Responses to Libyan-sponsored terrorism (1980-1994) : a comparative analysis

Abstract

This thesis examines four responses to Libyan-sponsored terrorism: the 1982 American Embargo, the 1984 American request to Europe for economic sanctions, the 1986 American bombing raid on Tripoli, and the 1992 United Nations economic sanctions. The rationale leading up to each response is analyzed from American political, diplomatic and security points of view. Two measures are developed to judge the effectiveness of each response: an economic indicator which determines the impact of each response on Libyan exports, and the rise or fall in Libyan-sponsored terrorist incidents before and after each response. Five Hypotheses are introduced which attempt to explain the interaction of states in the international system when faced with alleged state- sponsored terrorism. Each response is critiqued using the five hypotheses and also the measures of effectiveness. Following this critique the thesis concludes that a firm military and flexible diplomatic response is the most effective response to state-sponsored terrorism.