Social Networks and Human Terrain Analysis
http://www.geospatial-intelligence-forum.com/mgt-home/107-mgt-2009-volume-7-issue-2/930-mapping-the-human-terrain.html
Background
Human Terrain analyses has become a new buzz word in the Intelligence Community and the Department of Defense. Human Terrain analyses is the fusion of socio-cultural attributes and relationships depicted in a geospatial format. Since the the wars of Iraq and Afghanistan began, there has been a much greater emphasis on understanding tribes, clans, and various ethnic groups in these war torn countries and their relationship to the ongoing insurgencies.
Area of Interest
I have previously studied al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb( AQIM) and the Sahelian nomadic tribes in Mali, Algeria, and Niger and I believe gaining a better understanding of the social networks, culture, and grievances among the Tuareg and Berber populations would provide a greater understanding of why certain members of these groups support terrorist/criminal networks in the Sahel and Sahara such as AQIM.
Methodology/Key Questions
-Interview and geo-locate the most influential tribes and clans among the Tuareg and Berbers
-Identify their seasonal nomadic and pastoral patterns
-Find out what communication devices are the most prevalent (Radio, Phone, Internet)
-Are connections strong outside their respective ethnic groups
-Identify key leaders and prominent members of each tribe, clan, family and map out their relations to other members of the tribe
-Try to identfy strengths of relationships by the frequency of contact.
-Gather census data from the tribes in order to discern the size and scope
-Identify grievances that would faciliate certain tribes joining sides with AQIM and smugglers
Conclusion
The finished analysis would be be a two part product: one product would consist of the nomadic tribes mapped seasonally to identify the likely locations of these groups; the second product would resemble a link analysis chart depicting the interconnectedness of these Sahelian ethnic groups and tribes. Using these products and understanding the social grievances of each group with the spatial-temporal location would likely be a strong predictor of which groups would be most likely to support AQIM and trans-saharan smuggling activities.
Background
Human Terrain analyses has become a new buzz word in the Intelligence Community and the Department of Defense. Human Terrain analyses is the fusion of socio-cultural attributes and relationships depicted in a geospatial format. Since the the wars of Iraq and Afghanistan began, there has been a much greater emphasis on understanding tribes, clans, and various ethnic groups in these war torn countries and their relationship to the ongoing insurgencies.
Area of Interest
I have previously studied al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb( AQIM) and the Sahelian nomadic tribes in Mali, Algeria, and Niger and I believe gaining a better understanding of the social networks, culture, and grievances among the Tuareg and Berber populations would provide a greater understanding of why certain members of these groups support terrorist/criminal networks in the Sahel and Sahara such as AQIM.
Methodology/Key Questions
-Interview and geo-locate the most influential tribes and clans among the Tuareg and Berbers
-Identify their seasonal nomadic and pastoral patterns
-Find out what communication devices are the most prevalent (Radio, Phone, Internet)
-Are connections strong outside their respective ethnic groups
-Identify key leaders and prominent members of each tribe, clan, family and map out their relations to other members of the tribe
-Try to identfy strengths of relationships by the frequency of contact.
-Gather census data from the tribes in order to discern the size and scope
-Identify grievances that would faciliate certain tribes joining sides with AQIM and smugglers
Conclusion
The finished analysis would be be a two part product: one product would consist of the nomadic tribes mapped seasonally to identify the likely locations of these groups; the second product would resemble a link analysis chart depicting the interconnectedness of these Sahelian ethnic groups and tribes. Using these products and understanding the social grievances of each group with the spatial-temporal location would likely be a strong predictor of which groups would be most likely to support AQIM and trans-saharan smuggling activities.
1 comment:
SNA would certainly be a great tool to use, first for its mapping capabilities. Overlaying network maps on geographic maps (a layered GIS approach) would yield the results that you mention. And, as you mention, there is a lot that the 'A' part of SNA can do that goes beyond identifying leaders. For instance, looking at whether those that support AQIM are central to their nets, or outliers easy to pick off because of dissatisfaction or social grievances. And much more (think about faction analysis.) If you want to pursue, happy to discuss.
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