War and Global Insecurity Chapter 16

Terrorism, Global and Domestic Terrorism involves the unlawful use of force and violence against person, property to intimidate or coerce a government to achieve political or social objectives Narcoterrorism - use of violence in the trafficking of drugs State terrorism refers to the terrorism of the government against their own people Revolutionary terrorism - to bring about total political change

Measuring Terrorism in the United States There are domestic and international terrorist groups. Within the domestic category, there are left-wing and right-wing terrorists Between 2005 and 2006, the number of terrorist incidents increased dramatically, although much of the increase was accounted for by increased acts of terrorism in Iraq and Afghanistan Critics claim that the U.S. invasion of Iraq has stimulated the growth of Al Qaeda and other terrorist groups

Origins of Terrorist Groups Many terrorist groups have originated out of troubled areas of the world »Middle East »Northern Ireland Political radicalism is a source of terrorism Terrorism can have its origin in cults Terrorism can originate out of the State to maintain power

Origins of Terrorist Groups Characteristics of terrorist recruits »Well educated »Young »Upper-middle class or middle-class background Terrorism emerges out of the despair bred by the economic deprivation in parts of the world Terrorists operate on a belief system based on salvation through violence

Terrorism and Religion Terrorists groups are often motivated by deep religious convictions »Totalitarian belief systems Violence is often committed against known and unknown victims »Random victims »Select targets because of their prominence in society

Terrorism’s Impact on Society The primary impact of terrorism on society are: »Increased fear and heightened security »Erosion of civil liberties »Economic consequences »Health consequences »Political consequences

War and Its Effects Between 1100 and 1925, about 35 million soldiers were killed in 862 wars During World War II, 17 million soldiers and 35 million civilians were killed In 2006, about 2 million veterans were receiving compensation from the U.S. government for war- related disabilities War takes a psychological toll on soldiers »Posttraumatic stress disorder

Indirect Effects of War War is a major factor in mass migration of populations »Between 1986 and 1999, over 1.3 million refugees were granted asylum in the United States Government policy during war has also forced population migration »WW II and German relocation policy

Indirect Effects of War War and economic devastation Impact of war on culture and the psychology of people

Effects of Nuclear War Technology has made warfare more lethal »Human consequences »Ecological consequences Rogue States and Weapons of Mass Destruction »North Korea »Iraq under Saddam Hussein »Afghanistan under the Taliban »Zimbabwe under Robert Mugabe

Effects of Nuclear War The prospect of a global nuclear war has lessened Nuclear proliferation and threat of nuclear war in unstable parts of the world is still a problem

Controlling Warfare The increase in the destructiveness in warfare has lead to progress in controlling war The Bush administration has claimed that a war on terrorism means that rules of conventional warfare do not apply In 2004 the Supreme Court rejected the U.S. government’s attempt to detain an American citizen indefinitely without trial

Controlling Warfare The concept of a just war emanated out of the culture of Greek and Roman civilization »Justification for going to war »Justifiable acts in wartime The rules of warfare are difficult to enforce »War crimes

Theories About War and Its Origins Ethological and Sociobiological theories Aggression and violence as a genetic trait to enhance survival of the human species Konrad Lorenz –Aggression as an instinct in humans Aggression is linked to territoriality Edward O. Wilson »Genetic predisposition to aggression »Aggression channeled through culture

Theories About War and Its Origins Ethological and Sociobiological theories Critics argue »Research contrasting humans to other animals is flawed »Human motivation to fight is learned in response to symbols

Theories About War and Its Origins Clausewitz: War as State Policy War occurs in a social context The monarch was the major force behind war »War as an alternative to diplomacy »Interest of the monarch and military were seen as the same »Military were to serve the interest of the monarch

Theories About War and Its Origins Marx and Lenin on War Karl Marx - war was based on the interests of the economic elites to acquire raw materials and to expand capitalism Vladimir Lenin - saw warfare as stemming from competition among capitalist nations for the expansion of global economic dominance »Colonialism

Theories About War and Its Origins Institutional and International Perspectives Institutional Forces within Nations Influence of military leaders on government policy Harold Lasswell and the Garrison State »Military leaders impose dictatorial power on society »Channel state resources for military use »Control public support through propaganda

Theories About War and Its Origins Institutional Forces within Nations C.W. Mills and the Power Elite Economic institutions and the military elite have come to shape economic life around their view of the world and the interests of the military Politics and the forging of public opinion in support of war »Nationalism and warfare

Theories About War and Its Origins The International Context of War and Peace League of Nations and later the United Nations are examples of attempts to arrive at global cooperation among nations Global conflicts and the U.S. as peacekeepers »Less than successful International trade and the economic incentive for peace International peacekeeping institutions and international law

Social Policy The war in Iraq, a growing crisis over North Korea, Iran’s threats to renew their production of nuclear weapons, and other events have made the world situation increasingly gloomy There has been a rise of negative feelings about the United States in that the country is not exerting positive leadership in seeking world peace

Social Policy Arms Control: A Promise Unfulfilled United Nations »International Atomic Energy Commission was formed in 1945 to ban nuclear weapons Nuclear test ban treaties Nuclear anti-proliferation policies Controlling the arms merchants

Social Policy Dealing with Terrorism Policy of no-concessions to terrorist groups Public awareness in controlling terrorism Homeland Security Act of 2002 International diplomacy and economic development