اندیشه سیاسی

My research subject

GLOBALIZATION EFFECT ON INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM

CASE STUDY: Al-Qaeda

1- Defining the research subject:

Terrorism as a process for utilizing knowingly psychic terror and physical violence by the independent governments, people and subnational groups for achieving strategic and political goals against dominant talks is not a new subject in the history.

Today with globalization of communications, increasing development of new technologies, especially "information revolution" and "mass media revolution", science and economics has enabled all the people including terrorists to achieve new technologies so that it has facilitated communications, more and faster organization in the international level, and generally, globalization of terrorism and has caused terrorist targeting easier and at the same time, confronting with it more difficult. Scientific and technological growth and development, communications and economics have provided new abilities for terrorists so that they can change and define their goals from subnational and even national to transnational, international and global level. This has created a kind of terrorism that can emerge individually and act in the global level hiddenly and asymmetrically and can affect the whole life of individuals, communities and societies all over the world. Uniqueness and vastness of activities and effectiveness of new terrorism in the history is in a form that it is known the new phenomenon of the present era. Because of emergence of such a spreading and effective phenomenon which can threat the general order of societies, stability of countries and international and global order,the present era is known as terrorism era.

With emergence of Al-Qaeda and Taliban, during the last decade terrorism in the new form started gradually and now it has become a global problem especially in European countries, Middle East and the Islam world, and in a way that actually it has become a fixed and permanent part of contemporary life, and it had affected policies of the countries in the level of subnational, national and transnational; because it has brought various threats such as threat to the global security and welfare of ordinary people, stability of governmental system, health and speed of economic development and expansion and even survival of democracy for our era.

Nowadays, terrorists are more organized, more professional and more equipped than their counterparts in the past. The new phenomenon of terrorism can fight in information, internet, nuclear, biologic, chemical (NBC) wars or everything else which can be changed to weapons of mass destruction (As in the event of Sep. 11, 2001, we witnessed that passenger planes changed to collective massacre weapon ) to achieve their goals in national and international levels. Even the scope of this threat can be extended to the countries which from geographical viewpoint are apparently far from the center of crisis. This case in the local, national and international level is a serious threat for all countries. So global terrorism and especially Al-Qaeda are not only a national and international threat, but because of globalization of security, these threats are fundamentally transnational and global threat.

Therefore, it seems knowing the nature of globalized terrorists' function and the process and the way of utilizing tools that globalization has provided them is obligatory; Because the world has faced a different and developing terrorism in present conditions, and there is no remedy except knowing this expanding and global phenomenon to keep security and stability.

2- The goal and the importance of the research:

The goal of this research is knowing the origin of "phenomenon of new terrorism" and relation of this phenomenon with structures and scientific-technologic, communications, economic and social developments in the era of globalization and discussing and examining its origin, areas and special motives in different forms of terrorism which is the product of the troubled societies and world.

Although there have been studies in the international level in this field and the necessity of knowing this phenomenon is so apparent and tangible that some research centers and institutes of terrorism studies are established in reputable universities, and they only research about "new phenomenon of terrorism". Besides, most study centers and universities have allocated part of their studies and research to this important matter. And, the result is books and articles which are written for knowing this new phenomenon and ways of encountering it. However, the literature in this field has not grown much, and the answer to many questions have not been given yet. Especially since examining the terrorism phenomenon is global, and it is usually examined outside the crisis center by scientists who have sometimes experienced different disturbance. Naturally we expect that in the main centers of crisis, the literature related to this subject has grown more than other countries and at least as much as the countries which are in the margin of the crisis centers, but it seems it is in its primary stage.

Although some experts have emerged in this area, but unfortunately there is still serious shortcoming. Therefore, the necessity of considering it both adds to the knowledge and literature in this field and also as a data, it helps in making decisions and policy making in countries in the national and global levels for removing threat and keeping national and international security.

