The Shifting Face of Terrorism
The developing threat of new terrorism has grown significantly from the devastation of
9/11; from the roots of the attack that began “new terrorism”, new extremist groups have sprung
forward. Through the use of emotional persuasion, fanatical nationalism, and the involvement of
the United States, a dangerous new breed of terrorism grows whose only goal is to spread fear
and hatred through the hearts of perceived enemies. Al-Qaeda and the eventual creation of the
terrorist organization, ISIS, would not have been possible without the United States’
interference. Interference that arose, not from moralistic righteousness or heroic need to save
others, but from the pursuit of economic goals, such as the struggle for the control for oil from
the Middle East (Hobsbawm).
Ever since the beginnings of imperialism, colonialization has been used by powerful
nations to reap the environmental wealth and labor of smaller nations in order to supplement
their own economies. Years of oppression will eventually create dissent and anger from the
colonized nations from the inability to ever truly be perceived as a character of their own right on
the global stage (Fanon). Even in modern times, larger and more powerful nations will take the
forefront of history books and media; the United States’ unwavering belief that they are the main
character allows them to continually use “The White Man’s Burden” and notions of justice to
justify their interference on sovereign grounds.
Such blatant interference and dismissal of international laws, including their treatment of
prisoners and the torture used to obtain information, has led to immense anger and anti-American
beliefs. Pain and suffering caused by the government has not led to useful information about
terrorist attacks; rather it has convinced more people from the nations of the attacked, that the
U.S. has blatantly abused power and hurt their people. Nationalism from both sides contributes
to new terrorism; terrorism without a face or goals, guided only by hatred. Even in recent attacks,
such as France and Orlando, it is uncertain as to whether or not the attackers were even linked to
ISIS or not; however, ISIS has stepped forward and claimed responsibility, understanding the
power of their position to strike fear (Rubin). Democratic revolutions that established
international human rights and law mean nothing when they are violated by the United States
repeatedly. 9/11 led to an outbreak of xenophobic, nationalistic attacks on innocent Muslims
living in the States at the time; even before that, the treatment of the Japanese during WWII and
the forced internment camps echo in our past. France, however, has released statements of peace
and unity, but the people grow exhausted and angry. Despite their prime minister’s call for
peace, anger is rising towards terrorist groups due to the many attacks that France has suffered in
the past two years (The Economist). It is a vicious cycle of racism that perpetuates itself over and
over again with increasing ripple effects as it grows to encompass the nation and brings out anger
from the people from the perceived injustices, whilst turning a blind eye to their own acts. France
is attempting to uphold Enlightenment ideals; rather than releasing photos of terrorists or causing
mass panic, the president gave speeches on unity and strength in moving forward as a nation;
looking beyond their anger and finding progress by using “unassisted human reason” (Kramnick)
rather than depending upon or blaming a certain religion or faith. However, it may be impossible
for us to achieve this thinking in our current modern age; French Republicans have “demanded
that the government enact a list of security measures, including either holding all Islamist
suspects in detention or electronically tagging them to prevent potential attacks” (The
Economist). These are methods reflective of Nazi or Internment camps; the denial of basic
human rights, reducing humanity to animal (Universal Declaration of Human Rights).
Attacks have grown increasingly in past years; 9/11 was a shocking, rare, and tragic event
that shook the United States to it’s very core. However, nowadays, random attacks seem almost
commonplace and while very few are legitimately linked with actual ties to terrorist groups, the
act itself has been foisted as a banner for ISIS and other groups, eager to claim credit for the fear.
This is specifically what makes ISIS so dangerous to the government; it embodies a hydra, where
two heads grow back after one is cut off. This has led to desperation and infringement upon
sovereign territory in order to go through with drone strikes. However, there is no one true leader
of ISIS; it has become a concept, more than anything else. While globalization created the
situation in the first place, it was global inequality that destroyed progress. The imbalance of
powers inevitably led to corruption. The only solution to our terrorism problem is to continue
further globalization on a more level playing field; the United States cannot continue as they
have in the past. Too many liberties have been taken and our system of checks and balances has
fallen out of place; this is a sentiment that is echoed by many other powerful nations, who also
flagrantly abuse their positions. Brexit, along with Scotland and Ireland’s calls for independence
was another reminder that certain nations are able to take certain actions and feel justified in their
so-called innate superiority, without feeling the need to reciprocate the same justices to other
nations. Full globalization is required for all nations to break beyond homogenous, arbitrary land
lines and to allow humanity to see each other as equals rather than competitors.
Works Cited
Hobsbawm, Eric. “The Age of Empire.” Integrated Perspectives in Global Studies. Print.
Fanon, Frantz. “Concerning Violence.” Integrated Perspectives in Global Studies. Print.
Kramnick, Isaac “Ideals of the Enlightenment.” Integrated Perspectives in Global Studies. Print.
"Loss of Faith." The Economist. The Economist Newspaper, 30 July 2016. Web. 29 July 2016.
Rose, Steve. "Since 9/11, Racism and Islamophobia Remain Intertwined." The Huffington Post.
N.p., 12 Sept. 2013. Web. 29 July 2016.
Rubin, Alissa J., and Aurelien Breeden. "France Blames ISIS for Inspiring Terrorist Attack in
Nice." The New York Times. The New York Times, 16 July 2016. Web. 29 July 2016.
“Universal Declaration of Human Rights.” Integrated Perspectives in Global Studies. Print.