Discuss the Influence of Modern Media Sources On Terrorism In a Globalised World With Many Cultural Differences - Essay Example

School: Topic: DISCUSS THE INFLUENCE OF MODERN MEDIA SOURCES ON TERRORISM IN A GLOBALISED WORLD WITH MANY CULTURAL DIFFERENCES Lecturer: Date of Submission: Introduction Today, the use of modern technologies in the media has made it possible for terror groups across the globe to very powerful voice and reach with their operations. The operational advantages that terror groups are getting through the use of modern media become even more potent when their operations take religious and cultural contexts (Barclay, 2010). This is because by focusing their agenda from a cultural or religious perspective, terrorists tend to get a ready-made segment that could easily endorse its actions (Abdulla, 2007). In this paper the influence of modern media sources on terrorism is critically discussed by focusing on cultural diversities in a globalised world today. By terrorism, reference is not only made to the advancement of terrorist acts but also to the fight against terror. With this in mind, the paper will first discuss the impact of modern media on world cultures where it will be argued that the media has become a tool for globalising culture and therefore dissolving the independence of national cultures. The debate as to whether the media and terrorism form a symbiotic relationship will also be analysed. There will then be particular emphasis on the internet to see how it is becoming a new form of violent radical milieu for terrorism. Finally, the role of modern media in advancing counterterrorism will also be investigated. The paper will therefore pave the way for drawing conclude on whether or not modern media has become a tool by which terrorism has been advanced in the 21st century. Evolution of media practice According to Norris, Montague & Marion (2003), even though media practice was the first most powerful tool for the spreading of information from one point to another, its scope of reach was highly limited several decades back. With time however, the media has become more powerful in its operations and reach. Attempting to give a single definition to fit what modern media could refer to will be a challenging thing to do. There are however some lines of ideologies and reasoning in literature that helps to establish some form of explanation to the term. For example Baym (2010) explained that modern media embodies the use of advanced technologies in performing the traditional roles of the media in broadcasting information. Bartlett (2011) further mentioned the use of the internet in media reportage and broadcasting as a critical element in determining what the modern media is. Based on this, it can be said that modern media comprise any media practice that relies on the use of technological advancement and the internet in expanding its reach to audience. With this established, modern media sources can be said to focus on the means of media operation rather than the platforms used. That is, modern media sources cannot just be defined by whether a media house uses television, radio, newspaper or internet in its operations. Rather, whilst broadcasting through any of the named platforms a media house should be seen using advanced forms of technologies including the internet and satellite devices to expand reach and operations. Modern media as a tool for subjugating cultural diversity It will be admitted that there remains as many cultural differences across the globe as possible. The real essence of modern ethnographic discourse however has to do with the viability of the sovereignty of cultural diversities across the world. This is because there are many social commentators on culture who feel that through the power of modern media, the sanctity of cultural diversities has been subjugated (Coelho, 2011). For example, Boyd (2009) noted that, through the depth of reach that modern media has, it has become possible for the cultures of one place of the world to be known to another place. In the most advanced form of this problem, people begin to compare which cultures are the most liberating, leading to the issue of copying of other people’s cultures with the conception that they grant more freedom. The challenge here however is that in some cases, the way some cultures are portrayed in the media leads to others copying them blindly because they only see a part of those cultures without actually scrutinising them to the compatibility of their social environment (Barinaga, 2007). Because of this situation, the independence, uniqueness and sovereignty of most forms of cultures which were otherwise thought of as being discrete and uniquely identifiable to a group of people only can hardly be seen today. Painfully, the subjugation of cultural diversity has been noted to come with some negative impacts especially for the issue of terrorism. Since culture is defined as the way of life of a group of people, it is commonly known that the culture of a people defines their ideologies and perceptions about life and some of the most critical issues of life. Examining the diversities of cultures from Africa, Asia, and America, Boyd (2009) found that in the most indigenous parts of these places where cultural beliefs have not been adulterated, people’s perception about violence and peace are strongly influenced by their culture. That is, indigenous African, Asian and American cultures frown on violence. With this said, it would be valid to argue that subjugation of one’s culture could lead to the wrongful copying ideas and motives on violence and thus terrorism. Writing on why it is a dangerous practice that places of world are no longer having discrete cultures by which they live by, Coelho (2011) indicated that most terror groups across the world have found ways of preaching the doctrine that terrorism is about cultural uprising. One of the commonest means by which such terror groups do this is to link culture to religion and get masses of people who accept their religion or culture to back them in engaging in their acts of terrorism (Abdel-Fadil, 2011). Meanwhile but for the fact that the cultures of the terror groups had been accepted and adapted by other people who otherwise had their own