3- Research Background:

After Soviet Union collapsed, a great part of motives of different terrorist organizations disappeared in the world. Logically we expected that paying attention to terrorism is reduced compared to the past. But, the events following the collapse of Soviet Union caused more discussions about the subject of terrorism, and many books were written in this regard. In the light of importance of studying new terrorism phenomenon, different institutes such as International Terrorism Studies Institute in New York and Library and Center of Terrorism Documents of Pergamon Bersiz were established; the goal of this study center was presenting books by outstanding experts about different subjects such as cause and control of terrorism, national, regional and global landscapes about terrorism and special case studies which have been written.

Most of these books and articles have have been published in US and Europe; other countries have fewer shares. Each of these books has considered terrorism from different dimensions such as: Terrorism, the New Form of War (Richard Henel), Terrorism Roots which is psychological (Walter Rich), Terrorism which has a historical, social, verbal and legal approach to the subject. Bioterrorism and Biological Weapons (Seyed Reza Hosseini Doust) which deals with biological attack and the way of spreading agents. Terrorism ( Hassan Vaezi), Marxism, Terrorism (Troteski), Why and How Martyr Operations (Hassan Bagheri), The Shiite, the Fighter of God (Robin Right), Eleventh September by Noam Chamsky (Greg Ragerio), Eleventh September (Noam Chamsky and others), Eleventh September and thousand and One lies(tiri Misan), Who is Ben Ladan? (Michael Poli), Taleban (Peter Marsden), Afganistan, Taleban and Global Policies (William Mili), Global Insecurity, Considering Second Global Face (Andrew Horel and others), Concept of Security after Eleventh September Accident (Doming David), and nearly all of them consider Eleventh September operations and the subject of security in the present era.

However, none of these studies have considered independently the reason of terrorism globalization and how global terrorism utilizes new tools. This research tries to consider the reason.

4- Main question: This research wants to answer this main question:

What effects increasing globalization has had on international terrorism?

There is no simple answer to this simple question. Effects of globalization on phenomenon of international globalization include various factors and features. In fact, every scientific branch such as sociology, ideology, psychology, political sciences, international relations, technology and etc. has a distinct method for examining this phenomenon so that they concentrate on different dimensions and recognize different parameters. To embody the subject, this research has chosen and examined the most apparent existing case in present time i.e. global network of Al-Qaeda as the case study.

5- Main hypothesis:

With regard to globalization of communications, science and technology and economics, everybody including terrorists have access to technologic and scientific achievements and since activity realm of terrorists has changed from subnational and national to transnational levels (regional and international), terrorism as an increasing threat has a complex and powerful network so that terrorist groups play the role as international players. In other words, terrorism has become global.

6- Research method:

The present pamphlet apart from the knowledge viewpoint, does not intend to assess the phenomenon of terrorism (good and or bad), because this research is based on new findings of social sciences and does not believe any previous idea. Research method of this pamphlet is through analyzing the contents of documents and statements and books written in this field either statements of those accused of terrorism and or those who are against it and or studies in the level of academic and specialized magazines which are published by reputable study center and even the ideas of common people is considered as a source and is utilized. Method of this pamphlet to research is mainly a systemic theory and the reason is giving more places for the domestic factors in the system theory. This is usually done by entering a second level to the system structure. This level consists of interaction level or micro-structure in which factors of unit level are very important. For example, interaction structure known as "cold war" is mainly influenced by ideological and political considerations inside US and Soviet Union. Moreover, the government identity is among the main alternatives of the theory and it opens an environment for all kinds of civilization and cultural factors. Along with analyzing the phenomenon of terrorism as an international player, the theory of constructivism is used.

In this research, the analysis unit is persons and groups and the level of analyzing is global. This model is concentrated on vulnerable persons in the world and its effects on the universal society. It means that with regard to globalization process and forming the universal society, the person or the group can globalize its actions and reacts against universal events and actions. Therefore, terrorism can act as personal and collective at universal level and affect universal society by its functions.

7- Defining Concepts and Alternatives:

Terrorism:

From this research viewpoint, Pal Pilar has presented the best and the most comprehensive definition of terrorism. He believes that "Terrorism is a preplanned violence with political goals against non-military goals by small national groups and factors which are usually used for affecting addressees.

This definition has four main elements:

1) Terrorism is a preplanned action and caused by idea and decision of some who want to do it.

