10 - The Political Economy of Terrorism
Corresponding Author(s) : Adekunle Amuwo
Africa Development,
Vol. 27 No. 1-2 (2002): Africa Development
Abstract
This paper seeks to explicate the underlying structural factors that, over the past several decades, have made terrorism a more or less viable instrument of political change in an increasingly fractionalized global hamlet. Terrorism is, however, a multi- faceted phenomenon involving both a systematic and sporadic use of terror by governments and other social actors, with a view to forcing some specific or general political and related objectives. Using an implicit dialectical materialist methodology, the paper explores the international political economy anchored on an essentially Western frame of reference of interests and contradictory values that permits the US and its allies to run the globe as they deem fit-including using, misusing and abusing the rest of the world. Elements within this frame include violation of international laws; contempt for international treaties as well as for the UN when expedient to do so; selective application of democratic values and principles; support of strong-arm rulers/ tin-pot dictators when they are useful and their abandonment when their nuisance value diminishes. The paper argues that the rule of force as against the rule of law has tended to radicalize the victims, admittedly in varying degrees. It suggests in conclusion, the articulation, by all stakeholders in a shrinking global ecology, of a people- friendly and people-centred ethical compass, one apt at making inter-state, inter-national and inter-people relations more humane and more human. Enlightened self-interest ought to dictate to everyone concerned that it is in their common interest to assiduously work towards this goal.
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- Ajami, F., 2000, The New Faith', Foreign Poliry, Summer pp.30-34.
- Amuwo, 'K., 1995, 'A Political Economy of Human Rights Violation in Africa', Annais of the Social Science Council of Nigeria, 7,January-December pp.23-39.
- Amuwo, 'K., 1998, 'Llmits of Political Islam in Nigeria', The Nigerian ]011mai of Politics and Public Poliry, 2, 1-2, December pp.17-27.
- Asman, F., 2001, The War in Afghanistan is a means to an end', Mail and Guardian (Johannesburg) November 30 to December 6, p.31.
- Awvonda, M., 2002, 'ADB battles for funds for Africa', West Afiica, 28 January-3 February, pp.32-33.
- Bengio, O., 2000, 'How does Saddam Hold Oil?', Foreign Affam,July/ August pp.90-103. Biema, V., 2001, 'Why the Bombers Keep Coming', Time, December 17 p.25.
- Economy, Washington, World Bank and Oxford University Press.
- Cox, M., 2002, 'American Power, before and after 11 September: dizzy with success?'. International Affairs, 78, 2, April, pp.261-276.
- Esposito, J.L., 1997, 'Claiming the Center', Harvard International Review, Spring, pp.8ff. Ewewu, I., 2002, 'US Patriot Act and Human Rights', This D'!'J Online (Lagos), 22 March. Gardner, N.R., 2000, 'The One Percent Solution: Shirking the Cost of World Leadership', Foreign Poliry,July/ August pp.2-11.
- Gerges, F.A., 1999, America and Political Islam: Clash of Cultures or Clash of Interests?, New York, Cambridge University Press.
- Ghadbian, N., 2000, 'Political Islam and Violence', New Political Science, 22, 1, March pp.77-88.
- Graff,J., 2002, 'The Quality of Justice', Time,January 28 p.16.
- Haas, R.N., 1995, 'Paradigm Lost', Foreign Affairs,January/February pp.43-58.
- Haas, R.N., 1999, 'What to do with American Primacy?', Foreign Affairs, September/October.
- Hallmayr, F., 2001, 'Review of Daniel A. Bell, East Meets West· Human Rights and Democrary in East Aria, (2000)', in American Political Science Review, 95, 2,June, pp.460-61.
- Hay, W.A., 2001, 'America, the West and the World', Omis, 45, 3, Summer pp.329-332. Huntington, S.P., 1999, 'The Lonely Superpower', Foreign Affairs, March/April pp.35-49. lgnatieff, M., 1995, 'On Civil Society: Why Eastern Europe's Revolutions Could Succeed', Foreign Affairs, March/April pp.128-136.
