Recently, the problem of international terrorism has become one of the most pressing global problems of our time related to the sphere international relations. This transformation is due, in our opinion, to the following reasons:
Firstly, international terrorism, unfortunately, is becoming increasingly widespread on a planetary scale. It manifests itself both in traditional regions international conflicts(for example, the Middle East, South Asia), and the most developed and prosperous states (in particular the USA and Western Europe) were not immune from this dangerous phenomenon.
Secondly, international terrorism poses a serious threat to the security of individual states and the entire world community as a whole. Every year hundreds of acts of international terrorism are committed in the world, and the sad count of their victims amounts to thousands of killed and maimed people;
Thirdly, the efforts of one great power or even a group of highly developed states are not enough to combat international terrorism. Overcoming international terrorism as an escalating global problem requires the collective efforts of the majority of states and peoples on our planet, the entire world community.
Fourthly, the connection between the modern phenomenon of international terrorism and other pressing global problems of our time is becoming increasingly clear and visible. At present, the problem of international terrorism must be considered as important element the whole complex of universal, global problems.
The problem of international terrorism has many common features characteristic of other universal human difficulties, such as the planetary scale of manifestation; great sharpness; negative dynamism, when the negative impact on the life of humanity increases; need for an urgent solution, etc. In the same time global problem International terrorism also has specific, characteristic features. Let's take a closer look at the most important of them. First of all, you should pay attention to the fact that the problem of international terrorism is connected with the main spheres of life of the world community and societies of individual countries: politics, national relations, religion, ecology, criminal communities, etc. This connection is reflected in the existence of various types of terrorism, which include: political, nationalist, religious, criminal and environmental terrorism.
Members of groups carrying out political terror set as their task the achievement of political, social or economic changes within a particular state, as well as the undermining of interstate relations and international law and order. Nationalist (or as it is also called national, ethnic or separatist) terrorism pursues the goals of solving national question, which in recent years has increasingly acquired the character of separatist aspirations in various multi-ethnic states.
The religious type of terrorism is caused by attempts by armed groups professing one or another religion to fight against a state dominated by another religion or another religious trend. Criminal terrorism is formed on the basis of any criminal business (drug trafficking, illegal arms trafficking, smuggling, etc.) with the aim of creating chaos and tension in the conditions of which it is most likely to receive excess profits. Environmental terrorism is carried out by groups that use violent methods in general against scientific and technological progress and pollution environment, killing animals and building nuclear facilities.
Another distinctive feature The global problem of international terrorism is the significant influence on it of international criminal communities, certain political forces and some states. This influence undoubtedly leads to an aggravation of the problem under consideration. In the modern world, there are manifestations of state terrorism associated with attempts to eliminate heads of foreign states and other political figures; with actions aimed at overthrowing the governments of foreign countries; creating panic among the population of foreign countries, etc.
International terrorism is now an integral part of the proliferation of criminal transnational organizations supported by corrupt government officials and politicians. Thus, in the widely known work of English scientists “Global Transformations” it is noted: “There are also negative forms of international organizations, such as terrorist and criminal organizations. Despite the centuries-long conflict between smugglers and authorities, last years The growth of transnational criminal organizations is associated with the drug trade (now, according to experts, its annual turnover is over $300 billion) and the widespread prevalence of organized crime. Addressing these issues has become a major challenge for governments and police forces around the world.” Another specific feature of the global problem of international terrorism is its difficulty in predicting. In many cases, the subjects of terrorism are mentally unstable people and overly ambitious politicians. Terrorism is often seen as a way to achieve goals on the world stage and in international relations that cannot be achieved by any other methods. IN modern conditions forms of terrorist activity are becoming more and more complex and come into increasing conflict with universal human values and the logic of world development.
Thus, the problem of international terrorism poses a real planetary threat to the world community. This problem has its own specificity, which distinguishes it from other universal human difficulties. However, the problem of terrorism is closely interconnected with most global problems of modern international relations. It can be considered one of the most pressing global problems of our days.
