Terrorism Flashcards (Prelim)
One economic cause of terrorism is poverty. What is the explanation?
This means that when faced with extreme poverty and social inequalities people can get desperate and angry at those they blame for their situation and commit terror attacks as a way of protesting and demanding more support. Poverty also makes it easier for terror groups to recruit new members as some people are desperate and turn to violence in order to have their voices heard and to express their outrage. Some terror groups will even pay people to join them.
One economic cause of terrorism is poverty. What is an example?
For example, in Nigeria most people live in poverty which has made some of them vulnerable to being radicalised by Boko Haram that recruits unemployed poor youth. In 2016, 2 female suicide bombers detonated themselves in Dikwa killing over 70 people.
A economic cause of terrorism is financial gain. What is the explanation?
This means some terror groups use violence, extortion, and kidnapping a way of making money to fund their terror attacks. Even if they started by having a genuine belief or cause they were fighting for, over time they may use terror as a way of enriching themselves. They do this because it is an effective way both to instil terror but also to raise money to fund their attacks.
A economic cause of terrorism is financial gain. What is an example?
In February 2018, they kidnapped 111 schoolgirls. They were released a month later in return for a large ransom payment.
One impact of terrorism on other countries is forcing governments to spend a lot of money on security. What is the explanation?
When terror attacks happen, even if in a different country, people get fearful and fear the same could happen in their own country. To keep people safe the government will spend billions of pounds on security, like investing on counter-terrorism police forces, CCTV, and bomb detection technology. Additionally, government may respond using military attacks against other countries or terror groups which is also very expensive.
One impact of terrorism on other countries is forcing governments to spend a lot of money on security. What is an example?
For example, the UK counter terrorism budget is over £700 million a year. Some people felt safer but UK government spend billions that could be used for other things like health and education.
A impact of terrorism on other countries is creating refugees. What is the explanation?
This means Terrorism attacks often force people to abandon the areas where they live. When an area is plagued by terrorism, people are injured or killed, become traumatised, businesses have to close, and jobs are lost. Many people choose to flee to other countries where they feel are safer. These waves of refugees cause a number of problems on the countries they escape to because those countries may not be ready to cope with the high costs (i.e. accommodation, food, healthcare, education) of the sudden arrival of so many people.
A impact of terrorism on other countries is creating refugees. What is an example?
For example EU countries, especially Germany, have in recent years received more than 1 million refugees from other countries affected by ISIS terrorism like Syria and Iraq.
One non-military attempt to resolve terrorism is aid to help development countries tackle poverty. What is the explanation?
This means Both the UN and the EU use this approach. As terrorism is often rooted in poverty, wars, and repression of minorities, by addressing these issues, indirectly it is possible to tackle terrorism. The UN for example, implements initiatives to promote peace, fight poverty in development countries and address human rights violations.
One non-military attempt to resolve terrorism is aid to help development countries tackle poverty. What is an example?
For example, the EU and UN allocate significant funds to foreign aid for poor countries where Al-Qaeda, ISIS and other groups are active, particularly in Africa, and one of the goals behind this aid is precisely to root out terrorism.
A non-military attempt to resolve terrorism is through the work of international police forces, like Europol. What is the explanation?
Europol is a European international police organisation that assists the EU in tackling terrorism. They share information about terrorism suspects and investigate terror threats across different countries. They are more effective than national police because terrorism is a transnational threat, meaning that terror groups attack different countries, can be based in one country and attack a neighbouring country.
A non-military attempt to resolve terrorism is through the work of international police forces, like Europol. What is an example?
For example, Europol carries about 12,000 investigations across the EU every year and its efforts have allowed to prevent dozens of terror attacks.
