Faith Based-Terrorism - Coursework Example

FAITH BASED-TERRORISM Introduction Across the world, it is everyone’s desire that people can coexist in an atmosphere of peace and stability. Countries that have peace are mostly characterized by increased economic and social activities; people feel free to walk to various places when they are sure nothing can harm them. Peaceful countries attract investors from other parts of the world, assuring them that the peace can enable them to benefit from their investments. Countries often strive to create policies and other regulations that can ensure people live together in harmony. Peace can be described as the occurrence of harmony, which is characterized by the absence of conflict behaviors, violence as well as the freedom resulting from fear of war or other kinds of violence. In other words, peace indicates the attempts made at reconciling warring parties and other international relationship. Currently, world peace has become an important agenda across various global forums, with countries striving towards fighting off terrorism and other activities that are claiming people’s lives in huge numbers. Terrorism has been the major cause of underdevelopment in many countries that have been deeply affected by it. People fear to walk and undertake their diverse social, political and economic activities because of fear of attacks by terrorists, who often target mass destructions of property and lives of people. Across the world, various examples of damages caused by terrorists’ activities exist; this has become a matter of priority among governments of the world. Following, this universal concern, this paper examines the aspect of faith-based terrorism, focusing on how the issue has been fast-evolving across the world; it explains how different it is from other kinds of terrorism, as well as the efforts being made to ensure world peace. Terrorism As far as the international community is concerned, terrorism does not have a definition in criminal law that is legally binding (Tucker 2001, 9). Some of the common definitions for this terminology only describe the violent acts committed with an aim of creating fear; these actions are often done with a political, religious or certain ideological purpose. In most cases, they are done to deliberately target or show no concern for the safety of people not taking part in it, also called non-combatants. Currently, some of the definitions for terrorism include acts of war, unlawful violence and other actions that cause widespread destruction of property and lives of innocent people. The tactics used by criminal organisations for purposes of protecting rackets or enforcing codes of silence are often not regarded as terrorism acts (Toros & Gunning, 2009, 24); similar actions can be described as being terrorism actions when they are found to have been carried out on political motives. In many instances, the usage of this term has received much criticism for its persistent and undue equivalence to jihadism or Islamism; in this case, it ignores some of the non-Islamic individuals and groups that take part in similar actions. It is important to note that the term terrorism has is emotional charged and politically loaded, which makes it hard to give a precise and effective definition. However, it is widely accepted that the term encompasses mass killings and destruction of property. Terrorism has often been carried out with many political organisations in the process of furthering their ill objectives. It has been perpetuated by different kinds of religions groups, revolutionaries, political and nationalistic groups among many others. Any country or government does not tolerate terrorism and its related activities, because of its grave effects on social, economic and political institution. Some possible definitions of terrorism While it has been agreed that no universal definitions for this term exists, efforts have been employed towards proving a precise comprehension of what really makes up this term. Many people can agree that in the first place, terrorism is an illegal activity in any country, since it involves destruction of property and loss of life. It is the duty of any government to ensure that it protects the life of its citizens and their property. From the efforts made in understanding the meaning of terrorism, it can be described as a kind of doctrine with a presumed effectiveness of special forms of tactics that generates fear and forceful political violence (Thomas 2005, 22). Additionally, it is also a kind of conspirational practice involving demonstrative, calculated violent actions and behaviors carried out without moral or legal constraints. In most cases, these actions target civilian populations or the non-combatants. These actions are often carried out for their psychological effects and propagandistic outcomes on the different audiences and other conflict parties. As a strategy or special tactic, terrorism is often carried out under three chief contexts, first it is carried out under state repression, which if illegal (Schmid 2014 11). Second, the non-state actors carry it out under the propagandistic agitations during times of peace. Lastly, it is often perpetuated as a kind of illicit tactic comprising of an irregular warfare, often conducted by the non-state actors and the state. Terrorism acts are often characterized by various kinds of lethal violence like armed assaults and bombings and other life-threatening incidences such as kidnappings and rape against women and young girls. Religion, Fundamentalism and Ethnicity In recent times, a widespread call for investigation over the influence of religion in terrorism activities has been evident (Haynes 1995, 5). Religion has been thought to have considerable impacts in various aspects of the society including politic, social and economic systems in countries and the entire globe. Initially, the belief that had been held about the secularization of societies in the process of modernisation has not received substantive