abstract: – Terrorism is one of the contemporary global issues that has challenged the peaceful co-existence of individuals and nations alike. Several measures and strategies have been put in place at the national, regional and global level to combat and eradicate this problem of terrorism in its totality. This paper centers on the activities of Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS’) in the Middle East and United States of America’s Counter – Terrorism Strategies 2014 – 2017. The work seeks to examine the U.S.A counter – terrorism strategies to find out if the U.S.A counter – terrorism strategies have effectively eradicated the rampaging catastrophic activities of the Islamic state of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) in the Middle East. The study made use of Strategic theory as a framework of analysis and documentary method of data collection was employed while relying on content analysis. Amongst others, the findings revealed that U.S.A government, through its counter – terrorism strategies, reduced the activities of ISIS in Iraq and Syria and beyond but did not effectively eradicate the activities of ISIS. In the light of the findings, the study recommends: that U.S.A jettisons her provocative imperialistic foreign policy actions and resort to an overhauled foreign policy grounded on the principle of egalitarianism, justice, equity and fair- play; the U.S reviews her aerial bombardment strategy to minimize civilian casualty; the Iraqi authorities form an inclusive new government which would represent the interest of all Iraqis, not just specific social groups;the members of the global coalition against ISIS deploy ground troops in addition to the aerial bombardment strategy to Syria to fight ISIS.

Keywords: Terrorism, ISIS, Middle East, Strategies, and Counter -Terrorism

I. INTRODUCTION

Terrorism has been a major challenge to global development since the early 21st century. It has become a major security issue and the source of instability both at the global and sub-regional levels. Terrorism can be politically or socially motivated, it often arises most times as a result of frustration which often stems from imbalance of power, power disparity, unfair resource allocation, tamper on religious belief, imperialism and the effect of colonialism.

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