What is the relationship between terrorism and globalization? Does trans-national terrorism reflect the deviant/dark side of globalization?
Name: Aw Yuong Tuck
Student Id: 23725516
Q5: What is the relationship between ‘terrorism’ and globalization? Does trans-national terrorism reflect the deviant/dark side of globalization?
From this essay, I will explain the relationship between terrorism and globalization. Terrorism has always been defined as a very negative ideology and philosophy for western countries, and even until today, there has not been a single agreed definition of terrorism (Seumas Miller, 2009; Aref, 2003). “An author writing in the 1980s listed more than hundred definitions, and since then, there have been numerous additions” (Walter, 2003). Different countries, people and organizations interpret the meaning of terrorism differently. Terrorism is an ideology that promotes fair and equal status in the world. The vision is similar to Marxism, but terrorism uses more violent ways to achieve its goals, and most of the time terrorist will be involved with activities related to bombs, kidnapping, suicide bombing and cause a lot of material damage (Walter, 2003). “The term ‘Terrorism’ has now everywhere a bad, negative connotation in contrast, for instance, to ‘guerrilla,’ which enjoys a far more positive reputation” (Walter, 2003).Terrorism occurs for a lot of reasons. It has some internal and external reasons. But generally, the relationship between terrorism and globalization is seen as a proportional relationship. That means, the more the world is globalized, the more terrorism cases will happen. Although we cannot really simplify it by saying terrorism cases are fully influenced by globalization, the act of terrorism is however identified through the causes of globalization.
Globalization did help the world in the sense for communication. People are closer to each other because of globalization. Moreover, there are a lot of things that are influenced by globalization too. For instance, global economics, global culture, politics and varying other aspects are elements that are influenced by globalization. United States is a very good example. They had dominated the world by different aspects. Economics, culture, social and politics are all the aspects that the United States are dominating now. One of the reasons that terrorism will rise is due to internal bad feelings that are caused by the Americans. “Most of the Americans saw the Moslem and Arab world as violent and hostile.” said by (Lawrence, 2003).
The image of Middle Eastern countries was never appealing to the United States. Mutually, they were not content with their feelings. An example from the famous Disney movie- Aladdin, one of their soundtracks in the movie named “Arabian Night” the lyrics state, “Where they cut off your ear, If they don't like your face, It's barbaric, but hey, it's home.” Through this, it portrays that songs in children movies has shown a negative stereotype view to the Middle Eastern countries and people. Middle Eastern countries always been looked in a bad way and it is a very negative stereotype way to look at them. “One of the political scientists, who had studied American high school textbook presentations of Arabs and Muslims, had concluded that they present them as ‘backward, primitive, uncivilized people who… appeared warlike, powerful, barbaric and cruel.’” (Lawrence, 2003). Despite internal feelings have been affected, external feelings is however the leading factor that lead to rise of the terrorism.
