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    The Wellington protest, 2022 : signs of franchised fascism in New Zealand : a thesis presented in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Defence and Security Studies at Massey University, New Zealand
    (Massey University, 2024) Fairhall, Zachary
    This thesis critically examines various signs displayed over the course of the February/March 2022 anti-lockdown protest, which convoyed from around the country to Wellington and occupied Parliament grounds for three weeks, resulting in significant disruption to the city damage to Parliament grounds, and injuries to Police officers. I collected and collated images of these signs before analysing the signs’ language in order to better understand the form of socio-political movement this protest constitutes. I argue the signs of the Wellington Protest convey strong evidence of fascist language and sentiments, show transnational connections with other anti-government protest movements in the model of a globally connected franchise, and constitute the early stages of a fascist political movement that has potential flourish in New Zealand given the current strength of populist sentiment. However, the current evidence indicates that scholars and security professionals appear to have fundamentally misunderstood the concept and practices of fascism, and continue to underestimate the political forces revealed by the protest. Security scholars and professionals have an obligation to keep New Zealand informed of, and safe from the progenitors of political violence. By not understanding the anti-lockdown protest as part of a transnationally connected, franchise-able fascist movement, these scholars and practitioners forego important insight into the activities of relevant groups who, after the protest, establish political parties propaganda radio, and community fundraising networks.
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    On the battlefield : exploring gendered experiences of being Infantry in the New Zealand Army : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirement for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Defence and Security Studies at Massey University, Manawatu, New Zealand
    (Massey University, 2024-09-25) Brosnan, Amy
    Prompted by the question ‘why aren’t there more women in combat trades?’, this research reaches beyond this to ask about the broader gendered context of the Infantry. Bringing in the experiences of both men and women, this thesis contributes a more nuanced understanding of the gendered issues at play by identifying what factors enable or inhibit success. As such, this thesis seeks to address a gap in knowledge that currently exists with respect to the experiences of men and women working together within a hypermasculine gender integrated combat-focused unit. It does so through the conduct of a qualitative study of soldiers enlisted in the Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment (RNZIR) of the New Zealand Army (NZ Army). As this thesis will reveal, the production of ‘war-fighters’ is not an accidental or inevitable process. Infantry soldiers are socialised into certain ways of thinking and doing, and it is the performance of institutionalised habits, traditions and behaviours that makes an individual Infantry. The production of a war fighter is, therefore, a purposeful process of creating a particular type of Infantry soldier that is deemed to be most effective on the battlefield. What also becomes apparent in the course of this research, however, is that ‘success’ within Infantry is a complex concept; one which is underpinned by a specific gender performance, and which requires negotiation of a number of factors that extend beyond the professional realms of the ‘actual job’. Notwithstanding the need to produce ‘war-fighters’ this thesis argues that the way in which Infantry soldiers are produced within the NZ Army perpetuates a very specific masculine gendered ideology within the RNZIR. This ideology is based on both assumptions and understandings (and also misunderstandings) of gender, coupled with a battlefield narrative that inhibits the possibility of contesting the ‘status quo’. This thesis will illustrate that while some of the participants thrive within this context, others do not. Indeed, the gendered ideology which supports ‘the way things are done around here’ inhibits the participation (and retention) of many men and women, including men and women who exhibit the same qualities and attributes that are claimed to be necessary for Infantry success on the modern, or future, battlefield.
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    Making the headlines : news media discourse on terrorism in New Zealand : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Defence and Security Studies at Massey University, New Zealand
    (Massey University, 2024) Stanbury, Brendan Andrew Usher
    Following the Christchurch terrorist attack in March 2019, the New Zealand Government published protocols governing news media reporting during terrorist and national security events (The Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, 2021). By establishing these protocols, the New Zealand Government acknowledged the role news media play in the wake of a national security event, including acts of terror. While most the New Zealand research relating to media coverage of contemporary terrorism has focused on the role social media plays, particularly in terms of online radicalization, the relationship between commercial news media and terrorism is underrepresented in the New Zealand context. Through a qualitative examination of three New Zealand case studies – the 1985 bombing of the Rainbow Warrior, the 2019 Christchurch attack, and the 2021 LynnMall attack - this research examines how New Zealand news media responded during these events. Using a hybrid thematic analysis approach that initially drew on inductive and then deductive thematic processes, the research identified and examined three key factors common to each of the case studies: how the news media represented the act of terrorism; how it represented the attacker(s); and the role the news media played in shaping the State’s response. It found that while the news media is generally considered to be an impartial actor in the reporting of terrorist attacks, it is neither neutral nor passive in these instances, providing a potential platform to amplify both the terrorist’s and State’s objectives. While causation is difficult to determine, this research concludes that New Zealand news media’s engagement with terrorism has changed over time. Given the prominence of the media as one of the main conduits for public information, the media now plays a significant role in shaping public perceptions of terrorism in New Zealand, reinforcing the official Government narrative, and providing the means for the Government to generate the social licence needed to introduce reforms. By implication, news media should remain live to the political drivers at play behind official determinations of terrorism so as to remain impartial and report objectively as possible during times of high stress.