2) This action has political tendency and is different from motives such as financial or personal revenge motives. Those who do these actions have great motives and want to change the existing situation.

3) The third element of this definition is related to terrorist victims who include persons who can not defend themselves. For example, death of all passengers of airplanes which were used in the Eleventh September event against twin towers of New York and Pentagon (Defense Ministry of US) and also all residents of Twin Towers of Manhattan in New York and also Pentagon building who were killed could not defend themselves.

4) The fourth element is related to those who perform terrorist action and are from subnational groups to secret agents whose work is distinct from military operations of governments and apparent function of military forces against military targets. "

Globalization:

Emergence of every new vocabulary shows that previous vocabulary can not translate and describe new conditions. So, necessarily new vocabulary have been made and used to explain the new situation.

Since the world globalization has become common, it shows that a great development has happened in global level and the previous vocabulary such as international relations does not translate and describe the existing situation.

Nevertheless, the exact meaning of globalization is still ambiguous and writers use this word differently and contradictorily. Until now, at least five kinds of functions are recognized for the word globalization.

1. Some writers believe that globalization is liberalization. While liberalization means removing governmental obstacles and limits from transactions between countries so that by freedom and uniqueness of commercial relations, global economics is formed.

2. Some writers believe that globalization is westernization. This concept is mostly by officials and theorists of America and Europe apparently and secretly. That is why the liberalism critics have defined it in the same way and have written against it.

3. Some writers believe that globalization is internationalization, but this word means mutual dependence and interactions beyond countries.

4. Some writers believe that globalization is globalism and, it means engineering, planning and writing programs and a pre-specified pattern and imposing it to other nations.

5. Some writers and researchers believe that globalization is deterritorialization. In this concept, the geographical changes which according it boundaries and geographical distances have lost their previous importance are considered.

Martin Alborow defines globalization as follows: Globalization means processes through which people of the world are entered in the unique universal society.

Anthony Giddenz believes: Globalization means increasing and enforcing social relations in the world level and it connects geographical regions which are far from each other in a way that events in one place affects events of another region and vice versa.

Globalization means increasing process of communications between societies so that events and events of one part in the world affects increasingly on the whole world. The globalized world is a world in which military, terrorist, political, economic, cultural, social, environmental, sanitary events and developments and other issues are increasingly connected together and have more impact. It seems that world is becoming "small" and people increasingly and rapidly get informed about events and happenings in which happen. Internet is the most apparent example because by which we sit in our house and get connected immediately with internet bases all over the world. Electronic post (email) has changed communications in a way that ten years before Jule Vern could not predict the progresses of today. Universal radio and TV networks, the movies of Hollywood and Bollywood, universal newspapers, international social risings such as international amnesty or Green Peace, universal companies of Coca-Cola, Pizza Hot, Shell, Exxon, … and you can obtain their products by referring to the nearest shops. Even dangers have become universal such as: AIDS, pollution, depletion of Ozone layer and terrorism. These are all parts of what we call globalization.

In this research, the fifth interpretation approach of the globalization word is accepted.

Globalization of Terrorism:

Considering the above-mentioned facts, postmodern terrorism utilizing new technologies can put deadly strokes on the world community body and affect the whole world with its function. Terrorism globalization means that this kind of terrorism on the contrary of its previous ancestors, its influence and its realm of function threat has passed from transnational, national and even international levels and has targeted the whole world. This is due to the information and the communication technologies which has connected the world and made it small. On the other hand, the high tech in the filed of the weapons of mass destruction (WMD), network war … and easy access to these technologies have enabled terrorists to impose a different war on their enemies, and the world has faced with serious threats. This terrorism which covers the world shows that at present, terrorism has become global.

Information community:

Unlike the past that economic activities were centered on agriculture and producing industrial products, in new conditions, information and knowledge constitute main interests of wealth. Computers, mass media, remote communications and the like such as dominating over the land, labor force, industrial establishments and money have changed to be the most important property of economic systems. Some experts, instead of referring to "information community" have presented similar reasons using vocabulary such as "information era", "transindustry community", "service economics", or "society based on knowledge".