cultural principles, the terror groups would only have had a small following even if they could justify their claims that terrorism is about cultural uprising. Terrorism and modern media: A Dangerous Symbiosis The relationship between terrorism and modern media has strongly been debated in literature. Analysing literature however, it was discovered that most writers who attempted to dismiss the claim that terrorism and the media are in a symbiotic relationship were those written before technology became as advanced as it is today. A typical example of this is sociologist Wieviorka (1993) who offered a four mode theory to suggest that the media and terrorism have no symbiotic relationship. Most modern writers including Peresin (2007) and Bilgen (2012) have however strongly backed the claim that terrorism and modern media exhibit a dangerous symbiosis. Below, four major means by which terror groups have taken advantage of modern media to propagate their agenda have been discussed. Modern media and information gathering by terrorists In the day-today performance of its roles, the media give out information to the public, including such information as places where public events are taking place, strategies of governments in combating crime, and exposure of terror groups and their activities. Certainly, most of these duties can be justified as being genuine and required roles of the media performed for public good. Bilgen (2012) however feared that in the very course of performing their legitimate duties, the media give a lot of assistance to terror groups in gathering information vital for them to strategise how to launch their attacks and yet get away with their crimes. For example as strategies of governments against terrorism are discussed in the media, terror groups get ideas as to how they will counter such strategies to ensure that they benefit nonetheless. Meanwhile, with the power of modern media in getting expanded reach, it is virtually out of the case that monitoring what is going on in the media will be difficult for terror groups. If for nothing at all, there are several internet and social media platforms where the media houses make their news and information available, making it easier for terror groups to be on top of global happenings, especially those that either benefit them or are against them (Conway, 2012). Bilgen (2012) again added that the symbiotic nature of the relation becomes further exposed after the media in return receive so much attention of the public and even increase sales by reporting executed terrorist acts. Recruitment into terrorism Entman (2003) observed that the desire of terror groups to use some of the most conventional platforms of media such as newspaper has reduced significantly. This is because of the advantages of accessibility and reach that the internet and cable media offers. Sadly, these modern media platforms also hype the activities of terror groups and eventually lead to successful recruitment following terrorist attacks. This situation is so because, and again as part of their regular approach to practice, modern media is overly biased and obsessed with sensationalism as it helps them to get upper hand in reportage and global publicity (Bilgen, 2012). Today, major international media houses are rushing to be the first in breaking news on terrorist attacks and to be the ones who would be said to be right on the grounds where the attacks took place. From a psychological perspective however, Norris, Montague and Marion (2003) feared that whiles the media does this as part of its competitive duty, it only creates a lucrative avenue for terror groups to expand in number because their acts seem pleasant and heroic in the eyes of some people in the public. Meanwhile, the role of modern media in neutralising the sanctity of different cultures has already been discussed. When terror groups get the opportunity of suggesting to people that their actions are for cultural and religious good, they tend to get people who have endorsed their culture or religion to blindly join their camp. Fund raising for terrorism Feldman (2006) reported a new trend in terrorist activity where terror groups have succeeded in using satellite telecommunications which form part of modern media to undertake the transfer of funds from one part of the world to the other. According to Feldman (2006), the worse affected part of the world is Africa where the lapses in the monitoring of satellite telecommunication activities make it possible for terror groups from the Middle East to raise funds in supporting such African terror groups as Boko Haram and Al Shabab. Looking at the issue from the context of mainstream media practice, Denning (2009) observed that using the power of the web, terror groups have been able to solicit and raise funds through the use of some of them most legit and logical means by which funds are raised on a daily basis on the internet. Some of these include the sale of advertisements on their websites and other websites owned by them but not known to the public. Through this means, people pay to advertise on the websites, thinking they are doing genuine business, not knowing they are only facilitating the performance of one form of terror act or the other. Denning (2009) further observed a situation where traditional media houses such as television and radio stations make the websites of terror groups by referring to them as the source of some information they have. Meanwhile it is when the public visit these sites that they get to engage in the fund raising baits. Promotion of propaganda schemes In the estimation of Payne (2009), one of the best tools that have functioned for terror groups in perpetuating their acts is propaganda. Through propaganda schemes, terror groups succeed in indoctrinating people in accepting the rationale behind their actions as being valid and legitimate (Hoffman, 2006). Painfully, such propaganda schemes are made in the name of organised and collective groupings such as religion. Meanwhile therefore media houses biased towards some of the religious groups commonly used by the terror groups in championing their course. Conway (2007) observed a trend where through efforts by media houses in debating the validity and justification of