What are the drivers of global extremism and terrorism? How can the ‘competitive fundamentalisms’ which threaten to polarise Western and Islamic societies be mitigated? This article from the Strategic Foresight Group surveys the history of terrorist campaigns around the world and offers recommendations for creating a more integrated international community. New organisations to foster political cooperation, initiatives to integrate the Arab world into the global economy and democracy promotion exercises may help counteract the current trend towards radicalism.
Extremism and terrorism take different forms in different contexts. Nevertheless, a sense of social exclusion resulting from socio-economic deprivation and the political influence of radical groups are two common drivers. Western discourse often applies an overly restrictive understanding of ‘extremism’ and ‘terrorism’, focussing excessively on Islamicist groups and disregarding other radical groups which do not directly threaten Western interests. Meanwhile, the Arab media tends to ignore bad governance and human rights violations in its own societies, focussing instead on events in Israel or the United States. Both discourses provide selective readings of history which overlook both the pluralist contribution provided by non-Western societies to modern civilisation and the extent to which the Islamic and Christian worlds have peacefully coexisted.
The antagonism which exists between Western and Islamic societies and the disengagement of the Arab world in the international economy can be addressed through a number of initiatives:
- New dynamism should be instilled in the Israel-Palestine peace process by establishing a semi-permanent conference. This conference should include all representative Palestinian groups, engage stakeholders at many levels and addresse long-term security questions.
- Wider security concerns facing the Western and Islamic worlds should be discussed in a new Contact Group of credible leaders from both sides to explore common political, ethical and economic ground.
- An International Historical Study Group should be inaugurated to survey and publicise all nations’ historical contribution to modern civilisation.
- A new initiative should be launched to portray Islamic culture as a rational, progressive, pluralist tradition which could inform the Middle East’s future economic, political and technological development.
- Centres of research and development, and institutes of technology and linguistic expertise should be fostered in Middle Eastern universities and business parks.
- Entrepreneurship should be promoted in the Middle East, following the example of Qatar and Bahrain. Greater levels of foreign investment and a more vibrant civil society should be encouraged.
- In order to participate more fully in the global economy, the Arab world should liberalise its markets in return for Western trade concessions, and contribute to the global fight against poverty and international terrorism.
It is also necessary to address the problems of the world at large through the ‘3Ds’: Development, Democracy and Dialogue:
- Development: Education should be used as a tool to better equip poorer groups to participate in the modern economy.
- Democracy: Inclusive political structures, which promote accountability and transparency, should focus on giving the marginalised a voice.
- Dialogue: Extremist groups must be encouraged to participate in dialogue as a precursor to peace, rather than as a bargaining counter to further their own violent ends.
