Eurasia Review
06 April 2016
- RSIS
- Media Mentions
- Challenge Of Contemporary Terrorism: Tackling Roots Via Education – Analysis
Challenge Of Contemporary Terrorism: Tackling Roots Via Education – Analysis
Recent massacres by terrorists in Brussels and Lahore reflect the changing dynamic of the threat. Fear of attacks forces governments to divert resources to combat possible threats in ungoverned zones and areas of sectarian conflict.
The recent spate of terrorist attacks and the diverse extremist Muslim groups involved have highlighted the changing nature of the terrorist threat. The reality is that these terrorist groups are unlikely to take over governments, whether in Asia, Africa or Europe. They pose a threat in ungoverned zones like ISIS-held territories in Syria or Taliban-controlled areas in Afghanistan where they provide a semblance of order under duress while providing support to far flung supporters.
But the fear of attacks forces governments around the world to divert resources to combat possible threats. It also fosters a climate of suspicion, as seen in the negative European reaction to the current flood of Muslim refugees from the Middle East and the anti-Muslim tone of the campaign by the frontrunners in the American Republican presidential campaign.
… Barry Desker is Distinguished Fellow, S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore. This appeared earlier in The Straits Times.
RSIS / Online
Last updated on 07/04/2016
