150 likes | 758 Views
Terrorism and Globalization. Defining Terrorism. Globalization is not responsible for terrorism, but it allows terrorism to exist on a global level Debatable Assumption Terrorism: Use of violence to reach political ends Weakest form of warfare = little change Debatable Assumption
E N D
Defining Terrorism • Globalization is not responsible for terrorism, but it allows terrorism to exist on a global level • Debatable Assumption • Terrorism: Use of violence to reach political ends • Weakest form of warfare = little change • Debatable Assumption • Realist – States have a monopoly on terror • State Sponsor v Non-State Sponsor • Palestine v Israel • IRA v British • Four Types • Left-Wing • Communist • Right-Wing • Fascism • Ethno-nationalist/Separatist • Decolonization • Religious • Islam
Terrorism: Global Phenomenon • Prior to 1968 Terrorism was a domestic/internal problem for a state • Three factors of transnational terrorism • Expansion of Commercial Air Travel • Hijackings skyrocketed • Televised News Coverage • Message to the masses or show public a threat • Broad political and ideological interest • Relationships of convenience • Decade of Terror – 1980-90 • Decrease in deadly and indiscriminate targets • Fall of Marx-Leninist terrorist groups decrease, while a rise in militant Islamic terrorist groups • Increase in sophistication of attacks • Increase in use of suicide
Globalization and Terror • September 11, 2001 • A globalization terrorist event • Who is Al Qaeda? • Debate • Multi-dimensional sub-state actor or extremist Islamic Militant group • Single group or global movement • Three Explanations • Cultural Explanation • Backlash to western products and materialism • Free Market Capitalism challenging traditional views • Regain or preserve one culture/identity • Western, Confucian, Japanese, Islamic, Hindu, Slavic-Orthodox, and Latin • Is there homogeneity in each classification?
Continue • Economic Explanation • 9/11 • World Trade Center= attack on symbol of capitalism • Western Economic Imperialism • World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF) dominated by west • Privatization and Interest Rates • North-South Gap = winners/losers of globalization • Wealth = security and violence • Criminal v. Political violence • Economic alienation and lack of opportunity = youth suicide bombers
Continue • Religion Explanation • Postmodern or “New” Terrorism • Religious motivation for terror • Promise of divine reward • Attack on non-believers • Jihad = reaction to oppression of Muslims? • Extremist view of Jihad (No Compromise) differs from historical/religious meaning (Compromise) • More inclined to use suicide then economic/cultural terrorist • Few leaders, coordinators, planners make martyrs of themselves
Technology and Terrorism • Terrorism have become more pervasive worldwide due to the process and technologies of globalization • Improved terrorist in the following areas • Proselytizing • Cheap computers and Internet to convey or beliefs • Greater volume, range, sophistication of message • More difficult to remove virtual presence then physical • Instant communication • Video feed of accomplishments • Coordination • Communication technologies allow coordinated attacks • Planning can take place between various cells located in different geographical locations – local and global • Internet/E-mail • Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) • Global Fund Raising
Continue • Security • Use technology for surveillance and counter-Surveillance techniques • Coordinating surveillance • Allows mobility – can operate anywhere • Encryption communications/documents • Etc… • Cell Terrorism • Autonomous with little information on hierarchy or other cells • Mobility • Reduction of size and power of hardware provided mobility • Global Trade allows mobility of terrorist and their goods • Relaxed control and regulation do to trade volume • Lethality • Fear = terrorist gain weapons of mass destruction • Dirty Bombs, biological and chemical, etc…
Combating Terrorism • Requires collaboration from governments and non-government organizations • Difficult process today • Disagreement on definition of terrorism • Disagreement on who is a terrorist • Disagreement on how to deal with terrorist • Easy to silence messenger, but not the message • Global Counter-Terrorism Network (GCTN) • America’s “War on Terror” • War on non-state organization and ideology seems impossible to beat? • Does war on terror create terror? • Is it’s purpose to impose an Orwellian System?