Wednesday Posting #4
As it has been observed in class, researchers generally define a social movement as “a collectivity with some continuity to promote or resist a change in the society or organization of which it is apart…” (Turner and Killian). In addition to the definition, the terrorism movement includes many elements of a social movement such as frames, tactics, “faces”, and even arguably possesses a collective identity. Terrorists, as Pape states “are seeking to establish or maintain political self- determination.” This is similar to the gay rights movement, civil rights movement, and many others. Furthermore, although the terrorism movement is fighting to shut out democracy and maintain traditionalism, they are using their culture within their organization. The manner they use it is by their religion Islam, in which they take it to the extreme. As a result, they use religion to assimilate many people and this sequentially leads to the use of “motivational framing” with emotional approaches (such as the love for Allah). This frame encourages and/or pressures members into activity/ and or action (terrorism). Although very radical in approach it is very much a movement just as all the others we have read about in class. Pape’s article fully interconnects with my conclusion theory of the natural and scientific forest. He makes a case that terrorism is indeed a social movement and its suicidal attacks are not just meant to provoke fear. He considers these attacks to have established goals as well . Pape argues that the root of terrorism is not Islamic fundamentalism, but rather it a response to foreign occupation. The natural and scientific forest theory further explains why this crisis in the Middle East has transpired, and possibly elucidates why this terrorist movement exists today.
First, let us think of the scientific and natural forest. The scientific forest is a natural forest controlled by man or man-made. Managed along with many other aspects are flora and fauna, where they will be placed, what various types will be present, as well as the number. In the natural forest, man does not control it, letting mother nature and the natural mechanism to flow freely. The natural environment is not interrupted and each organism possesses functions that contribute to it. As a result, the natural forest is more capable of dealing with disease, population, along with many other predicaments . We see this theory in the crisis of the Middle East. Who are we as Americans to say that democracy is the best form of government? Do not get me wrong, I love democracy and its freedom, however it is crucial to understand these people have never lived under one. We are intruding onto their land to instill the same blue print as ours to replace their own. The United States went in without fully understanding their culture, their religion, their lives, or ethics. Therefore turmoil has unfolded. Perhaps the best thing to have done was to give people the knowledge of how a democracy works. This would have the intention for them to apply their own culture, ethics, etc. to the new formation of their government. Through this they could have decided to use all, some or none of the democratic principles. We also could have gone Pape’s route where suggests we could have kept our forces close enough to the Middle East in order to deploy in the case of an emergency. This is like the natural forest where man at times only interrupts when there is a conflict such as extinction. Although this theory of the scientific and natural forest is used to explain the emergence of the terrorist movement and/ or anti- Americanism sentiment in the Middle East, it does not approve of the extreme radical tactics in use. It is comprehendable that these people are fighting for their beliefs. However to use Malcom X’s farthest end of “by any means necessary” is unacceptable. While Tilly points that many Americans see terrorism as mindless acts of violence to induce fear, it really is not. It can be converted into a very powerful tool to extort resources and political power. I agree with Tilly and Pape that terrorism is a movement. However there are better means, and further diplomatic ways of handling issues. Communication is one in which I feel the terrorism movement has not wholly attempted to do. I believe this is due to a lack of education, propaganda and former politics in where there was high anti-american sentiment. This group I feel is using terror as a tool to overthrow the government. This is very wrong to do because it makes them illegitimate to create a new one, or even put their two cents in. They are not only committing acts of violence to Americans but to their own people as well.
Scholarly resources:
http://www.bepress.com/ngs/vol2/iss3/art2/
The Social Movements Reader: Cases and Concepts
Blowing Up an Assumption by Robert A. Pape
Violence, Terror, and Politics as Usual by Charles Tilly
"The United States went in without fully understanding their culture, their religion, their lives, or ethics" I would strongly agree, I served in Iraq for a year for an infantry unit. I knew that we were not winning the hearts and minds of the Iraqi people because of the reasons you have discussed. Graet Job really enjoyed your post
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