Assessing the Effectiveness of the Carrot and Stick Counter-terrorist Measure: A Comparison of Algeria and Yemen

Abstract

This article seeks to explain the differing counter-terrorist effects in Algeria and Yemen over the past two decades. While terrorism peaked in both countries in the late 1990s and incumbents in both countries responded with "carrot and stick" strategies, the results have been entirely different, with Yemen mired in deeper violence, whereas domestic terrorist forces were almost wiped out in Algeria in the late 2000s. To account for this variance and to measure the effects of the "carrot and stick" approach, the article adopts the state capacity model by analyzing how Bouteflika centralized Algeria's bureaucracy and administration since 1999 which facilitated the communication between the intelligence, military and judiciary, thus strengthening military operations and law enforcement, and how Saleh's Yemen filled with separatism and sectarianism aggravated the regime's deficiencies of information collection and revenue concentration, leading to the continuation of terrorism. Evidence from my framework and cases suggest that coping with terrorist violence requires much more thoroughgoing measures than military blows; legislative efforts and national dialogues.

The Military as a Constabulary Force the Effectiveness of the Military in Counter-terrorism Strategies

“…Additionally, Ramraj revealed that although the coercive measures were needed, however, exaggerating the coercive strategies could be very harmful. (Ramraj, 2006) An interesting study by Zhang (2016) did not only reveal that the military should be just one tactic of fighting terrorists, but it even drew our attention to other institutions of the state that could determine whether the country would be able to effectively fight terrorism or not. Zhang decided to conduct a comparative study between Algeria and Yemen in their efforts to combat terrorism and in employing the carrot and stick tactic.…”

“…This showed why Yemen achieved little success compared to Algeria in spite of applying the same tactics. (Zhang, 2016) Some scholars traced the American strategy, in particular, in its war against terrorism and criticized the focus on the military dimension. A study revealed to us that the USA paid particular attention to the military aspect to the extent that the agency responsible for the development assistance became concerned with enhancing the USA security and empowering Africa's police in the mission of combating terrorists.…”