terrorism and globalization

Question 1

definition terrorism

Answer 1

use of violence by sub-state groups to inspire fear, by attacking civilians and/or symbolic targets, for purposes such as drawing widespread attention to a grievance, provoking a severe response, or wearing down their opponent’s resolve, in order to effect political change

Question 2

original use ‘‘terrorism’’

Answer 2

to describe state violence against citizens during the French Revolution

Question 3

causes emergence of transnational terrorism

Answer 3

1968

• expansion of commercial air travel (-> skyjacking)
• availability of televised news coverage
• broad political and ideological interests among extremists that intersected around a common cause (marxist-leninist or e.g. islamic terrorism)

Question 4

decade of terrorism emerging trends

Answer 4

1980s - 1990s

• fewer attacks that were more deadly and indiscriminate
• increasing sophistication of attacks
• greater willingness to perform suicide attacks

Question 5

cultural explanations terrorism

Answer 5

globalization -> western secular, materialist values and culture overwhelm the identity or values of groups who see themselves as the losers in the new international system -> cultural friction and conflict

Question 6

economic explanations terrorism

Answer 6

economic effects globalization are only fortunate for some parts of the world : policies of deregulation and privatization

+ increased individual expectations and disappointment

Question 7

secular terrorism

Answer 7

use of violence for political purposes, to change state ideology or the representation of minority groups

Question 8

postmodern terrorism / new terrorism

Answer 8

motivated by premises of rewards in afterlife, some terrorists are driven by religious reasons to kill as many non-believers and unfaithful as possible
- secular states can’t threaten materially what terrorists value spiritually -> hard to fight

Question 9

suicide attacks

Answer 9

offer the promise of
- private goods : spiritual reward
- public goods: positive contributions to the community over a lifetime

Question 10

effect of globalization and technology to terrorism

Answer 10

• proselytizing (bekeren) made easier
• coordination between terrorist cells
• security while communicating
• mobility
• lethality: more lethal weapons through study + inspiration Hollywood films

! the same technology that makes terrorism easier also enables more effective means for states to combat terrorism

Question 11

approaches for combating terrorism

Answer 11

War on terror
- terrorism = intractable problem in which there is no room for negotiation
- pooling resources together (Global Counter-Terrorism Network (GCTN))
criticism: use of drones ‘extrajudicial’ or ‘targeted killing’

law enforcement approach
- military actions can lead to terrorist reprisals or return to traditional understanding of terrorism
- terrorism is a police problem + best dealt with inside state borders and by international legal cooperation to arrest terrorists and to arrest them
criticism: thin line between enough measures against terrorist groups and ‘political justice’