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Broadening Boundaries of Terrorism

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November 26, 2019

What is the issue?

  • Acts of violence are widespread and increasingly being carried out in the name of religion, even by commoners and children.
  • In this backdrop, here is a look at the prevalence of the ideas of religion and terrorism in the present age.

What is the worrying trend?

  • Violence in the name of God is certainly not new.
  • Terrorism existed, but it was a faraway, unpredictable event.
  • For most people, terrorism was nothing but another piece of news.
  • But, the worrying trend is that the wings of terrorism is spreading beyond terrorist groups and trained militias.
  • Commoners and children are getting to be part of the mob now.
  • Attacks are carried out across religions in the name of God.

What role is terrorism playing?

  • Terrorism may never succeed in overthrowing the government, or in controlling large territories.
  • However, it is becoming clear that terrorists have managed to implant the idea of violence and hatred in everyone.
  • By all means, embracing the idea of violence and hatred does not make a person a terrorist or perpetrator of violence.
  • Nevertheless, continuous expressions of hostility and contempt would have created something worse than terrorism itself.
  • For instance, fear would no longer be a rare sentiment with a cyclical life, but a real and permanent feeling.
  • In every corner of the world, “us” versus “them” has become the main discourse.
  • It is no more the argument in a particular segment of the society.
  • It has instead become the discourse at the grass roots as well.

How is the idea of religion transforming?

  • The idea of religion as a peaceful path has been shattered.
  • The idea that humanism will promote equality and union also lies in ruins.
  • In all, the world is at a crossroads, where broader human values are being replaced by exclusive group values.
  • Justice, equality, fairness, and peace are only being applied to groups.
  • It is only about “us”, and never concerns “others”.

What is the paradoxical reality?

  • Modern technology has been accelerating rapidly since the turn of the millennium.
  • Consequently, automation and scientific discoveries are diluting the rigid boundaries among people.
  • However, despite the possibility for closeness, people are not made citizens of the world.
  • Instead, people tend to fortify themselves in a group that distinguishes itself from another.
  • Freedom and democracy have certainly empowered individuals.
  • However, on the other hand, in the name of freedom and democracy, radical ideas are being talked about.
  • These radicals do not recognise that their ideas are anti-democratic and do not value freedom.
  • In many cases, their attempts to force these ideas have ended in disturbance and assault.

How does the future look?

  • In modern times, the collapse of a dictatorial regime in the time of the internet and digital revolution could lead to contradictory outcomes.
  • It could trigger aspirations in one set of people, whereas a larger number of people could feel threatened.
  • Those who feel threatened could act in self-defence.
  • When people fortify themselves inside religion, they also embrace the idea of hatred spread by terrorist groups and action.
  • This is when the “us” versus “them” discourse and the struggle in the name of God become one and the same.
  • The world will continue to move forward; the same problems will repeat.
  • Terror too may reappear in the name of country, God, power, or some other term.

 

Source: Indian Express

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