However, the latest terrorist attacks, primarily the tragic events of September 11, 2001 in New York, have become unprecedented in the history of mankind in their scale and influence on the further course of world politics. Number of victims, extent and nature of destruction caused by terrorist attacks beginning of the XXI centuries turned out to be comparable to the consequences of armed conflicts and local wars. The response measures caused by these terrorist acts led to the creation of an international anti-terrorist coalition, which included dozens of states, which previously took place only in the case of major armed conflicts and wars. Retaliatory anti-terrorist military actions have also acquired a planetary scale.
Terrorism, as well as its consequences, is one of the main and most dangerous problems facing the modern world. The reality of the present time is the fact that terrorism increasingly threatens the security of most countries and entails enormous political, economic and moral losses. Any country, any person can become its victims. The problem of terrorism at the turn of the XX-XXI centuries. has acquired special significance due to its globalization, increased activity, and, consequently, the growing scale of the threat.
Terrorism has developed most since the 60s of the 20th century, when entire regions of the world were covered with zones and centers of activity of terrorist organizations and groups of various orientations. Today there are about 500 illegal terrorist organizations in the world. From 1968 to 1980, they committed about 6,700 terrorist attacks, resulting in 3,668 deaths and 7,474 injuries.
An unprecedented increase in terrorist attacks occurred in the last decade of the 20th century. Over ten years, 6,500 acts of international terrorism were committed, which killed 5 thousand people and injured more than 11 thousand people. Thousands of ordinary citizens in different cities of the world were victims of terror, including Moscow, St. Petersburg, Budennovsk, Pervomaisk, Grozny, and in a number of regions of Dagestan.
Currently, there is an increase in the public danger of terrorism both for international relations and for national security, constitutional order and the rights of citizens of the most diverse countries in the world. Terrorism is becoming a long-term factor in modern political life. In addition, the connection between state and domestic terrorism continues and intensifies.
These findings were confirmed by the events of September 11, 2001 in New York and Washington. These terrorist acts are the most daring and large-scale action of international terrorists, as a result of which several thousand people were immediately killed.
Terrorism is a multifaceted phenomenon: it intertwines political, legal, psychological, philosophical, historical, technological and other aspects. It is no coincidence that the international community has failed to develop a generally acceptable definition of this important political category.
Terror as a special form of political violence is characterized by cruelty, purposefulness and apparent effectiveness. These features predetermined the widespread use of terror throughout human history as a means of political struggle in the interests of the state, organizations and individual groups of people.
“Terror” in Russian is defined as intimidation of an enemy through physical violence, up to and including destruction, and terrorism is the practice of terror. The actions of terrorists are not always associated with murder, but always imply violence, coercion, and threat. The goals can also be different: purely selfish, based on the thirst for profit; political, including from narrow corporate ones to the overthrow of the state system. Terrorist acts are also committed for the sake of an idea. Therefore, those who share the ideas of a terrorist often call him a patriot, freedom fighter, oppositionist, etc.
In modern conditions, there is an escalation of terrorist activities by extremist individuals, groups and organizations, its nature is becoming more complex, and the sophistication and inhumanity of terrorist acts are increasing. According to studies by a number of Russian scientists and data from foreign research centers, the total budget in the field of terrorism is annually from 5 to 20 billion dollars.
Terrorism has already acquired an international, global character. Until relatively recently, terrorism could be spoken of as a local phenomenon. In the 80-90s. XX century it has already become a phenomenon on a global scale. This is due to the expansion and globalization of international relations and interaction in various fields.
The world community's concern about the growth of terrorist activity is due to the large number of victims of terrorists and the enormous material damage caused by terror.
Every year, hundreds and even thousands of people die as a result of terrorist attacks in various parts of the world. As a rule, these are peaceful citizens who have become unwitting hostages of someone’s evil will.
Thus, for two days, from September 1 to September 2, 2004, in the gym of school No. 1 in Beslan (Republic of North Ossetia-Alania), terrorists held teachers, students and their parents - more than 1,200 people in total. As a result of the explosion carried out by terrorists, the roof of the gym collapsed. 331 people died, including 172 children, and 559 people were injured.
The variety of terrorist activities is increasing, which is increasingly linked to national, religious, ethnic conflicts, separatist and liberation movements.