- Mason, W., 2000, 'The Future of Political Islam in Turkey', World Poliry Journal 17, 2, Summer
- pp.56-66.
- Mazrui, A, 1997, 'lslamic and Western Values', Foreign Affairr,September/October pp.118-132.
- McGeary, J., 2001, 'Radicals On The Rise', Time, December 17 pp.23-26.
- Minton-Beddoes, Z., 1995, 'Why the IMF Needs Reforms', Foreign Affairs, May/June pp.123-133.
- Mohamad, H., 2000, 'US Policy Towards Islamists: A Review of Recent Debates', Third WorldQuarterfy, 21 pp.567-580.
- Nafziger, E.W. and J. Auvinen, 2002, 'Economie Development, Inequality, War and State Violence', World Development, 30,2, February pp.153-163.
- Nye, J., 2002, 'The American National lnterest and global public grn;,ds', International Affairs,7, 2, April, pp.233-244.Osman, K., 2000a, 'Opposition Mounting Against US's Use of "Secret Evidence" Against Muslims', Crescent Intemational,July 16-31, p.4.
- Pillar, P.R., 2001, The Instruments of Counter-Terrorism', US Foreign Policy Agenda: Electronic Journal of the US Department of Stace, 6, 3, November.
- Pipes, D., 1995, The Good Ayatollahs', Review of Olivier Roy, The Failure of Political Islam, translaced by Carol Volk, 1994 in Commentary, June, pp.63-64.
- Pipes, D., 2001, 'War, Not Crimes', National &view, Occober.
- Quandt, W. B., 1995, Review of Augustus R. Norton, Civil Society in the Middle East, (1995) in
- Foreign Ajfairs, September/Occober p.180.
- Rashid, A., 1999, The Taliban: Exporting Extremism', Foreign Ajfairs, Sepcember/ October pp.22-35.
- Ratnesar, R., 2001, The Hune for bin Laden', Time, November 26 p.49.
- Rice, C., 2000, 'Promoting the National lnterest', Foreigp Affairs,January/February pp.45-62. Rose,
- G., 1999, 'lt Could Happen Here: Facing the New Terrorism', Foreign Ajfairs,
- March/April pp.131-137.
- Rugumamu, S. M., 2001, 'Globalization and Africa's Future: Towards Structural Stability,
- Integcacion and Sustainable Development, Harare, African Association of Policical Science',
- Occasional Paper Series, 5,2.
- Soros, G., 2000, The Age of Open Society', Foreign Poliry, Summer, pp.52-53.
- Stern, J., 2000, 'Pakiscan's Jihad Culture', Foreign Ajfairs, November/December pp.115-126.
- Scremlau, J., 2000, 'Ending Africa's Wars', Foreign A.ffeirs,July/ August pp.117-132.
- Sullivan, A., 1999, Review of J.L Esposico (ed.), 'Political Islam: Revolution, Radicalism or
- Reform', (1997), in Arab Studies Quarterly, Fall, pp.109ff.
- Thalif, D., 2002, 'Terrorism and the Rule of Law', WestA.ftica 28 January-3 February, p.19. Tucker,
- R.W., 1999, 'Alone or with others: The Temptacions of Post-Cold war Power',
- Foreign Affairs, November/December pp.15-20.
- The Economist, 2000, 'Iran, Islam and Democracy', 19 February p.19.
- The Economist, 2002, The dangers ofleaving it to Sharon', February 2, pp.14-15. The Economise,
- , 'George Bush and the Axis of Evil', February 2, p.14.
- The Economise, 2002, 'Globalisation: is it at risk', February 2, p.63.
- The Economist, 2002, 'Yemen and ics Islamises: Could Yemen's calm be threatened?', February 16.
