THE IMPACT OF GLOBALISATION ON RADICALISM

There is the fact that globalization has put crucial factors on the development of radicalism or
extremism.
Terrorism is considered a growing fundamental concern to both national and international
security. Although terrorism is not considered a new war, the method used by contemporary
terrorist has been aided by the advancement of technology.
Furthermore, it has been argued that weak/failing states are a breeding ground for terrorist
organizations. The phenomenon “weak state” according to Newman (2007) “refers to a situation
where central government has a poor capacity to control public order within its territory, is
unable to consistently control its borders, cannot reliably maintain viable public institutions or
services, and is vulnerable to extra-constitutional domestic challenges” (Newman, 2007:465).
Most of these weak/failing states are found in Africa, South Asia and the Middle East. This study
is a case study of Boko Haram insurgency in Nigeria. Although Nigeria is not yet a failing state,
it currently houses one of the deadliest terrorist group in the world. For years, Nigerian
government and its security agencies have been combating the rise of the Islamic militant sect,
Boko Haram. The sect which started as a small social group fighting for the poor and the
oppressed in the society has grown into a menace that graces the headlines of both local and
international news.
There are 3 elements that globalization impacting on extremism, especially Boko Haram in
Nigeria.
1. The width and speed of the organization’s development
The emerging trend of modern day terrorism is spreading like wildfire fire around the world to
the extent that its impact is felt beyond the location of the actual incidence. In light of its growth,
terrorism has left no region of the world spared with its attack. The worst hit regions are Africa
and the Middle East. These regions are the hardest hit partly because of the developmental issues
that has helped to intensify the consequences of terrorism. Although terrorism has been
considered to be a recent development in West Africa however, the use of terror as a strategy is
not new. On September 19 1989 there was a bomb blast involving a UTA flight 779 over Niger,
all the passengers and cabin crew on board were killed. On May 30 1995, there was a bomb at
Ilorin Stadium in Nigeria (Ewi, 2012).
These incidences show that there have been existential forms of terrorism in the region that has
since its inception been threatened by insecurity and varied forms of threats. Gradually, small
attacks began to grow into bigger attacks. Through the influence of technological advancement
these small groups were exposed to external influence. For example, Boko Haram operational
network cuts across African countries and they have ties with another big terrorist organization
across the globe. If not from the external support which the Boko Haram group have gotten,
Nigerian security operatives would have been able to contain them.
The increased availability of and access to ICT, specifically the Internet, has made it much easier
for terrorist organizations to communicate, plan and coordinate attacks. Thus, globalization has
essentially aided terrorists in their aims and could be said to have facilitated international
terrorism.
2. Strengthen the organization’s power
Globalization brings with it an increased availability of and access to information
communications technology (ICT). As time progresses, availability of and access to
cheap/affordable ICT and other Internet services increases. The following subsection will focus
specifically on the way in which technology, mainly ICT, has aided/facilitated acts of
international terrorism. According to Heine and Thakur (2011:4) the forces of globalization have
unleashed “the infrastructure of uncivil society and accelerated the transnational flows of
terrorism.” Since globalization is effectively driven by communication technologies, it allows for
the establishment and maintenance of elaborate networks across the globe, but it does not allow
for one clear leader.
The use of information technologies such as cellular phones and unofficial or official websites in
English has enabled terrorist groups to reach further than ever before and has also led to greater
efficiency in their activities. Thus, terrorists now find it much easier to coordinate attacks, recruit
potential members and communicate with their “members”. Terrorists have excelled at using
information and telecoms technology to promote their cause and foster their objectives – from
websites to satellite phones. Furthermore, the free availability of encryption programmes has also
provided terrorist organizations with the ability to communicate with one another via secure
conduits without “detection.” In addition, it is also extremely difficult to effectively track
terrorist communications when they are utilising emails, as account information is usually
anonymous, or the email messages are encrypted. The increased availability of and access to
technology has given individuals/groups (including terrorists) increased access to the outside
world. It has made communicating with others across the globe very easy and has effectively
“flattened” the world.
It is clear that migration flows, facilitated by globalization, have played a major part in
aiding/facilitating the movement of terrorists/terrorist organizations across borders. These
migration flows have enabled terrorists to travel to the destinations they wish to attack. Other
factors such as proximity and porous borders have further facilitated the process of migration and
have in turn facilitated terrorism. It is important to note that migration flows have not necessarily
encouraged terrorism; they have simply made travel easier for the perpetrators.
Globalization has led to increasing inequality and has widened the gap between rich and poor.
Not only has globalization created a large number of poor and disinherited people, it has also
informed these people of their abject poverty and dispossession. Globalization often exacerbates
the degree of economic and social inequality and polarization within certain states. Thus, there
now comes into existence a group of “losers” who are unable to keep up with the rest of the
populace who benefit from globalization, since they have declining incomes. Furthermore, the
areas that have been marginalized by globalization have attracted terrorist organizations, as these
areas are perceived as weak, easily accessible and susceptible to extremist dogma. According to
the majority of accounts, the group draws its membership from the ranks of disaffected youths,
unemployed graduates and former street children (Almajaris)
CONCLUSION
It was abundantly clear that globalization served as a facilitator of terrorism. However, the
existing literature has not been able to determine whether globalization actually encourages
international terrorism. In the analysis, a number of shortcomings were identified which could be
seen as possible gaps in the existing literature. These gaps need to be exploited and investigated.
Furthermore, the section analyzing published literature was also able to determine which areas,
relating specifically to globalization as facilitator of terrorism in the Horn of Africa and northern
Nigeria respectively, warrant further investigation.