Terrorist activity in modern conditions is characterized by:
Wide scope, absence of clearly defined state borders, presence of communication and interaction with international terrorist centers and organizations;
Tough organizational structure, consisting of management and operational levels, intelligence and counterintelligence units, logistics, combat groups and cover;
Strict secrecy and careful selection of personnel;
Availability of agents in law enforcement and government agencies;
good technical equipment, competing with, or even superior to, the equipment of government military units;
The presence of an extensive network of secret shelters, training bases and polygons.
It is characteristic that, having received modern means of information warfare into its hands, international terrorism imposes its ideas and its assessments of the situation on the people, and widely and successfully solves mobilization tasks to attract young people into its ranks, not to mention professional mercenaries.
Today, terrorism is no longer only and not so much about lone saboteurs, airplane hijackers and kamikaze killers. Modern terrorism consists of powerful structures with equipment corresponding to their scale. The examples of Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Kosovo, Chechnya and the powerful patrons and donors behind them show that modern terrorism is capable of waging a sabotage and terrorist war and participating in large-scale armed conflicts. Terrorism has become a very profitable business global scale with a developed “labor market” (mercenaries and others) and capital applications (weapons suppliers, drug trafficking, etc.).
Of particular concern is the intensification of international terrorism and the expansion of its connections with transnational organized crime, drug trafficking, money laundering, procurement large batches weapons and ammunition, as well as nuclear, chemical, biological and other hazardous materials to combat various countries and peoples in the modern world.
Distinctive Features modern terrorism are:
Formation of international and regional governing bodies to resolve issues of planning terrorist activities, preparing and conducting specific operations, organizing interaction between individual groups and performers involved in a particular action;
Inciting anti-government sentiments in society in order to successful fight for influence and power;
Penetration into public and state political, economic and security structures;
Creation of an extensive network of centers and bases for training militants and supporting operations in different regions peace, the creation of an underground network, caches and warehouses of weapons and ammunition in various countries and regions;
Creation of a network of firms, companies, banks, funds that are used as cover for terrorists, financing and comprehensive support for their operations;
Concentration of financial resources in the hands of terrorists due to the merging of terrorism with drug trafficking and arms trafficking;
Use of the right to political asylum, residence, activity and base provided by a number of states;
Using conflict and crisis situations to spread your influence.
Terrorist groups are actively using modern advances in science and technology to their advantage and have gained wide access to information and modern military technologies. Terrorism is acquiring new forms and opportunities due to the increasing integration of the international community, the development of information, economic and financial ties, the expansion of migration flows and the weakening of controls over border crossings.
Terrorism is looking for new, increasingly cruel and large-scale methods of intimidation. The terrorists crossed a fundamental boundary - they resorted (in the Japanese subway) to the use of means of mass destruction. According to foreign experts, terrorists have already made more than once attempts to “grope” the way to weapons of mass destruction, tried to seize them or produce them, penetrate nuclear institutions or facilities, use potent toxic agents, commit sabotage against existing and under construction nuclear installations and nuclear power plants. Public opinion in a number of countries is constantly agitated by rumors of theft and illegal commercial transactions with fissile materials, their secret transportation abroad.
Thus, terrorism turned out to be directly related to the problem of the survival of mankind and ensuring the security of the state. He is not inclined to stop at anything to achieve his goals. Internationally, terrorism has spread like a terrible epidemic.
The growing activity of terrorism requires the adoption of emergency measures on an international scale now.
The fight against terrorism, as international and domestic experience shows, can be effective if it is built on the following principles:
Preventing terrorist acts through properly organized operational activities, planning and preparation for the disruption of planned terrorist actions;
Minimal concessions to terrorists. During negotiations, only private, tactical concessions can be allowed to gain time and preparatory activities to carry out the most effective operation under the current conditions;
Minimizing casualties and damage during the anti-terrorist operation;
The inevitability of punishment for terrorist activities.
Currently, the fight against terrorism, depending on its specific forms and historical characteristics, must be carried out comprehensively, in several main areas:
1. By improving the activities of special structures that are directly responsible for the fight against terrorism. In modern conditions, the role of intelligence activities, which are capable of anticipating, i.e., is sharply increasing. prevent a terrorist attack.
2. Through military operations.
International law considers retaliatory force against terrorists permissible when the perpetrator of a terrorist act is beyond doubt. In addition, the retaliatory strike must be commensurate with the damage caused by terrorists; the victim of terrorism must seek other means of influence against the direct perpetrators and accomplices of terrorist actions in order to prevent their recurrence in the future.