terrorism, they succeed in bringing agents of terror groups on board to publicising their political causes and informing motives to justify their actions. Baran (2008) actually warned that the media has great responsibility in scrutinising the agenda carried by people who may appear as regular opinion leaders as such people may only be part of a large cartel of terrorists performing the propaganda scheme of the groups they support. It is not surprising that Ayman al-Zawahiri who is the current leader of al-Qaeda indicated that his group is “in a battle, and more than half of this battle is taking place in the battlefield of the media. [Al-Qaeda is] in a media battle for the hearts and minds of the ummah” (Seib and Janbek, 2011, 53). This is certainly a statement that confirms how through discussions in the media, terror groups have succeeded in making their agenda attractive to innocent minds (Payne, 2009). Internet as a new form of violent radical milieu In the estimation of Hinnen (2004), the internet has become the most powerful technological tool in the 21st century, which has affected the way the world functions, including how the media operates. Today, on the auspices of the internet, the media has become so modernised that all media outlets, no matter where they are physically located are gaining global audience and attention. For example because a media house in a place like Nigeria has a website and social media platforms where its news and programmes are streamed, a person does not have to be in Nigeria to access that media house. Because of this situation, Conway (2012) posited that the internet has become a new form of violent radical milieu where terrorists function in a cross-cultural manner. Defining the term milieu, Malthaner (2010) noted that it refers to a specific social environment where people live and act, and out of which develop a sense of emerging from its social network; but also in the sense of being shaped by its culture, narrative and symbols. By extension, a violent radical milieu is a place where individuals and groups live to undertake wicked and irrational acts that are shaped by their cultural, symbolic and narrative act of what is right. With the above description of violent radical milieu and its relation to terrorism, it would easily be appreciated that the means through the internet as a form of modern media that this is done is through social media network. As something that started as a friendly tool by which family and friends reunited and shared moments in their lives, social media networks have today become so power a form of modern media that they are used not just to propagate terrorist acts but also to implement it. It is not surprising that Conway (2012) identified several similarities between the characteristics of violent online radical milieus and traditional violent radical milieus. One of the similarities is that traditional violent radical milieus are known to emerge during acts of violent escalations (Malthaner, 2010). Meanwhile, right after escalations of the 9/11 attack, the violent jihadi milieu was known to have emerged online, leading to the escalation of jihadist violence which today has given rise to the Islamic State (ISIS) menace (Conway, 2012). Another similarity is that both forms of violent radical milieus comprise collection of people with a conscience of perpetrating violence. When social media platforms like Twitter and Facebook are used as an example, it would be noted that terror groups have constantly succeeded in getting large followers of their tweets and posts, forming that collection of violent people. The online exploits by Al-Zarqawi is also considered by many as a major turning point with the influence of modern media sources, particularly the internet on terrorism. This is because around mid-2004, Al-Zarqawi gained global prominence and attention when he posted and audio recording explaining his motive for leading his terror group (Conway, 2012). Through the power of the internet which has global audience and reach, Al-Zarqawi was able to build for himself and his group, a popular but unacceptable brand which would later attract a lot more to the group. Even though such acts by Al-Zarqawi might be considered a risk to him as a terrorist, a critical analysis of the situation would reveal that he was ready to die for the course he had started to perpetuate. This is because if for nothing at all, his approach succeeded in showing other terrorist groups the way in using the internet as a medium for making their voices and ideologies known and thereby expanding their violent cartel. It is not surprising that in May 2004 Al-Zarqawi followed his act by posting the footage of the beheading of Nicholas Berg which was carried by the former online (Eedle, 2005). This led to the magnification of Al-Zarqawi as Osama bin Laden endorsed him as the leader of al-Qaeda in Iraq (Conway, 2012). Indeed today, eleven years down the line, the habit of posting footage of beheadings has become the mode of operation of ISIS. One rather painful situation is that as terror groups use the internet to undertake their acts because they cannot gain direct access to international media, the international media rather grant them access by going to the extent of sometimes publishing and showing some of these bizarre activities of terror groups. It can therefore be said that mainstream media led by international cable networks have contributed to promoting changes in the internet landscape towards the emergence of the violent Jihadi Online Milieu (Conway, 2012). This is because by giving these Jihadi groups the publicity they most desire, the international media do these terror groups a lot of good by making them think that the more they act violently, the more popular their actions will get in international media. The severity of the influence of the internet on the promotion of terrorism is that there have been changes in the internet landscape where internet has become even cheaper and more accessible today than it used to be some years back. As accessibility and cost of using the internet becomes easier and cheaper, its user base also continues to increase by the day through the highly endorsed usage of social media networks. In effect, as long as the