| Summary: | 碩士 === 文藻外語大學 === 國際事務碩士學位學程 === 105 === Terrorist attacks have been a ‘hot topic’ on the international scene in the recent years, especially in European countries such as France and Germany. EUROPOL has declared that all countries part of the US-led coalition are prime targets for ISIS, accordingly France and Germany remain primary targets. In the 21st century with the rise of Radical Islamist terrorism, it is a major concern for governments to deal with the threat. We know that Radical Islamist terrorism can harm democratic values and therefore fundamental rights. Therefore, the main interrogation is whether governments counterterrorist measures and political goals can do the same.
The study is based on a cross-country analysis between France and Germany. Thus, the main driver of this research is a case study of the 2016 Nice and Berlin attacks. After understanding the essential background of the topic, the main analysis will, firstly, give a detailed description of the unwinding of both attacks. Secondly, the counterterrorist measures taken by the French and German governments in the aftermath of the attack will be given. Thirdly, we will see how the far-right parties in both countries have used the terrorist attacks as a political tool. These three steps will allow a deeper understanding on how counterterrorism and political goals can threaten democratic values and the sense of equity which in terms could lead to a vicious cycle and not do any good to the nations.
The findings in this study, based on secondary data analysis, shows that France, mainly, has infringed several democratic values in the aftermath of the Nice attack. Germany has not directly infringed liberal values however restrictions on human rights are noticeable. This leads to saying that measures taken in order to counter terrorism can harm democratic principles. Some politicians use the threat of terror in their advantage to project their political goals. Overall, the harm on democratic values can turn into a vicious cycle: it can lead to more radicalization, therefore more terrorism, which will cause governments to take more restrictive measures, permanently, that could take away the sense of liberty that lies within democracies. Above all, terrorists would get what they want if this is the case.
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