3. Using a negotiation process aimed at ending terrorist activities, gradually solving pressing social problems and establishing lasting peace in the country or region.
International experience shows that negotiations with terrorists can have some success.
1. In connection with the transformation of international terrorism into global threat It is necessary to coordinate the efforts of the countries of the world to fight and counter this evil.
The tragic Moscow events of October 23-26, 2002 in the cultural center on Dubrovka and September 1-2, 2004 in Beslan once again reminded us that it is necessary to wage a merciless fight against terrorism. To ensure the necessary effectiveness of this fight, a simultaneous targeted impact on social factors and the conditions that determine terrorism and facilitate its spread. A wide range of government bodies with the involvement of the public should participate in solving problems intended for the implementation of social, criminological and special prevention.
The Federal Law “On the Fight against Terrorism,” which entered into force on August 4, 1998, for the first time in the history of our country, legislatively established a system of measures to counter this threat.
According to the Law, entities directly involved in the fight against terrorism in Russian Federation, are: federal Service Security Service (FSB), Ministry of Internal Affairs (MVD), Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR), Federal Security Service (FSO), Ministry of Defense (MO), and the entities involved in the prevention, detection and suppression of terrorist activities within their competence are and other federal executive authorities, the list of which is determined by the Government of the Russian Federation (clause 3 of article 6 of the Law).
The strategy to counter terrorism includes:
Ideological, informational, organizational counteraction to the formation of terrorist intentions and sentiments among citizens;
Legal, informational, administrative and operational counteraction to the emergence of terrorist (extremist) groups and organizations;
Preventing the acquisition of weapons, ammunition and other means of carrying out criminal acts by persons harboring terrorist intentions;
Prevention of terrorist actions at the stage of their preparation and attempt;
Operational, combat, criminal legal suppression of terrorist actions at the stage of their implementation.
In recent years, identifying hotbeds of terrorism in the near and far abroad that threaten the interests of Russia and its national security has become of particular importance. A particular threat is posed by extremist and terrorist organizations in the Muslim world, which achieve their goals by launching subversive work, including armed struggle on the territory of Russia and its neighboring countries.
Radical Muslim organizations located in Chechnya receive financial assistance from their organizations in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, UAE, Qatar, Egypt, Jordan, Pakistan. One of the sponsors is Saudi billionaire Osama bin Laden. The activities of Islamist organizations in Chechnya are supported on an ongoing basis by Ukrainian nationalists from the UNA - UNSO organization.
This is not a complete picture of the activities of international terrorism, which is increasingly trying to turn the post-Soviet space, especially Russia, into a zone of its active operations. Only a brutal and uncompromising fight against terror will provide Russia and its citizens with confidence in the future.
Russia is ready to make its contribution to the overall efforts of the anti-terrorist coalition, despite the fact that many Western states participating in it have recently sharply criticized us for the actions of federal forces in the fight against militants in Chechnya.
One of the most popular courses at Swarthmore College (USA) explores how to counter terrorism without resorting to violence. Events that have recently occurred in France have made our course more relevant than ever (the course syllabus was published in 2009 in the study guide "Peace, Justice, and Security Studies: A Curriculum Guide"["Peace, Justice and Security: Course Curriculum"]). In fact, the “war on terrorism” declared by the world after September 11, 2001 was almost everywhere accompanied by an increase in the terrorist threat.
But did you know that non-military techniques lead, historically speaking, to reducing the threat of terror?
I prepared for my students eight non-military methods that were used in one country or another. At its core, these were eight “tools” that students had to work with. We did not waste time criticizing military anti-terrorism operations, since we were much more interested in exploring alternative ways to solve the existing problem.
A soldier guarding the main synagogue in Bordeaux (France). January 2015. Photo: www.gettyimages.com
Each student chose a country located somewhere in the world that was currently exposed to a terrorist threat, and took on the role of consultant to that state, developing a defense strategy using nonviolent tools.
It was hard work, but at the same time it was extremely interesting. Most of the students threw themselves into it and came up with impeccable strategies.
