Military approach will only interrupt or delay terrorism. Terrorism is more complicated than just mere criminal activities; it is a violent response with a political agenda. Terrorism has many sympathizers and in many cases, state sponsorship. Therefore, on the short-term, terrorist targets can be pressured via intelligence activities and economic strategies such as freezing the assets of individuals and groups that finance these movements.
On the long-term, the root causes of terrorism have to be addresses. Terrorism is similar to America’s “war on drug” where efforts to combat drug use have failed miserably due to the lip service paid on the root causes. Therefore, terrorism must be engaged at the system analysis level, state analysis level, and individual analysis level.
At the system analysis level, global economics must be addressed in an effort to ensure an equal distribution of wealth. But that is just the work of academics; it is not going to happen as there can never be an agreed upon approach by all actors, and in good faith. However, an effort that will attempt to eradicate exploitation of LDCs by industrialized nations might just be a good start.
At the state level analysis, international actors should have little doubt that international policies by the polar powers are fair. For instance, it should be self-evident that policies applied on Israelis as well as the Palestinians are fair. We cannot pretend that unfair policies on either side will simply fly under the radar.
At the individual level analysis, the best that can be done is to support efforts on educating the masses. Illiteracy is still a major problem in LDCs for it is just too easy to “brainwash” uneducated people.
NOTE:
Except where noted, the ideas in this article are adopted from a course text book (below) for general discussion purposes.
Rourke, T. John. 2008. International Politics on the World Stage. 12th ed. New York: McGraw-Hill.
I appreciate your approach to thwarting terrorism, and I believe that each of your three ideas on education, policy fairness, and economic parody are effective policies that should have a longer term effect than the shorter term actions of law enforcement and the military (however necessary). I am curious though how the extremist true believer, one that is convinced the terrorist methods are justified would be effected. After all, not all of these folks are poor, uneducated, or subject to over-reaching policy? It is a complex problem! You always have thought provoking posts.
ReplyDeleteAlthough, if we can develop a means to effectively ensure that we cannot face a terrorist ; shouldnt we focus on this primarily as opposed finding causes that may essentially spell out cultural differences that can not be solved through diplomacy? it may be befitting to hold a bigger stick and a tiny carrot...as even the root causes of terrorism are subject to debate
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