- Van den Berg, 1999, Review of B. Tibi, The Challenge of Fundamentalism', inArab Studies Quarter/y,
- Fall, pp.99ff.
- Wtlkin, P., 2001, Review of Sarah O. Vanderslvis and P. Yerus (eds.) Poverty in World Politics:
- Whose Global Era, (2000), in journal of Modem A.ftican Studies, 39, 1, March, pp.187-8.
- Wright, R., 2000, 'Pax Kapital', Foreign Poliry, Summer p.67-69.
- Zanoyan, V., 1995, 'After the Oil Boom: The Holiday Ends in the Gulf', Foreign Ajfairs,
- November/December pp.2-7.
- Zubaida, S., 2000, 'Trajectories of Political Islam: Egypt, Iran and Turkey', Po/itical Quarter/y
- , 3, August pp.60-78
References
Ajami, F., 2000, The New Faith', Foreign Poliry, Summer pp.30-34.
Amuwo, 'K., 1995, 'A Political Economy of Human Rights Violation in Africa', Annais of the Social Science Council of Nigeria, 7,January-December pp.23-39.
Amuwo, 'K., 1998, 'Llmits of Political Islam in Nigeria', The Nigerian ]011mai of Politics and Public Poliry, 2, 1-2, December pp.17-27.
Asman, F., 2001, The War in Afghanistan is a means to an end', Mail and Guardian (Johannesburg) November 30 to December 6, p.31.
Awvonda, M., 2002, 'ADB battles for funds for Africa', West Afiica, 28 January-3 February, pp.32-33.
Bengio, O., 2000, 'How does Saddam Hold Oil?', Foreign Affam,July/ August pp.90-103. Biema, V., 2001, 'Why the Bombers Keep Coming', Time, December 17 p.25.
Economy, Washington, World Bank and Oxford University Press.
Cox, M., 2002, 'American Power, before and after 11 September: dizzy with success?'. International Affairs, 78, 2, April, pp.261-276.
Esposito, J.L., 1997, 'Claiming the Center', Harvard International Review, Spring, pp.8ff. Ewewu, I., 2002, 'US Patriot Act and Human Rights', This D'!'J Online (Lagos), 22 March. Gardner, N.R., 2000, 'The One Percent Solution: Shirking the Cost of World Leadership', Foreign Poliry,July/ August pp.2-11.
Gerges, F.A., 1999, America and Political Islam: Clash of Cultures or Clash of Interests?, New York, Cambridge University Press.
Ghadbian, N., 2000, 'Political Islam and Violence', New Political Science, 22, 1, March pp.77-88.
Graff,J., 2002, 'The Quality of Justice', Time,January 28 p.16.
Haas, R.N., 1995, 'Paradigm Lost', Foreign Affairs,January/February pp.43-58.
Haas, R.N., 1999, 'What to do with American Primacy?', Foreign Affairs, September/October.
Hallmayr, F., 2001, 'Review of Daniel A. Bell, East Meets West· Human Rights and Democrary in East Aria, (2000)', in American Political Science Review, 95, 2,June, pp.460-61.
Hay, W.A., 2001, 'America, the West and the World', Omis, 45, 3, Summer pp.329-332. Huntington, S.P., 1999, 'The Lonely Superpower', Foreign Affairs, March/April pp.35-49. lgnatieff, M., 1995, 'On Civil Society: Why Eastern Europe's Revolutions Could Succeed', Foreign Affairs, March/April pp.128-136.
Mason, W., 2000, 'The Future of Political Islam in Turkey', World Poliry Journal 17, 2, Summer
pp.56-66.
Mazrui, A, 1997, 'lslamic and Western Values', Foreign Affairr,September/October pp.118-132.
McGeary, J., 2001, 'Radicals On The Rise', Time, December 17 pp.23-26.
Minton-Beddoes, Z., 1995, 'Why the IMF Needs Reforms', Foreign Affairs, May/June pp.123-133.
