John Tsukayama
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Email: jt386
st-andrews.ac.uk
Biography
I come from a first career far from academia. I spent more than two decades as a specialist consulting investigator working with corporate, legal and government clients in the areas of financial fraud, employee misfeasance and malfeasance, and high risk threat management. In my career I have conducted thousands of interviews and hundreds of suspect interrogations, at times as a specially appointed government criminal investigator. I’ve been a student of professional interrogation methods for many years and been a Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE), Professional Certified Investigator (PCI), and Certified Protection Professional (CPP).
My interest in military affairs stems from a family background where my father along with his brothers and cousins served during World War II, some in Europe or the Pacific, and others during the occupation of Japan. Both of my brothers served in the armed forces, one retiring as a Marine Gunnery Sergeant. I have younger relatives who served in combat in Iraq and Afghanistan. My family history has made me especially cognizant of the fact that while wars are declared by nations, they are fought by individual men and women committed to serving and surviving in a context alien to the rest of us. Much of my research has been devoted to seeing their choices through their eyes.
I hold an M.Litt. (Distinction), in Terrorism Studies from the Centre for the Study of Terrorism and Political Violence, School of International Relations, University of St. Andrews. My dissertation examined the South African Police (SAP) experience with illegal violence during the period of apartheid as revealed through the testimony of police officials at all levels of the SAP during that country's amnesty hearings. During that research I developed a preliminary model describing when police confronted by terrorist violence may choose to initially employ abusive violence and expand its use.
I also hold a BA, Inter-disciplinary Studies (Political Science/History) from Brigham Young University Hawaii. My thesis examined the factors underlying the relative success and failure of the coups against the Hawaiian governments of 1893 and 1895.
Supervisor
Dr. Jeffrey Murer
University of St. Andrews
Thesis Summary
I am researching the paths by which abusive violence is chosen, both by individuals and organizations, as instruments in CT and COIN. This research seeks to understand the ways in which abusive violence comes to be viewed as a sensible alternative to the individuals enmeshed in particular contexts and circumstances. In addition, the research examines how methods of abusive violence are developed, transmitted, utilized, and altered as a set of practices. The research will look not only at abusive violence used by intelligence gathering organizations, but will also examine similar methods employed by line units toward suspected insurgents.
I am also very interested in exploring the factors that accompany individual decisions to passively abstain from using abusive violence, or to actively oppose its use, in CT and COIN campaigns.
Research Interests
Since September 11, 2001 I have become interested in the ways in which Counter-Terrorism (CT) and Counter-Insurgency (COIN) duties and pressures shape the approaches employed by government personnel toward suspected enemies, especially the choice to resort to abusive violence.
Publications
Co-author, "An Integrative Approach to Threat Assessment and Management:Security and Mental Health Response to a Threatening Client," peer reviewed; accepted for 2012 publication.
Contributor, Retail Crime, Security, and Loss Prevention: An Encyclopedic Reference. 2008.
Co-author, The Process of Investigation, 3d ed., 2006.
Contributor, Workplace Violence Prevention, Intervention and Recovery, 2001.