happenings on the internet will continue to be the centre of attraction in mainstream media, then the violent online radical milieu can be sure to be a powerful avenue for terrorism to perpetuate (Weimann, 2004). The role of modern media practice in counterterrorist strategies Very importantly, this paper has not taken a side in condemning modern media practice as deliberately fostering the agenda of terrorism. However, it has been said that the influence of new media in promoting terrorism has largely come about as a result of the regular functioning of the media, particularly modern broadcast media. With this position taken, it should be possible to suggest that with practitioners within the modern media era could have another critical look at their approaches to their duties they could become useful agents for rather fostering counterterrorist strategies. Certainly in a democratic dispensation, it will be very difficult to regulate how media houses should operate and so one of the very first approaches or means by which practitioners in modern media can be instrumental in counterterrorist strategies is for them to acknowledge that they have a social duty and responsibility to ensure civility in their practice (Cram, 2006). The first remedy is for modern media practitioners to have an inner will to fostering the success of counterterrorism by promoting responsible and accurate reporting aimed at increasing vigilance among the public rather than putting much attention on the terrorists and activities (Wilkinson, 2002). This is because such focus given to these terrorists only makes them achieve their symbiotic objective from the media of getting attention and popularity. Nacos, B. (2002) observed that even though some actions of counterterrorism have rather resulted in violence, the real goal of counterterrorism is to ensure that terror is prevented all together and that even if they will happen, people will come out of them unhurt. With this in mind, it will be admitted that modern media practitioners have a lot to do in protecting the public and therefore promoting the course of counter terrorism than merely fuelling news that boils around terror. To achieve this, (Wilkinson, 2002) advised on the transmission of warnings issued by the police to the general public by the media. More to this, the media must also use their powerful medium which has now been enhanced by technology to instruct people on ways to behave in terror situations. By the use of the internet and other forms of technological tools, it should be possible for members of the public to easily and quickly reach any media outlet in times of danger and get immediate assistance through networked programming between the media and the police. Whiles doing this, the media should see its inner motivation as the need to becoming stakeholders against terrorism rather than trying to gain advantage from terrorism to sell their news. Indeed, with the dominance of modern media in today’s governance, it is expected that the media will become a watchdog and a police of public officers by reminding them of promises against terrorism (Cram, 2006). As far as counterterrorism is concerned, Nacos (2002) emphasised that most international media have very powerful investigative journalists whose work would be highly instrumental and influential in exposing most terrorist acts at the planning stage. Once this is done however, the focus of the media house should not be to trumpet its achievements as usual in order to sell news as this could be dangerous and incur attacks. Rather, the media should take pride in liaising well with the security and becoming agents against terrorism. Nacos (2002) strongly believed that through enhanced investigative journalism, the movements and actions of terrorists could come to light for security agencies to act from there. The lesson here is that as far as the impact of modern media sources is concerned, there could be either positive or negative influence. Each influence is dependent on how well the media can structure their content and practices. Even though the symbiotic relationship cannot be denied, its intensity can be minimised by ensuring that people who would want to use the media to get negative publicity in order to have some evil intentions and actions executed will not succeed. The media is therefore required to use its forum to encourage quality discussions on terrorism, whilst taking into consideration that terrorist have their own media relations experts who are well trained to manipulate opinions of the elite in public debates and discussions that take place in the media (Conway, 2012). Conclusion From the discussions in the paper so far, it will reiterated that advancement in technologies has been an avenue by which terror groups have used of modern media as a powerful tool in advancing their course. With the line of analysis however, it will not be accurate to conclude that the media has done this as a deliberate agenda. Rather, its role in terrorism which is more of a symbiotic relation has been created against its own will. This is because through modern technologies, even small terror groups have had the means of making their actions and programmes hyped on the internet, thereby creating news for themselves. Meanwhile the media is there to report the news, forcing the media to give more attention to terror groups. Again, the internet, which is a key component of modern media, has become an avenue by which news is self-generated. Indeed through the internet, terror groups do not even require the attention of popular international media houses to get attention for themselves. By posting information, audio or video on the internet, attention is automatically generated. With all these issues, it will be conceded that the media today is in a very tight corner in attempting to suppress the influence of terrorism today. However, it is still possible that through professional media practices, the media would do their part in at least nullifying the intensity of influence it could have on terrorism. References Abdel-Fadil, M. (2011). “The Islam-Online Crisis: A Battle of Wasatiyya vs. Salafi Ideologies?” CyberOrient, Vol. 5 No. 1, pp. 3-7. Abdulla, R. A. 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