War and Global Insecurity

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 Terrorismin 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 terrorismTerrorism can have its origin in cultsTerrorism 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

backgroundTerrorism 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 systemsViolence 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 LorenzAggression as an instinct in humans

Aggression is linked to territorialityEdward 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 PolicyWar occurs in a social contextThe 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 WarKarl 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 NationsInfluence of military leaders on government

policyHarold 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 NationsC.W. Mills and the Power EliteEconomic 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 successfulInternational trade and the economic

incentive for peaceInternational 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 UnfulfilledUnited Nations

•International Atomic Energy Commission was formed in 1945 to ban nuclear weapons

Nuclear test ban treatiesNuclear anti-proliferation policiesControlling the arms merchants

Social Policy

Dealing with TerrorismPolicy of no-concessions to terrorist groupsPublic awareness in controlling terrorismHomeland Security Act of 2002International diplomacy and economic

development