foundation. Technological advancements have been taking place in the recent decades because of the aspect of modernisation (Haynes 1995, 6). This has been taking place in the goal of enabling human beings to experience efficiency and effectiveness in their activities and other aspects of life. Most of these advancements have made people feel that they are facing huge loses instead of the intended benefits. Through open disregard of value system in the traditional context and allocation of opportunities in the highly uneven ways inside and among world nations, modernization has the ability to produce a great sense of disaffection, thus stimulating the search for a certain identity, which can offer some kind of life and meaning in these societies. Additionally, the increasing growth of global consumerism culture often leads to a special awareness of relative deprivation, which some people that can handle more effectively when their claims are presented inform of a group. One of the major outcomes for these developments as witnessed in some societies across the world has been the wave of fashionable religiosity that has been thought to have deep implications towards social integration, political instabilities as well as international security. Some of the most common syncretistic religious groups and movements are thought to predominantly exist in some parts of the rural dwellers in sections of third world countries especially in Asia and Africa (Haynes 1995, 6). They comprise of a special blending or fusion of religions and various elements that exist in many of the traditional forms or kinds of religions associations. It is important to note that ethnic differentiations can be essential in the formation of parts of Syncretism. The social and religious beliefs often supply the fundamental elements for the establishment of group solidarity amidst the threats coming from external forces like states, large landowners and many other agencies. This understanding has sparked a wide debate over the influence that religion has on some of the major global events like terrorism. This has resulted from the need to draw clear lines between terrorism and related activities and religion. Many of the people that carry on widespread terrorism activities have often been seen to have religions motives, with some believing that it is one of the fundamental practices that ensure those people undertaking the actions go to paradise. Religion and Violence In many instances across the world, people have often tried to associate religion and violence. This follows the fact that most of the global terrorism activities have been thought to have roots from countries in the Middle East, which is an Islamic stronghold (Fitzgerald 2000, 41). However, the big question that has continued to run in the minds of people across the world is whether religion can be a cause of some of the major terrorism activities. Religious violence refers to the kind of violence, which is often motivated by or a reaction of the different religious doctrines, texts and precepts. This comprises of violence that is perpetuated on different people, religious institutions and other important installations in a country. It is important to note that religious violence does not often comprise of violent acts that are carried out on religious groups; instead, it includes the acts committed by various secular groups on religions groupings. Just like other forms of violence, religious violence is a cultural process, whereby the associated meanings are dependent on the context. In most cases, religious violence tends to put much emphasis on some of the symbolic aspects of the particular acts committed. Generally, religious violence is often carried out for various ideological reasons; in this case, it has become a central social and political issue that has resulted into various social unrests in various countries. Faith-based terrorism In many parts of the Middle East, jihadist fightings and other conflicts continue to be witnessed. These fights have played a leading role towards tearing down some of the nations like Iraq and Syria (Pape 2003, 348). This wars and conflicts have made it hard for people to believe that they are actually living in the 21st century, while some other countries have managed to create peaceful environment for social, political and economic activities among others, some continue to be torn apart because of terrorism activities. The kind of ferocious acts perpetrated by the jihadist fighters as they quote the Qur’an when they behead most of their hapless victims raise the fact that terrorism is indeed a modern concern, prompting the association of violence to religion. It has been explained by some people that religion is a strong force that can influence people commit such atrocities, without showing any form of sympathy to the victims (Kimball 2002, 42). In fact, religion has been described as able to produce a certain kind of pervasive solidarity that has to be reduced. The September II attacks that happened in the United States showed a great emphasis on the concept of terrorism and religion, especially the Islam religion. It has been proved that the people behind the attacks were the Muslim extremists, who were motivated by their religions precepts. Currently, religious violence and terrorism has become ubiquitous in most of the public debates across the world. In most of the terrorism studies and many other international relations, religious terrorism has been featuring prominently, with efforts being made to find any kind of association between the two concepts. In fact some analysts have said that religions terrorism is a special form of political violence, which uses religious doctrines to radicalise some sections of people in order to participate in these acts with the hope of attaining eternal life and other spiritual benefits. Additionally, the term is used to describe some of the acts associated with terrorism and other kind of related conflicts. It is also used in explaining some of the