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    Mass atrocities and military intervention : a ripeness-based approach to the decision moment : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Defence and Security Studies at Massey University, Manawatū, New Zealand
    (Massey University, 2023-10-25) Nelson, Brian
    Mass atrocities, commonly defined as genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing, and crimes against humanity, is a problem facing the world. The past, and unfortunately the present, is filled with humanitarian tragedies where violence against civilian populations resulted in mass atrocities. Difficult deliberations occur among external actors on the complex issue of when to intervene with military force to prevent or stop these mass atrocities. Although there is a comprehensive body of intervention literature on the what, why and how, there is a gap in understanding the timing of when to intervene. This question may be better understood when we apply ripeness theory from another discipline that has been used in conflict resolution to understand the conditions of when groups in conflict enter negotiations and begin to find a solution to resolve their conflict. This study builds on ripeness theory to understand the timing and favourable conditions of when to intervene. This research asks: What is the applicability of ripeness theory for understanding when to conduct a military intervention to prevent or stop mass atrocities? The research uses case studies with process tracing of interventions in Kosovo, East Timor, and Libya to investigate this question. The approach evolves ripeness theory from its traditional use in negotiation to its use in the different context of military intervention. This ripeness-based approach proposes new concepts that work together with established concepts in a framework that develops favouring conditions of when to intervene. This new way of applying ripeness theory yields a useful approach and promising results, but more research needs to be done.
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    The role of internal balancing in response to China's military rise in the Asia-Pacific : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Philosophy at Massey University, Manawatū, New Zealand
    (Massey University, 2022) Amerian, Sirous
    In Asia, alongside the increased power and threat of China as a rising power, the era of external balancing/alliance building and relying on the US is on the decline, and it is expected that states take care of their own security needs. Consequently, more states should rely on their internal and military capacities to balance against potential threats. A vast amount of realist literature has employed various theories in predicting state behaviour against powerful rivals and threats. Most such studies conclude with alliance building as their primary prescription and don’t pay much attention to internal balancing. Yet, with the points illustrated previously, this study believes external balancing alone is not enough. With the US leaving, there will be a security vacuum and countries need to take care of themselves. In a more recent iteration of neo-classical realism, the Dynamic Balancing model by Kai He and one of its hypotheses suggests that in a Uni-polar world, the current prevailing structure of the world we live in, if threats come from non-hegemonic states, the threatened states could seek help or ally with the hegemon. Still, such relations with the hegemon would be closer to bandwagoning rather than alliance building. Even if forged, this alliance would not last. Therefore, in a unipolar system, the primary strategy of non-hegemon states, the cases being studied here, would be internal balancing. This study, by employing qualitative document analysis resources, wants to investigate and test this hypothesis further by looking at middle powers, as significant players and military spenders in the region and countries that enjoy deep security and economic relations with the US, and investigate how they have approached internal balancing, specifically its military side to balance against China, and if the hypothesis suggested in this model is correct. The contribution of this study would be its attempt to study and test the Dynamic Balancing model and see how each case has performed in relation to the hypothesis.
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    Breaking the masculine looking glass : women as co-founders, nurturers, and executors of extremism in New Zealand : a thesis presented in fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Masters in Defence and Security, Massey University, New Zealand
    (Massey University, 2021) Carson, Donna
    The world of extremist violence is not wholly masculine despite presenting as such. Women are just as capable as men of embracing toxic ideologies, organized hate, and committing acts of violence. Yet when it comes to women's active presence in violent extremism (VE) and Extremism/Terrorism (E&T), general skepticism about women’s agency and free will means that any discussion will be focused on men. Focusing on the NZ environment post 9/11, this thesis presents insight into how women can, and do, participate in extreme ideologies, specifically in contemporary Islamic (IE) and Right-Wing extremism (RWE). It aims to advance conceptual foundations applicable to the NZ counter-terrorism (CT) environment and enhance public and government agency understandings. This thesis will show that the predisposition to gender profile women erases them as potential extremists (violent and non-violent) which has ramifications for national security. This erasure happens in two ways. Firstly, gendered norms and narratives that infantize or sexualize these women inspire security, legal and political responses to do the same. Secondly, it leads security frameworks to focus on men and disregard the women in their lives. Continuing to underestimate women means the more extensive and complex picture of extremism in NZ remains missing. Women's IE or RWE ideological adherence and involvement are not purely domiciliary. Framing it as such deprecates women’s contribution as actively committed co-creators of a euro supreme nation or a militant Islamic caliphate. This thesis confirms that extreme male hegemonic movements have long drawn diverse female recruits, and NZ women are not the exception. If NZ refuses to treat these women now or in the future with the same seriousness as their male counterparts, gender cynicism obscures potential national security threats. NZ needs to update its future-focused CT infrastructure to remove definitional silos and gender-blind spots because VE and E&T are ongoing global and local phenomena.
