New Delhi—Questions of terrorism, militancy, insurgency, and other forms of organized violence that wreak destruction, death, and suffering must be understood within the paradigm of “good” and “evil.” At the same time, it must be acknowledged that greater damage is done when terrorism is state-sponsored. Terrorism of any kind destroys efforts to establish peace among nations. It is rooted in every human being’s need to belong to a group of peers.
Part of the background to current waves of terrorism is the lack of a proper balance between an individual’s liberty and the needs of society. The right to act as one wishes can never be absolute. There is no real justification for acts of violence even when the cause espoused by a terrorist group is driven by a sense of injustice.
As the 20th century ended and the 21st century opened, there were great hopes of peace and nonviolent conflict resolution—only to be smashed to bits by the explosive “9/11” terrorist attack on the United States in 2001, and its retaliatory wars against Afghanistan and Iraq in 2003. In the two decades since, there have been terror attacks in London, Madrid, Bali, New Delhi, Mumbai, Moscow, Istanbul, Tel Aviv, Tokyo, Karachi, Lahore, Colombo, and Kabul, not to mention Israel in October 2023.
When will these gross acts of violent insanity stop? Is there a way out?
Joseph Nye Jr., in his “The Paradox of American Power,” states: “This terrorist attack is a terrible symptom of deeper changes that are occurring in the world. A technological revolution in information and communications has been diffusing power away from governments and empowering individuals and groups to play roles in world politics—including wreaking massive destruction—that were once reserved for governments of states. Privatization has been increasing, and terrorism is the privatization of war.”
Religion is also frequently used by terrorists as an excuse for their actions, despite the fact that every religion forbids murder, and demands that individuals live in harmony.
Only a united world authority with sufficient powers can tackle the menace of terrorism and a host of other global challenges that make daily headlines in the media. A United Nations (UN) convention for the prevention of terrorism is still a work in progress, even as the international community has endeavored to address terrorism on a more inclusive basis.
However, beyond shared ideals and aspirations, many are also searching for effective and practical means for the betterment of society. This, despite every political and economic school of thought being seemingly overwhelmed by, and unequal to, the scale, nature, complexity, and interconnectedness of the challenges. The world is thus facing a profound and far-reaching crisis that is destabilizing and disrupting its order.
The writings of the Bahá’i Faith envision a world federal system ruling the whole Earth and exercising unchallengeable authority over its finite resources. This, while blending and embodying the ideals of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam—one planet, one global family, one progressive future for all who live on Earth.
One essential prerequisite would be for all major powers on earth to relinquish their “veto power in the Security Council,” give up war as an instrument of hegemonistic policy, and allow the UN system to evolve into a world super-state. This would allow it to craft a just and fair system of global trade, while nations disband their national military forces in favor of the world government except for purposes of maintaining internal order.
Such aspirations should not be dismissed as utopian ideas. There is no alternative. The world’s leaders must take affirmative action posthaste, as the world is just 90 seconds from doomsday as per the latest announcement of the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists and as abundantly confirmed by the secretary general of the UN. Freedom from terrorism is just one important element in the larger scheme of things—climate emergency, unprecedented economic crisis, massive social breakdown, dangers of nuclear war, disruptive technologies led by artificial intelligence, to list just a few.
It’s our choice whether peace is to be reached only after unimaginable horrors precipitated by people clinging to old patterns of behavior, or embraced by an act of consultative will. It is my firm optimistic conviction that the root causes of terrorism in all its forms can be curbed not through constant conflicts among nations but by the enforcement of international laws, effective global governance, and peace education. Dawn/Asia News Network
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Dr. A.K. Merchant is an independent researcher working with nongovernmental organizations in the fields of education, environment, disarmament, and peace. Views expressed are personal.
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The Philippine Daily Inquirer is a member of the Asia News Network, an alliance of 22 media titles in the region.