January 10th, 2018
Terrorism as an International Security Issue and Source of Crises of Authority
Terrorism will continue to be the dominant international security issue with effects of globalization such as increased inequity between poor and rich nations aggravating the situation. Cronin (2003) for instance notes that the widespread impact of Al Qaeda, has been facilitated largely by the “secondary support and sanctuary it receives in vast areas that have not experienced the political and economic benefits of globalization” (p. 38). Such contention has been supported in other literature that advances that states could support terror groups as a cheaper alternative to direct war, when it perceives that such actions could serve as justifications for the economic and political consequences it faces out of the actions of the target state (Ekmekci, 2011; Jackson, 2008). The effect of such observations is that terrorism would continue to characterize conflicts among various states since with the advancement of military weaponry, it could prove disadvantageous all the warring countries to engage in direct war activities.
The facilitation of terrorism by technology also means that terror groups continue to pose an increasingly greater threat to national security of various governments. For instance, the suggestion that terrorist groups may be in possession of weapons of mass destruction (Cronin, 2003; Morgan, 2004), has made it important to continue surveillance, to subdue their activities. Historical events and the response adopted by the US government following the September 11 terror attacks, also evidence that terrorism will continue to dominate international security issues in the 21st century. For instance, although the invasion of Afghanistan and Iraq may have reduced direct state-support to terror groups (Cronin, 2003; Morgan, 2004), such invasion has become a source of anti-US sentiments that continue to fuel terror activities targeted towards the U.S. and its interests.
The multiple factors that facilitate terrorism in the modern era also imply that terrorism will continue to dominate international security, as actors seek effective responses to curb terrorism. For instance, following the indoctrination with religious ideology in support of terror activities, terrorism has become an end rather than a means to achieve political objectives for some individuals (Morgan, 2004). Addressing one of the factors such as facilitating democratic elections in countries that harbor terrorist groups may thus not eliminate the threat posed by terror. Similarly, the transformation of terror groups and adoption of multiple tactics that are in conformity with the developing technology make it essential to continue the surveillance to ensure effective proactive responses are adopted. For instance, the potential cooperation between terror groups and criminal organizations (Rollins & Wyler, 2010), enhance the challenge that terrorism poses to global security.
Terrorism is also a potential source of crises of authority for governments in the modern era, for instance in cases where it promises to meet the needs of the population that the government has failed to meet (Viotti & Kauppi, 2009). Such may be exemplified where the state is incapable of defending its citizens from invasion resulting into the state lacking the authority to direct its citizenry, who may subsequently join terror organizations in search of alternatives. The use of indigenous citizens to carry out terror activities sanctioned by international terror groups (Viotti & Kauppi, 2009) exemplifies such a scenario. Go to conclusion here.