Students especially enjoyed brainstorming synergistic effects—for example, what would happen if technique #3 was used simultaneously with techniques #2 and #5? At the same time, I was there, hoping that we could spend an extra semester to learn how to use our tools in a comprehensive manner, and not just as a complement to each other, to see that a holistic approach becomes more effective than the one-time application of techniques on separately.
Some students who believed that armed confrontation was crucial discovered a new vision for solving the problem. They realized that success in some countries had been achieved by using only two or three nonviolent techniques, and that there was significant untapped potential: for example, if countries used all the techniques at once, taking advantage of their synergistic effect. And my question arises: why then cannot nations completely switch to non-violent tools to protect themselves from terrorism?
What are these 8 techniques?
1. Creation of joint projects and infrastructure for the purpose of economic development.
Poverty and terrorism are directly related. Economic development can help reduce the number of terrorist recruits and gain allies, especially if this development has taken place through democratic means. For example, the terror carried out by the Northern Irish Republican Army was significantly reduced due to the creation of new jobs for ordinary members, as well as an increase in the level of economic development.
2. Reducing cultural isolation.
As France, Britain and other states have already seen, the cultural isolation of any group from the rest of the population is not safe or reasonable: the increase in the number of terrorists is only provoked under these conditions. This pattern is also evident at the international level. Often this isolation is not intentional, however, and it can be reduced. “Freedom of the press” is transformed into “provocative publications” when there is a marginalized part of the population that the majority places one step lower, such as Muslims in France. As English-speaking Canada reduced its level of isolation, this in turn reduced the threat of terrorism in Quebec.
3. Nonviolent protests/defender campaigns and unarmed civilian peacemakers.
Terrorism occurs largely due to one or another accompanying situation and therefore depends on it. Some terrorist campaigns ended in failure because popular support was withdrawn. This is because the strategy of terror is often used to attract attention or provoke a violent response, thereby gaining even greater support among the general population.
The rise and fall of support for terrorism, respectively, depend on whether the social movement uses popular anger or nonviolent struggle. Thus, the American civil rights movement flawlessly dealt with the threat to its activists posed by Ku Klux Klan(KKK), which was especially dangerous when there were no effective legal remedies. Nonviolent tactics reduced the KKK's appeal among white segregationists. Since the 1980s, pacifists and other activists have additionally begun to use another promising tool: Voluntary units of trained unarmed civilian peacekeepers (e.g. International Peace Brigades).
4. Training in pro-conflict behavior, as well as practicing the acquired skills of non-violent struggle.
It sounds ironic, but terror often happens where the population tries to suppress conflicts at the root, instead of supporting their open expression. In this regard, one technique for reducing the level of terror is to disseminate a pro-conflict point of view, as well as non-violent techniques, which together will help people seeking to develop a conflict to express their grievances as fully as possible.
5. Reconstruction programs after the end of terror.
Terror cannot always be prevented, just like any other crime. Remember that terrorists often have the goal of dividing groups of people. Restorative programs can help prevent the polarization of views that creates a cycle of hatred in which the most violent members of one side feed the hatred of similar members of the other. One example of such a cycle is the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Restorative programs build resilience so people don't become locked in fear and create self-fulfilling prophecies. Immersion in rehabilitation counseling can also be combined with innovative rituals, such as those used by the Norwegians after the 2011 terrorist massacre.
6. Police officers as peacekeepers: an infrastructure of laws and regulations.
Police work can be made much more effective by involving the public in policing, as well as reducing the social distance between the police and those they serve. In some countries, this requires a rethinking of the role of the police and a change in their primary task of protecting property. ruling class to the function of fulfilling the duties of true peacekeepers; an example is the unarmed Icelandic police. Countries like the United States need to join the growing global human rights system, which is reflected in Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention and creation International Criminal Court. We also need to recognize the responsibility of our own officials, who may very well be war criminals.
7. Changing policies and concepts of reckless behavior
Governments sometimes take steps that appear to be an invitation—almost a demand—for terrorists to retaliate. Political scientist and one-time US Air Force consultant Robert A. Pape demonstrated in 2005 how the US has consistently done this by sending troops to another country. In his recently published book "Cutting the Fuse"(“Breaking the Fuse”), he and James K. Feldman provide concrete examples of states reducing the terrorist threat level after abandoning such reckless behavior. To protect themselves from terror, citizens in all countries need to exercise control over their own government and must force the government to change its policies when necessary.