Mohamad, H., 2000, 'US Policy Towards Islamists: A Review of Recent Debates', Third WorldQuarterfy, 21 pp.567-580.
Nafziger, E.W. and J. Auvinen, 2002, 'Economie Development, Inequality, War and State Violence', World Development, 30,2, February pp.153-163.
Nye, J., 2002, 'The American National lnterest and global public grn;,ds', International Affairs,7, 2, April, pp.233-244.Osman, K., 2000a, 'Opposition Mounting Against US's Use of "Secret Evidence" Against Muslims', Crescent Intemational,July 16-31, p.4.
Pillar, P.R., 2001, The Instruments of Counter-Terrorism', US Foreign Policy Agenda: Electronic Journal of the US Department of Stace, 6, 3, November.
Pipes, D., 1995, The Good Ayatollahs', Review of Olivier Roy, The Failure of Political Islam, translaced by Carol Volk, 1994 in Commentary, June, pp.63-64.
Pipes, D., 2001, 'War, Not Crimes', National &view, Occober.
Quandt, W. B., 1995, Review of Augustus R. Norton, Civil Society in the Middle East, (1995) in
Foreign Ajfairs, September/Occober p.180.
Rashid, A., 1999, The Taliban: Exporting Extremism', Foreign Ajfairs, Sepcember/ October pp.22-35.
Ratnesar, R., 2001, The Hune for bin Laden', Time, November 26 p.49.
Rice, C., 2000, 'Promoting the National lnterest', Foreigp Affairs,January/February pp.45-62. Rose,
G., 1999, 'lt Could Happen Here: Facing the New Terrorism', Foreign Ajfairs,
March/April pp.131-137.
Rugumamu, S. M., 2001, 'Globalization and Africa's Future: Towards Structural Stability,
Integcacion and Sustainable Development, Harare, African Association of Policical Science',
Occasional Paper Series, 5,2.
Soros, G., 2000, The Age of Open Society', Foreign Poliry, Summer, pp.52-53.
Stern, J., 2000, 'Pakiscan's Jihad Culture', Foreign Ajfairs, November/December pp.115-126.
Scremlau, J., 2000, 'Ending Africa's Wars', Foreign A.ffeirs,July/ August pp.117-132.
Sullivan, A., 1999, Review of J.L Esposico (ed.), 'Political Islam: Revolution, Radicalism or
Reform', (1997), in Arab Studies Quarterly, Fall, pp.109ff.
Thalif, D., 2002, 'Terrorism and the Rule of Law', WestA.ftica 28 January-3 February, p.19. Tucker,
R.W., 1999, 'Alone or with others: The Temptacions of Post-Cold war Power',
Foreign Affairs, November/December pp.15-20.
The Economist, 2000, 'Iran, Islam and Democracy', 19 February p.19.
The Economist, 2002, The dangers ofleaving it to Sharon', February 2, pp.14-15. The Economise,
, 'George Bush and the Axis of Evil', February 2, p.14.
The Economise, 2002, 'Globalisation: is it at risk', February 2, p.63.
The Economist, 2002, 'Yemen and ics Islamises: Could Yemen's calm be threatened?', February 16.
Van den Berg, 1999, Review of B. Tibi, The Challenge of Fundamentalism', inArab Studies Quarter/y,
Fall, pp.99ff.
Wtlkin, P., 2001, Review of Sarah O. Vanderslvis and P. Yerus (eds.) Poverty in World Politics:
Whose Global Era, (2000), in journal of Modem A.ftican Studies, 39, 1, March, pp.187-8.
Wright, R., 2000, 'Pax Kapital', Foreign Poliry, Summer p.67-69.
Zanoyan, V., 1995, 'After the Oil Boom: The Holiday Ends in the Gulf', Foreign Ajfairs,
November/December pp.2-7.
Zubaida, S., 2000, 'Trajectories of Political Islam: Egypt, Iran and Turkey', Po/itical Quarter/y
, 3, August pp.60-78