Assessing counter-terrorism strategies through a mixed methods research design : the case of CONTEST in the UK

Abstract

The study of counter-terrorism has developed considerably since the terrorist events of 9/11 in the US,
with a growing interest in understanding which strategies and polices are working and which are not.
However, the complexity and challenges of the topic have resulted in research which is dominated by
single method, secondary source studies rather than the generation of original empirical research with
novel approaches to the methodology. This thesis sets out to address these concerns through the
development of a complex research design based on primary sources such as interviews and public
opinion polls as well as the documents of government and other relevant agencies and entities which
form part of the counter-terrorism landscape. It seeks to better understand the impact of CONTEST, the
UK’s counter-terrorism strategy, and it looks at all four workstreams in order to obtain a full and holistic
understanding of the performance of the strategy. Further, this thesis presents an analytical model to
apply an additional quantitative dimension to the research, further addressing a lacuna in the field.
Ultimately, this thesis finds that CONTEST is working appropriately within the reasonable expectations
of any government strategy. The analytical model, however, provides additional nuance across the four
workstreams and shows that not all of these are performing at the same level across the six themes of
Assessment, Learning, Transparency, Perception, Events and Goals. The findings of this thesis are
highly significant to the field of counter-terrorism. Not only do they provide deeper understanding of
CONTEST than has previously been presented, but the mixed methods and multi-dimensional approach
presents interesting insights not previously apparent in single method studies. Further, the model which
is developed allows for the ongoing quantitative exploration of CONTEST and other counter-terrorism
strategies, particularly those which fall under the Criminal Justice Model.

Date of Award	29 Nov 2021
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	University of St Andrews
Supervisor	Franz Peter Lehr (Supervisor)