In the 21st century, global terrorism has become a complex problem that all nations need to address from an informed perspective. For instance, attackers have changed with modern technologies since they are now able to engage in cyber-terrorism (Zimmerman 4). More terrorist groups have become more united, capable of communicating much faster and coordinating their missions efficiently. The increasing speed of communication, money transfer, and identification of potential targets complicate this predicament much further. Some good examples of modern-day terrorism include cyberattacks and the destruction of critical infrastructure (Renard 6). Fortunately, many countries have implemented superior measures to protect their citizens against possible attacks and plots. For instance, they have considered the importance of coordinated technological systems to prevent cyber-terrorism and install cameras to detect questionable human movements. Governments have liaised with stakeholders in the financial sector to monitor transactions and behaviors that could be associated with global terrorism.
Despite such measures, countries continue to be impacted by terrorism in various ways. For instance, some have lost their citizens and suffered serious damages due to attacks targeting critical infrastructure systems. In every nation with terrorist groups, its economy remains crippled and incapable of supporting people’s life experiences. At the global level, international differences, social challenges, cases of poverty, and unsettled religious relations have been identified as the primary triggers of terrorism (Asongu et al. 219). Nationalism and propaganda have pushed the vice to the next level since some want to promote their ideologies and project their foreign policies globally (Zimmerman 17). Terrorists respond by engaging in propaganda and seeking sympathy from sympathetic countries that want to settle the status quo. These aspects create a cycle that makes the aftermath another reason to continue engaging in such vices.
Works Cited
Asongu, Simplice, et al. “Terrorism and Social Media: Global Evidence.” Journal of Global Information Technology Management, vol. 22, no. 3, 2019, pp. 208-228.
Renard, Thomas. Fear Not: A Critical Perspective on the Terrorist Threat in Europe. EGMONT: Royal Institute for International Relations, 2016.
Zimmerman, Katherine. Terrorism, Tactics, and Transformation: The West vs the Salafi-Jihadi Movement. American Enterprise Institute, 2018.