Western Influence On Terrorism

Introduction Today, the United States and other Western allies are attempting to combat terrorism across the world, especially in Africa, and in or around the Middle East. First, there is a need to define terrorism. Terrorism can be defined as being, “the repeated use of politically motivated violence with coercive intent, by non-state actors” (Badey). With that definition in place many government officials are attempting to eradicate terrorist organizations through military force, counter intelligence and the attempt of infiltrating these terrorist organizations, in hopes of declaring the war on terrorism won. Across the world, acts of terrorism are wreaking havoc against anyone who tries to go against a specific ideology. Terrorism is not …show more content…
Often these countries do not want to live a “western” way of life, but rather a lifestyle with the ideas of the people around them. Ideology can be defined as the system of beliefs that justify behavior. Terrorist organizations thrive when people oppose western influences and for that reason, is why the war on terrorism does not have the capacity of being declared won. For example, Boko Haram, an Islamist terrorist organization, has a long history in Nigeria dating back to the early 2000’s. The group was first created in 2002, by an Islamist man named Mohammed Yusuf. Mohammed Yusuf started the group in Maiduguri, Borno State. Yusuf’s reasoning for creating the group centered around the country’s democratic transition that featured more of a focus on western influence (Nwanze). A group like Boko Haram despises all western influence, especially the influence from the United States. Their hatred begins with western education. Abubakar Shekau, Boko Haram’s current leader, claimed, “If you cannot speak English anything you say is considered stupid and unintelligent … It is those who have obtained western education that are seen as educated, civilized and polished! The rest are illiterates” (Zenn). These countries that currently see terrorist acts on a daily basis …show more content…
Terrorism is not a new problem that has risen over the last few decades, but rather a problem that has been around for centuries. Many countries and outsiders have attempted to localize the roots of terrorism and eradicate it, but has so far failed. The war on terrorism is now being compared to the wars against drugs and crime; which it should be, this war will be a constant battle. The wars on terrorism, drugs, and crime will be an indefinite cycle of fighting with small victories along the way, but never eradicating the issue. The best possible outcome for the United States and western powers is to hope that there is a possibility of containment through tougher measures. Measures that include sanctions on countries who fail to attempt to contain terrorism on their