Violent Non-state Actors (VNSA) such as Criminal and Terrorist organisations or Warlords have become a more prominent actor of our time. The main goal of this study is to find limitations to violent non-state actors potential for global influence by conducting a case study of two different VNSA: Al-Qaeda and The Gulf Cartel. The purpose of this study is to contribute to the rather sparse field of studies about violent non-state actors by using the analytic framework by Ersel Aydinli called ARI. The empirical material is analysed by using a qualitative method, to examine how if these actors are by any means limited in their potential for global influence. The result of the analysis shows that the two units being examined are being restricted by inner variables more so than being affected from the outside.