Mapping Socio-Cultural Matrix of Terrorism in the Middle East

1. Mapping Socio-Cultural Matrix of Terrorism in the Middle East Debashis Chakrabarti, Ph.D.Commonwealth Fellow, UKProfessor & Head, Department of Communication Studies, College of Applied Sciences, Sur, Ministry of Higher Education, Oman

2. Outline • Key Arguments • Line of investigation • Analysis (Socio-political) • Cause and Trigger grid • Concluding notes • Snapshot

3. Key Arguments • Rootsof terrorism can be traced in the political frustration, cultural crisis, economic imbalance and ideological vacuum andcan be regarded as key nodes of the terrorism matrix. • Tackling problems with authoritarian dictates or military options could be counterproductive as it can further augment the growth of terrorism in the Middle East • Directly linked with the cultural and ideological crisis that has already set in in the region. • Key reasons

4. Nodes & Nodules Loss of religious values Absence of Arab idol Moral decline Lack of Political inclusion Interrelationships between Central and peripheral causes Weakening cultural binding Voice gag Conflicting economic ideologies Lack of opportunities

5. Line of investigation • Question1: Why did a significant number of young generations set themselves against the social system and the State in the region? • Question 2: Why in certain states having authoritarian and totalitarian rule did the attraction to terrorism seems particularly strong? • The answer to these questions lies in socio- political analysis which I will briefly discuss in the next slides Key reasons

6. Conflict and Social turbulence • Cultural ethnic fragmentation, religious confrontation, traditional communities, the repeated occurrence of the wars etc. provided a platform for the disgruntled Arab youths • Global powers also contributed a lot to the development of terrorism in the region • Key reasons

7. Historical Paradigm: Impact of British Colonialism • political map and the ethnic boundaries of the region were drawn in accordance with the colonial legacy of the British foreign policy. • unrealistic territorial divisions and consequent establishment of artificial states. • political chain reactions, the region witnessed more conflagrations, wars and more ethnic and religious fragmentations in the region • rise of authoritarian regimes that were supported by the global super powers to suppress ordinary peoples’ legitimate rights and democratic aspirations. Key reasons

8. US Policy breeds terrorism in the region? • Two basic principles- support of autocratic regimes and military presence in the Gulf region. US policy in the region also provoked radicalism of the religious groups. • White House backed Sunni Radical groups against the Soviet army in Afghanistan. The result of that policy today is Al-Qaeda and terrorism. • Key reasons

9. US Policy breeds terrorism in the region? • US policy towards Taliban caused a fresh spurt of religious extremism in the region • US Bias towards Israel and failure of the US to be a fair mediator injuredArab sentiments • Arab frustration has again turned out to be a catalyst for extremism and terrorism • Viewed from this political angle, terrorism a response to the ruin and misery prevalent in the Middle East. • Key reasons

10. Why frustrated and angry youths take recourse to terrorism? • Two root causes that lead the youths in the Middle East towards terrorism • Cultural Crisis • Ideological Vacuum • Key reasons

11. Cultural Crisis • defined as a decline in the credibility and binding force of the values of the Arab societies. • gradual loss of rational world- view among the younger generations. • the weakening of belief in traditional values result a moral disorientation • Key reasons

12. Ideological vacuum • Weakening appeal of religious moral valuesand new moral values are yet to influence the political- cultural movements of the Arab youths. • an exposure to English education, scientific thoughts, history of evolution of societies and sociology allowed them to think logically about their own social situations. • young people to vent their protests and disapproval of the given system, they easily turn to terror tactic to hit the state machines, embassies, crowded markets just to draw attention to their views. • Key reasons

13. Counter Terrorism Policies • Counterterrorism policies involve either taking a direct action approach or a defensive approach • direct action approach includes destroying terrorist training camps, retaliating against a state sponsor, gathering intelligence, or freezing the terrorist’s assets. • A more defensive approach involves preventative measures like technological barriers (e.g., metal detectors and bomb detectors) and the securing of borders (Arce & Sandler, 2005, p. 184). • Much of the policy going into counterterrorism is based on a direct action approach. • Key reasons

14. Application of Counter Terrorism Policies • The war on terrorism can not be fought with traditional warfare, but must be won politically. It needs to be recognized that the root cause of terrorism in the Middle East originate in the problems of the region, notably created by the policies of global governance. (Kayhan Barzegar, 2005) • The two principles of stability and democratization as Western antidotes of terrorism have diverged. • In fact, the long global presence in the region has intensified insecurity and hence fuelled terrorist activities. The huge military presence of the alliance forces could neither foster democracy, nor any stability. • Democratic polity as an anti-thesis of extremism and terrorism must come from within the Arab societies. Democracy and stability can’t be imposed by the mandates and guns of global powers. • Key reasons

15. The Grid – Causes & Trigger

16. The Grid – Causes & Trigger

17. Concluding notes • Victim of the Western intellectual deliberation • Orientalist framework both in media and political discourse • Chasing the Western phantom • Sheer Western bias with little engagement with the people in question • A self fulfilling Western prophesy • Conclusion

18. Concluding notes • Terrorism a divisive force between the two Worlds: the West and the East • Disengaged Western deliberations and politics of branding causing a sense of disillusionment, fear and Western aversion among the youth • As long as the US administration is determined to pursue the policy of regime changes in the Middle East, the region will be more prone to political instability and violence • It will foster the growth of terrorism in the region by different tribal, ethnic ,religious and political groups • Conclusion