Communications and information technology:

Information technology (IT) from this research viewpoint is used for industries consisting of hardware for office machines, data processor equipments, equipments of data communications and software and services. Manoel Kastler has given a comprehensive definition about communication technology and new information: Communications and information technology is a convergent collection of technologies in micro-electrons, computing (including software machine) telecommunication, broadcasting and optoelectronics. Some communications are as follows: road facilities, electronic possibilities (radio, TV, telephone, computer and internet with its extraordinary and expanded weblogs), newspapers, magazines, books, webs, international languages such as English and French which are used for transferring information and matters from one mind to another mind to understand mutually, literacy and also having the culture of communicating which refers to delicate diplomacy and tendency to hear and talk. Improvement of communications in the society equals with improvement of social power. (In organization level, communications include equipments of know-how and communication methods which are at disposal of all employees.) It stands to reason that weak communications means weak organization or society.

Independent alternative: This research includes: globalization of communication, science and technology, economics.

Dependent alternative: This research includes globalized terrorism.

8- Research structure:

This research includes a preface and six chapters and a conclusion.

In the First Chapter, we consider general matters such as: 1- preface (defining the problem), 2- Defining the research subject, 3- The goal of the research, 4- Importance of research, 5- Research method, 6- Research obstacles, 7- Main question, 8- Main hypothesis, 9- Defining concepts, alternatives and operations, 10- Scientific background, 11- Research structure.

In the Second Chapter, we will discuss definition and nature of terrorism, reason of violence, root of the word terrorism, fields of creation of terrorism and emergence of terrorist organizations during cold war.

In the Third Chapter, we will discuss kinds of terrorism including: kind of non-political terrorism, kinds of political terrorism, internal governmental terrorism, international terrorism (foreign governmental) and finally difference between liberating movements and terrorism are discussed.

In the Fourth Chapter, globalization subject, globalization definition, features and factors of globalization such as globalization of economics, globalization of culture, globalization of international law, information technology revolution and globalization of communications, appearance of information society, emergence of postmodern paradigm, emergence of global and unique society, globalization of terrorism, information war are discussed and considered.

In the Fifth Chapter, we will discuss globalization of terrorism. In this chapter, with regard to developments made in the field of science and knowledge and information technology, communications and WMD, we try to argue that terrorism because of having access to new know-how can start asymmetrical, network, comprehensive and hidden wars without its identity or geographical place being identified.

And finally, as a case study, the function of global network of Al-Qaeda is considered and shown how this network has utilized all new technology in the service of traditional ideology and has affected the world tremendously by creating events such as Eleventh September. That is why the present era is called terrorism era.

In the Sixth Chapter, since the subject is important, ideology and establishments of Al-Qaeda is considered. In this chapter, ideology of Al-Qaeda organization and also the reason of the creation of this global network is considered, and it is shown how regional crises in terrorism era and by help of new technology become global trend.

At the end, conclusion and abstract are presented.

|+| نوشته شده در 88/05/28 ساعت توسط مهدی اخلاقی نیا |

سازه انگاری در روابط بین الملل, محمد - امیرمحمدی

سازه انگاری از نظریات حاکم بر روابط بین الملل می باشد که از دهه 90 به این طرف از جایگاه ویژه ای در عرصه روابط بین الملل برخوردار شده است. خصوصا بدنبال ناکامی تئوری های خردگرای حاکم بر روابط بین الملل که بر منافع مادی و قدرت تاکید می نمودند. اندیشمندان حوزه روابط بین الملل بدنبال رهیافت های جایگزین برای توضیح سیاست بین الملل و بالاخص سیاست خارجی رفتند. در پی این شرایط بود که فاکتورهای غیرمادی و ایده ها در توضیح واقعیات و پدیده های روابط بین الملل از اهمیت بالایی برخوردار شدند. متن زیر قسمتی از چارچوب نظری پایان نامه بنده است که به تحلیل سیاست خارجی پالمان از منظر سازه انگاری پرداخته است.

● نويسنده: محمد - امیرمحمدی

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