How might the current wave of global terrorism be understood using a collective action approach?

1)   How might the current wave of global terrorism be understood using a collective action approach?

Global terrorism is a predominant issue in global politics. Since violence is a very effective means of intimidation, terrorism is often used by people who oppose politicians and societal pressures, as a device to accomplish this effect. Although terrorism has a long and violent history in many different parts of the world, the term became heavily popularized after the wake of the September 11 attacks in 2001. This current wave of terrorism, termed international terrorism, is a new or emerging form of terrorism, where the use of digital networks are employed by insurgents who share a common objective, as a way to recruit local or national terrorists to join them in their mission (Hassan, 2007). This form of organized violence against perceived enemies is more visually pronounced in Asia, particularly the Middle East and Southeastern Asia, although it is also evident elsewhere in the world (Hassan, 2007).

According to the collective behaviour approach, people unit to achieve a single and meaningful goal that may inspire social change (Hewitt et al., 2009) Due to the fact the violence associated with terrorism is organized and has a common political objective among its members, one can readily draw a lucid parallel to the collective behaviour approach. Terrorists typically join together on the basis of loosely defined societal norms. Global terrorism can be categorized into two types of collectivity: (1) localized collectivities, where members are located in each other’s immediate physical appearance, and (2) dispersed collectivities, where members are located in different places at the same time (Myers and Smith, 2009). Due to the latter form, terrorists are more likely to react in emotional and unconventional ways, resulting in disastrous behaviour and mass hysteria (Myers and Smith, 2009). A quintessential example exemplifying this, as mentioned earlier, is the 9-11 attacks. This cowardice attack instantly killed thousands of innocent people, compromised the health of survivors, and destroyed the infrastructure of neighboring landscapes. The criminals who were originally on the airplane represented only a subset of a larger, more powerful dispersed group of collective members, who cheered their patron’s behaviour and success in destroying their targets and harming civilians. Those who were harmed had nothing to do with the problems the terrorists were rallying against. Collectively, these global terrorist operations were successful because although they were dispersed, all group members shared a common interest and behaved accordingly, thus leading to disastrous outcomes.

International terrorist groups that operate via networks across borders such as the Al Qaeda and Jemaah Islamiyah often resort to attacking civilian and non-military targets because of their discontent with American and Western hegemony in global affairs (Hassan, 2007). These large numbers of individuals are typically unwilling to accept certain types of norms or values set by the society, often due to beliefs in the literal meaning of religious teachings and applications.


2)   Do certain types of social movements appear to attract certain people from certain social groups or classes? If so, why?

Social movements are generally highly structured, rational and enduring forms of collective behaviour that are established to stimulate societal changes (Hewitt et al., 2008). Social movements are categorized in two types: (1) informal social movements, which emerge in opposition to a specific local issue, and (2) formal social movements, which are larger organizations that are well integrated and established (Myers and Smith, 2009). For instance, the ‘third sex’ movement in parts of South and North America is an example of informal social movement uniting trans-sexuals, intersex individuals, transvestites, homosexuals, and others who feel they do not fit in the physical boundaries of either of the two sexes (Sweetman, 2000). An example of a formal social movement is the ‘Pro-Life’ movement – a political and social movement that opposes induced abortions of all pregnancies and is recognized worldwide.

Multiple factors contribute to why certain people from certain social groups or classes tend to join a particular social movement. Some of these factors include possessing a common purpose or interests that are similar amongst members in that group. These individuals often believe that the movement’s goals, if implanted in society, will yield benefits to themselves and others who are in pursuit of implementing the same values they cherish. These social movements, whether formal or informal, build a stronger sense of belonging to a common struggle, both locally and globally. The same idea can be used towards teenagers who join gangs or experiment with illegal drugs, as a means of seeking a sense of belonging and identity. Social movements provide a stage for everyone, an identity, an explanation – a meaning. The most prominent types of social movements are: (1) revolutionary, which seeks to reorganization of society, (2) reformist, which works within existing structure to improve society, (3) reactionary, which emerge when groups resist an event or decision, and finally (4) religious, which is grounded to a faith-based, spiritual belief system (Myers and Smith, 2009). People who take part in these types of movements may have similar class status, ethnicity, sexuality preference, culture, religion, and gender. It generally depends on the values that each individual within a particular group share, and how their ideology relates to those of other members. Social movements are the reason behind why there is respect, at least to some degree, between individuals of different groups. Without social movements, societal views would strictly be one-dimensional, stagnant, and loaded with intense discrimination, especially towards minority groups.


Responses

Personally, I have never heard of the Global Marijuana march. I sure hope there is more to it for those people who do support it than to simply to get ‘high’ legally. I think the main reason why it is not widely accepted in most countries is because of the fact that smoking cannabis has the potential to damage the brain of heavy users. In addition, purchasing marijuana is expensive, and for those who make a habit out of smoking it could put their financial status and credit in danger, especially if they have a career and family to raise. Oppositely, one could argue that if smoking marijuana has many negative health implications, than drinking alcohol or smoking ordinary cigarettes should be banned as well. Although I have NEVER smoked marijuana before, I have been around people who have, and they do experience an altered sense of reality while the plant toxin circulates through their bloodstream. I suppose it is this sort of pain-killing rush that attracts certain social groups or classes more than any other factor

It’s real sad that such a violent group, such as Al-Qaeda, is globally known and accepted collectively by people who share a common interest of hate and oppression of others. You would think that with all the technology and research, people would be more open-minded to change and adapt to new ways of thinking, but instead, these terrorist groups are still living in the 6th and 7th century when their prophet was first born and established those Koranic rules and obligations. This is also the exact reason why the education system in the Middle East is failing miserably – these conservative groups are forcing young students to be doers as opposed to thinkers; thus, they do not develop the appropriate skill sets to decipher what is right and what is wrong because those decisions are already established in Koran. Like you said, if they do decide to divert from this old way of thinking, they are considered apostates. The same goes with how women are treated in Islamic-based countries such as Afghanistan. If these poor women wear something outside the ordinary, they are severally beaten by their loved ones as if they were children who do not have the same mental capacity as an adult. Likewise, Christian minorities in Middle Eastern countries are terrorized, taken advantage, and forcefully converted because of this mindset they follow.