My research

[marpesia_m]

Just pondering and toying with a few ideas.

Like I said, I might as well look into PhD institutions because...well, who really knows why. So, if this current phase does not pass I'll probably be applying to:

1. King's College, London (War Studies Department)
2. London School of Economics and Political Science (International Relations Department)
3. St. Andrews, Scotland (Centre for the study of Terrorism and Political Violence)
4. Oxford University (Department of Politics and International Relations)

Yes, that seems about right. Oh, I can feel my resolve dwindling with the mere thought of that list and going back to school for another three-four years without a  guarantee that something good would come from it. Still, might as well see what happens. The prospect of doing research and creating/managing a new research project is making me giddy. Don't think I could say no if I got a full grant.

So now I need a topic that will grab my interest for three years and also be relevant in three years time. Obviously I want it to hinge on terrorism and political violence and/or  modern insurgency  and counter-terrorism. It can be about conflict in general but obviously that would  have to be seriously narrowed down and I would not know where to start. This is really the hardest part to find a topic. Knowing myself, it will have to be quantitative and/or qualitative in nature (Ican imagine one of my friends rolling their eyes right now and shaking their fists at me). At the same time I want to make sure that I have a topic in which I can best utilise my resources and get a good sample (damn, I should do something about Kosovo then cause I'd be able to go there ....urrr....topic?). Uh, I really hate this part. Strategic intelligence in the war on terrorism would be great but nearly impossible to get access to key-players in the field. Not to mention everything would be classified. Also I want something contemporary, I refuse to sit in the archives for a year. Well, that narrows it down. Not.

Off the top of my head I am thinking of a few ideas:

1. The radicalization of muslim youth in western society: it could have potential though I imagine that everyone is studying that now. However the potential of the topic is great because I can do a case study of either Canada, the UK, USA, Germany or France. Not to mention that the qualitative research potential is spectacular and has a good theoretical angle to it as well.
2. The impact of the Muslim Brotherhood on radical jihadists and greater threat that the MB pose long-term: very diffuse, not really a topic there unless it can be narrowed down and made more precise. And I don't speak or read Arabic and don't imagine that if I start learning I will be anywhere near the level of  proficiency I'd need to be in order to read their documents.
   
3. The militarization of police forces and it's impact on the perception of security in a post 9/11 environment (case study on the NYPD or the Metropolitan Police-7/11).
4. Forecasting models and indicators in terrorism analysis: I have no clue what I'd do with this but it is something I'd want to explore more because it combines my interest in terrorism, analysis, prediction analysis and intelligence.

Not too many would be able to supervise some of these topics.

-KCL: Smith
-LSE: Cox?
-St. Andrews: a few

Research interests: Intelligence, security strategy, international terrorism, counter-terrorism, conflict and instability
Must think of more ideas based on that....think....think...think...owww, my brain hurts.