Modeling the Growth of Boko Haram Using System Dynamics

Authors

  • Jadalaine Ferrer
  • Jillian Wisniewski USMA

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.37266/ISER.2018v6i2.pp109-117

Abstract

This study uses a systems dynamic approach to understand how the attacks conducted by Boko Haram influence the group’s growth. Boko Haram originated in the early 2000s under Muhammad Yusuf, but the group did not become known for its violence until 2009 (Oftedal, 2013). In 2013, the United States designated Boko Haram as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (U.S. Department of State, 2013). The Nigerian government’s efforts to eliminate the group’s influence in northern Nigeria and neighboring countries has not been successful. As Africa enters the world spotlight, the need for curbing the influence of Boko Haram strengthens. The system dynamics modeling process provides a method of understanding the relationships within the underlying structures that drive the scope of influence of Boko Haram, including organizational growth, media coverage, and attack efficacy. A formalized system dynamics model provides a basis for policy recommendations to counteract the group’s efforts.

References

Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED). (2018). Africa data from January 2010 to February 2018 with Boko Haram as the actor [Data file]. Retrieved from https://www.acleddata.com/data/

Auwal, A. (2014, August 7). Two years of sokoto’s almajiri integrated school. The Daily Trust. Retrieved March 6, 2018, from https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/daily/education/31062-two-years-of-sokoto-s-almajiri-integrated-school

Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). (2018). The world factbook. Retrieved March 5, 2018, from https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ni.html

Faluyi, O. (2017). An assessment of nigeria’s counter-terrorism policies against boko haram [Masters dissertation].

Gourley, S. (2009). Sean Gourley : The mathematics of war [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.ted.com/talks/sean_gourley_on_the_mathematics_of_war

Isiaka, T. O. (2015). A pilot study of the challenges of infusing almajiri educational system into the universal basic educational programme in soko, nigeria. Journal of Education and Practice, 6(16), 10-16.

LexisNexis Academic. (2018). Articles between January 2010 and February 2018 containing words « Boko » and « Haram »[Data file]. Retrieved from http://www.lexisnexis.com/hottopics/lnacademic/

Oftedal, E. (2013). Boko Haram- an overview (FFI-rapport 2013/01680). Kjeller, Norway : Norwegian Defence Research Establishment. Retrieved October 29, 2017, from http://www.ffi.no/no/Rapporter/13-01680.pdf

Onuoha, F. (2014). Why do youth join boko haram ? Retrieved from the United States Special Institute of Peace website : https://www.usip.org/publications/2014/06/why-do-youth-join-boko-haram

Sterman, J. D. (2010). Business Dynamics : Systems Thinking and Modeling for a Complex World (Indian ed.). New Delhi, Delhi, India : The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

U.S. Department of State. (2013). Country reports on terrorism, chapter 6- foreign terrorist organizations. Retrieved October

, 2017, from https://www.state.gov/j/ct/rls/crt/2013/224829.htm

Zenn, J. (2014). Boko Haram: recruitment, financing, and arms trafficking in the Lake Chad region. CTC Sentinel, 7(10), 5+. Retrieved from http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A390188246/PPWT?u=nysl_se_usma&sid=PPWT&xid=7b557afc

Published

2019-03-07

How to Cite

Ferrer, J., & Wisniewski, J. (2019). Modeling the Growth of Boko Haram Using System Dynamics. Industrial and Systems Engineering Review, 6(2), 109-117. https://doi.org/10.37266/ISER.2018v6i2.pp109-117