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    "Paradoxical alchemy" : an examination of the New Zealand Special Operations Forces' relationships in key security networks : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Defence and Security Studies at Massey University, Wellington, New Zealand
    (Massey University, 2021) Wharton, Miriam
    Drawing on thirty-five interviews with senior military and security personnel, this thesis investigates how the New Zealand Special Operations Forces (NZSOF) maintain their relationships across three key security networks. The three networks are the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF), the New Zealand National Security Sector (NZNSS), and the Five Special Operations Forces (5SOF). The thesis specifically focuses on how the NZSOF formally and informally engage within these network relationships. The research identifies fifteen common characteristics that the NZSOF exhibit when engaging in these relationships. It then analyses two additional overarching characteristics displayed across these three networks: commonality and utility. Once the characteristics are defined, it then examines how the seventeen relational characteristics feed into the NZSOF's relational dynamics. The thesis finds that, at times, paradoxical relationships can also occur when liminality, ambiguity, and tension manifest in these relational dynamics. The research argues that the NZSOF have two possible approaches to these paradoxes, either to resolve them through changing their relational characteristics, potentially sacrificing their relational dynamism, or they can harness their paradoxical characteristics to support their security relationships, that also potentially comes at a cost. The thesis concludes by exploring the latter option which requires the NZSOF to employ a paradoxical alchemy, to hold the tensions in balance. However, alchemy is not a simple proposition; it is an inherently complex idea that necessitates active management, creativity, and more than a little magic. This will be the future challenge for the NZSOF's contemporary security relationships.
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    Social media and the Islamic State : understanding the motivations for jihadi brides : a thesis presented in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Defence and Security Studies at Massey University, New Zealand
    (Massey University, 2020) Bockholt, Megan
    This thesis examines the motivations of women who joined the Islamic State after engaging with the terrorist organisation and their supporters on social media. Public social media posts made by Aqsa Mahmood and Hoda Muthana, two western women who joined the Islamic State in 2013 and 2014, are analysed through the theoretical framework of social identity theory to determine the factors that drove them to depart for Syria to become wives and mothers for the Islamic State. From here, these common trends are considered in terms of contemporary countermeasures designed to counter terrorist recruitment on social media, to consider how effective these might have been in preventing the Islamic State's recruitment of women online.
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    The art of ₋w₋a₋r₋ listening : an examination of the New Zealand Defence Force's civil-military coordination in Pacific disaster relief responses : Master of Philosophy in Defence and Security, Massey University, New Zealand
    (Massey University, 2019) Roddis, Kendra
    As natural disasters have increased in frequency and intensity in the Pacific, so too has the New Zealand Defence Force’s (NZDF’s) involvement in Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR). This has made effective civil-military coordination crucial, particularly due to the severity and scale of resulting humanitarian needs. Yet despite the Government of New Zealand Government’s (GoNZ’s) publicised intentions to improve the military’s interoperability and HADR capabilities, this study presents the first independent examination of the NZDF’s civil-military coordination in the context of Pacific HADR. Findings were drawn from a comparative analysis of the NZDF’s involvement in the 2015 Tropical Cyclone (TC) Pam response in Vanuatu and the 2016 TC Winston response in Fiji. These report how stakeholders perceived the NZDF’s civil-military coordination efforts, identify the major obstacles to coordination and discuss how these impacted the HADR provided. Data were triangulated from grey literature and sixty-eight interviews with participants from; the NZDF, GoNZ, international and local humanitarian agencies, affected governments and community representatives. Notably, this is the first time feedback on the NZDF has been collated from Pacific Island governments, humanitarians and populations. Substantial similarities emerged when stakeholders’ views of the NZDF’s coordination were compared. Although the majority of interviewees perceived the NZF’s overall civil-military coordination efforts in a positive light, several previously unreported tensions were reported. Obstacles to coordination also had serious negative impacts on HADR, which indicate that stakeholders did not meet the priority needs of affected populations, in either HADR response. A new model was also developed to summarise thesis findings. This explains how variables, such as stakeholder perspectives, obstacles and mechanisms, interact to produce positive or negative outcomes. The diagram can also be used to evaluate past civil-military coordination efforts and anticipate future challenges. This is a significant benefit to stakeholders, as it provides a simple but practical way to analyse and enhance civil-military coordination efforts.