motivations behind people that commit terrorism and other kinds of conflicts. It is important to understand that the aspect of religious terrorism and its related themes have a long history, which is intertwined with a series of violence in most of the western scholarships. In most of the European studies, religious terrorism has often been widely explained beyond the mere label to various attributes and other substantive claims (kimball 2002, 44). In this case, most of these characters are those that look like they can segregate it from other forms of political violence and conflicts. In this type of terrorism, new kinds of value systems often exist including mechanisms for justification and legitimation, ideas of worldviews and morality. Because of these, religious terrorism often represents a different kind of lethal threat, which is caused by traditional terrorists’ adversaries that are much more familiar. In fact, approach has become the best way of describing various aspect of modern terrorism activities. In this regard, the previous definitions and perspectives that had been held about the various kinds of terrorism. Many countries that continue to suffer from the terrorism activities often complain of religious radicalisation, which often happens among the faithful of the particular forms of religion. The following chart offers some of the differences that exist between religious based violence and secular violence or terrorism. Table 1. Case comparison: Religious and secular terrorism (Gunning & Jackson 2011) The history of Modern Arab Islamist Extremism The Arab world has undergone various political transitions since the 20th century. First was the over lordship that was headed by the renowned Ottoman empire that came to an end in 1928 after World War 1. What followed was the European domination, which also came to an end after the end of World War II. The North African new Arab states were initially governed by civilians that were highly authoritarian or monarchs. These kinds of systems of governance were described as being persistently despotic. The kind of rule resulted in various political upheavals that resulted in the modern systems of governance. Currently, many of them are beginning to adopt democratic systems of governance, although these societies have high levels of segregation especially to women and people that do not practice their forms of religion. Many people that have lived in these communities have reported major incidences of violence and conflicts, something that is blamed on the kinds of religious doctrines. The coups and political upheavals that happened in most of these countries have played a big role towards influencing various kinds of activism between and among the nationalists and other intellectuals, something that traces its roots back in the late 1940s (Pedahzur 2006, 53). During this time, the symbol for the western encroachment led to the development of the Israel nation. It is believed that the postwar activities that happened in many of the Arab Muslim countries advanced into the various intellectual periods. Most of these periods were the nationalistic, socialism as well as the secular expressions. During this time, many intellectual and activist got disenchanted with the different movements when they realized they could not deliver the much needed political reforms, ensure economic prosperity and the respect and recognition from the international community (Juergensmeyer 2000, 75). Most of the Arab countries has to endure the humiliating defeats by the Israel army, additionally, the plight of the Palestinians led to the demise of the esteem, which many of the secular movements had previously enjoyed. Because of these outcomes, Islamic extremists began to emerge overshadowing the previous ideologies that characterises the preceding generations. This has major ideological differences between the Islamists and Arab governments, most of which operate on the principles laid down by the previous generations. During the times of post Cold War, the concept of using Islam as system to use for political liberation is simply a logical progression (Wieviorka 2007, 35). The West and Israel in particular, have been fighting most of the Islamic extremists in many parts of the Middle East and other parts of the world too. Conclusion From the foregone discussion, it is evident that terrorism has become an important reason of major concern across the world. Many governments have been allocation a lot of money in the budgetary allocations in order to ensure they are secure from terrorism activities and other kinds of conflicts. Many people across the world have raised calls for the Muslims to reconsider how they are train their faithfuls not to perpetuate violence and other heinous acts to innocent people, especially those that do not conform to their faith in the name of jihad (Pape 2005, 62). Irrespective of whether it is religious motivated or not, terrorism is not a desirable act in any country. People that want to develop their social and economic systems have to ensure that they spare no chances towards creating lasting and desirable peace in their countries. In this case, people are supposed to be very responsible in reporting any kind of behavior and actions that seem to be against the rule of law. Additionally, they are to be dutiful in ensuring that they advocate for peace and stability in their environments. Bibliography Fitzgerald. F. 2000. The Ideology of Religious Studies. Oxford University Press, Oxford. Gunning J. & Jackson R. 2011. What is so ‘religious’ about ‘religious terrorism?’ Critical Studies on Terrorism, Vol 4. No. 3, pp. 369-388. Haynes J. 1995. Religion, Fundamentalism and Ethnicity: A Global Perspective. Viewed 8 Dec. 2014, Juergensmeyer J. 2000. Terror in the Mind of God: The Global Rise of Religious Violence. University of California Press, California. Kimball C. 2002. When Religion Becomes Evil. Harper, San Francisco, San Francisco. Pape, R. 2003. 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