Dr. Michael Mousseau is a professor of International Relations Theory, Political Economy of War and Peace, Terrorism and Insurgency, department of Political Science, University of Central Florida. He is specialized in the fields of: Political Science; International Relations; Comparative Politics. And Sub-fields: International Conflict and Security; International Relations Theory; Political Economy. His Research Areas are: Conflict and security (within and among nations); Terrorism and insurgency; political development.

Dr. Michael Mousseau In an interview with our Magazine He answered our questions as the following:
Gulan: As you know there are many terrorist and radical groups in the Middle East, that have caused unprecedented death and destruction, what are the underlying and structural causes for the emergence of these groups
Professor Michael Mousseau: The lack of jobs available in the private market. Because most jobs in the region are with government and these jobs are scarce, many are in patronage groups that compete over these jobs. Those who cannot find jobs through patronage ties gravitate towards groups that are not connected to the state. These groups often seek to support their followers with criminal activities or anti-state political violence. To justify their anti-state violence, group leaders often adopt an identity or ideology.

Gulan: In your opinion what is the effective counter-terrorism strategy that should pursued for combating these groups?
Professor Michael Mousseau : Make jobs widely available in the private market. Governments can do this by spending resources on infrastructure projects, giving contracts to private companies using an equitable public bidding process. The policy goal should be near-zero unemployment, with most adult males working in private companies that are competing in a market.

Gulan: To what extent the external forces can play positive and helpful role in this regard?
Professor Michael Mousseau: Lots. International donor agencies can provide the resources for the infrastructure projects. They can also monitor them to make sure the contracts to private companies are distributed using an equitable public bidding process.

Gulan: It obvious that after defeating a terrorist organization militarily, another terrorist group emerges, so how we can break this vicious cycle of winning ward and losing peace?
Professor Michael Mousseau: Make jobs widely available in the private market. If this is done new groups will not emerge.

Gulan: There is also another intractable and deep rooted issue in the Middle East which is sectarian rivalry especially between Sunni and Shia, to what extent this rivalry fuels and drives extremism and terrorism?
Professor Michael Mousseau: This rivalry does not at all fuel the extremism and terrorism. Sunni and Shia have lived peacefully together for centuries. Identity conflicts emerge whenever jobs are not available in the private market. Make jobs widely available in the private market and this rivalry will dissipate.