Written Report - Group 1 War and Terrorism.pdf

Rizal Technological University College of Arts and Sciences Bachelor of Arts in Political Science OE05: Inquiry on Socio-Political Problems Written Report on War and Terrorism Submitted by: Jaspher Jay A. Villamor Kacey R. Yabut...

Rizal Technological University College of Arts and Sciences Bachelor of Arts in Political Science OE05: Inquiry on Socio-Political Problems Written Report on War and Terrorism Submitted by: Jaspher Jay A. Villamor Kacey R. Yabut Ivy S. Yumul CAS 01-702P Defining Conflict War A violent political instrument or activity with the intent of imposing the will of one assuming dominant party History of War Nature vs nurture perspective of war - Keeley and Rubenstein: argument of evidence for primitive warfare, Ferguson’s alternate perspective of war as a societal byproduct Leading causes of wars - 4th century BCE - 1st century AD: Imperial expansion, trade, and rebellion; 11th - 17th centuries, religious wars; 18th - 19th centuries, revolutionary doctrines; 20th - 21st centuries, political ideologies. History of American conflicts American Revolution against the British Empire and the establishment of American democracy. The manifest destiny principle; American Civil War; Spanish-American War; WW1-WW2; Korean War, Vietnam War; Arab Intervention. Terrorism generally refers to the use of violence against non-combatant individuals to achieve political or ideological aims. History of Terrorism Etymology - starting from the Reign of Terror by the Jacobins Pre modern history - stemming from revolutionary politics State as a legitimate terrorist Elements of Terrorism Definition and characterization Sociological Perspectives on War and Terrorism Functionalists Perspective Functionalists examine how conflicts help maintain the social order, creating and reinforcing social, religious, or national boundaries. War provides a "safety valve" function, giving marginalized or oppressed groups a means to express their discontent or anger. Acts of terrorism, according to Martha Crenshaw (1998), are selected as a course of action from a range of alternatives. Conflict Perspective From this perspective, war is not natural; it is a product of oppression and domination. Conflict may be based on disputes over resources or land.  A decision to go to war could be motivated not by ideals to preserve or promote freedom, but to ensure the economic well-being of the defense Eisenhower (1953) Feminists Perspective From this perspective, war is considered a primarily male activity that enhances the position of males in society. In our military system, decision-making and economic power are held primarily by men; as a result, international relations and politics are played out on women's bodies (Cuomo 1996). The wives were portrayed as long-suffering, supportive, and patriotic. Interactionists Perspective Interactionists focus on the social messages and meaning of war and conflict. As Jenkins (1980) explains, what is called terrorism thus seems to be dependent on one's point of view. When the problem is labeled terrorism or a group is labeled terrorists, a set of predetermined preferred solutions begins to emerge The Impact of War and terrorism Psychological Impact The World Health Organization (WHO) has stated that in situations of armed conflict, "Around 10 percent of the people who experience traumatic events will have serious mental health problems, and another 10 percent will develop behavior that will hinder their ability to function effectively." Mental health experts have identified post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as a common after effect of battle. Economic Impact According to The Institute for Economics & Peace (IEP) research, the global economic impact of terrorism reached US$52 billion (constant 2017 USD)3 in 2017, with the economic and opportunity costs arising from terrorism having increased by about two thirds in the ten years from 2008. In terms of GDP, globally, the economic impact of terrorism and violent extremism rose from 0.16 percent of global GDP in 2007 to 0.5 per cent of global GDP in 2016. The terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001 in New York and Washington D.C. had large economic impacts, with the losses from deaths, injuries and property destruction amounting to US$73 billion The second peak in the economic impact of terrorism in 2008 was driven by increases in terrorism related violence in Iraq. This increase is attributed to the activities of al-Qa’ida affiliated terrorist groups and coincided with a coalition troop surge in the country Since 2013, the increased levels of violence in Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan have led to a third surge in the economic impact of terrorism which has continued for the last four years. The economic impact of terrorism reached US$94 billion in 2016. Environmental Impact During the Vietnam War, the US used herbicide Agent Orange to destroy food crops and defoliate forestlands. More than 1.3 million of individuals were poisoned or contaminated. Other examples of environmental degradation and destruction resulting from war include the burning of oil wells in Kuwait (1991), the health risks associated with the use of depleted uranium weapons in Iraq (Gulf War, 1991), and the destruction of the mountain gorilla habitat in Rwanda (1994) Political Impact - Terrorism may result in radical changes in the power relationship within a state, involving shifts in who governs and under what rules. - As a target of terrorism, the US government has also experienced a redistribution of power as federal and state agencies have sought to improve intelligence gathering and security procedures. Domestic Terrorism (homegrown terrorism) - Violent, criminal acts committed by individuals and/or groups to further ideological goals stemming from domestic influences, such as those of a political, religious, social, racial, or environmental nature. 1. Oklahoma City Bombing (1995): A domestic terrorist attack that killed 168 people and injured hundreds more. 2. January 6th Capitol Attack (2021): An insurrection attempt motivated by false claims of election fraud. Nuclear Weapons Are destructive devices that harness the power of nuclear fission or fusion to release massive amounts of energy. They are capable of causing widespread devastation, including mass casualties, environmental damage, and long-lasting consequences. July 16, 1945: The United States successfully tests the first atomic bomb, the Trinity Device, in New Mexico. August 6, 1945: The United States drops an atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan, killing an estimated 140,000 people. August 9, 1945: 1 drops another atomic bomb on Nagasaki, Japan, killing an estimated 74,000 people. The Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) in 1970 - The nuclear weapon states are obligated to disarm, while the non-nuclear weapon states are prohibited from acquiring or developing nuclear weapons. Community, Policy, and Social Action Political Diplomacy According to Christopher Harmon (2000), “political will, more than new laws or new direction(s) in international politics, is the most important component of an enhanced effort against foreign supported terrorism”. The absence of political law is the absence of new laws or new direction(s). Political scientist Stephan Van Evera (2006) argues that the United States must develop and use its power to make peace.  Economic Sanctions Sanctions are considered an alternative to diplomacy or military force. Economic sanctions, in the form of trade embargoes and the termination of development assistance, are the most commonly applied form of sanctions, and they have the most significant public health consequences. Military Response Military intervention has also been defined as a form of humanitarian intervention. According to Canada’s International Commision on Intervention and State Sovereignty (2001), there are three aspects of responsibility to protect: How to prevent humanitarian crises (1), under which conditions and in what way to intervene (2), and how to maintain peace after a military conflict and rebuild the country. 2011 - The United Nations approved NATO military intervention in Libya to protect civilians from being killed by the armed military forces of Libya. Antiwar and Peace Movements Antiwar Movements - characterized as reactive, occuring only in response to specific wars or the threat of war. Ex. The Vietnam War Protest Movement Peace Movements - represents organized conditions that are fundamentally concerned with the problems of war, militarism, conscription and mass violence, and the ideals of internationalism, globalism and non-violent relations between people. Ex. The Global Peace Movement Women as Peacemakers Women's International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF) , 1915 Mothers and Grandmothers of the Plaza de Mayo Women in Black Aung San Suu Kyi Between 1989 and 2010, Aung San Suu Kyi was a political prisoner in Myanmar. Served as chairperson of the National League for Democracy (NLD), promoting democracy in the military-ruled country. In 2012, Suu Kyi along with 44 other NLD candidates ran and won a seat in Myanmar’s parliament. College Activists The Anti-Vietnam War Movement (1960s-1970s) Black student unions