8. Negotiation
Governments often say, “We don't negotiate with terrorists,” but when they say this, they are often lying. States have often reduced or eliminated the threat of terrorism through negotiations, and negotiation skills continue to grow and become more effective.
Practical application of non-military methods of defense against terrorism
At the request of a group of American counterterrorism experts, I told them about our work at Swarthmore, mainly about the eight techniques described. These experts recognized that each of these tools had actually been used in real-life situations in one place or another with varying degrees of success. They also did not see the problems that might arise in developing an integrated strategy that would create synergies between these methods.
The challenge they saw was convincing the government to take such a bold, innovative step.
As an American, I see a direct contradiction between, on the one hand, my government's enormous efforts to convince taxpayers that we desperately need our bloated military and, on the other hand, new policies that mobilize various forces to effectively keep people safe. I understand that for my state and for some others like it, a revolution in the way of thinking may be required first of all.
What I love about the alternative, non-military methods of protection that we have in stock is that they no matter what meet the real need of my fellow citizens for security. Psychologist Abraham Maslow long ago pointed out the fundamental human need in safety. However, it is clear that analyzing and criticizing militarism will not improve anyone's security. But keeping in mind Alternative option By solving a problem, as my students did, we can give people the psychological space they need to invest energy in something more life-giving.
Our role at the initial stage
The good news is that some of these eight techniques can be used by civil society without waiting for support from government leaders that may never come. Using at least two of these techniques is a straightforward task: teaching the masses the skills and strategies of nonviolent protest and conveying a pro-conflict point of view.
Movement Black Lives Matter(Black Lives Matter) attracted a lot of white people to take the side of black people - it specific example reducing sociocultural isolation and using a concept that creates dozens of creative approaches to seeing oneself as part of the majority (Christian, middle class, etc.). We can also initiate the creation of recovery programs for people who have survived acts of terrorism, as was done after the Boston Marathon bombing.
Activists launch campaigns to force the government to reverse some of its reckless policies, but can sometimes forget to set limits. Scared people It is important to know that activists also share a common fear, and that they are on the same side as people yearning for safety.
In my opinion, these five of the eight tools can be used by people taking grassroots initiatives to reduce the terrorist threat. They can be combined with movement Transition Town(“City of Changes”) or others who aim to bring a holistic and positive approach instead of fear, which, on the contrary, depresses and paralyzes. After all, as is usually the case, those who help others first of all lighten their own burden.
George Lakey
2015
Introduction
1International terrorism as a factor of geopolitical influence
2 The problem of terrorism in international relations: legal and political aspects
3Countering terrorism at the state level
Conclusion
Bibliography
Introduction
The relevance of research. In Russia, the problem of terrorism has become particularly acute in recent years. Among the acute political, economic and social problems that Russia acquired at the end of the twentieth century, terrorism represents one of the main dangers. For Russia, this phenomenon is not a product of the current century, an attribute of urbanization. The origins of Russian terrorism are lost in the mists of time. Ironically, the Russian intelligentsia, at the end of the 19th century, believed that only in the form of terrorism could it defend its right to freedom and democracy. Terrorism was seen as a means of fighting against autocracy, a way to protect the right to advance history. In the entire history of Russian revolutionaries, about three hundred terrorist attacks were committed.
Nowadays, as sad as it may be, terrorism has entered the everyday life of Russian society, posing a real threat to the country's national security. The distinctive features of Russian terrorism are: the presence of a wide range of terrorist organizations of various types and colors (nationalist, religious, left and right, neo-fascist, etc.); the relative novelty of this phenomenon for modern Russia and the unpreparedness of law enforcement forces to effectively counter them; etc.
Purpose of the work: to study the problem of terrorism and its solution at the state level.
Object of work: the problem of terrorism.
The objectives of this work are to study the problem of terrorism and solve this problem at the state level.
1 International terrorism as a factor of geopolitical influence
The specificity and level of modern civilization is characterized by the existence of acute global problems that affect the fate of not only individual people, social groups, nations, classes, regions and continents, but of all humanity as a whole.
Terrorism is one of the most dangerous and difficult to predict phenomena of our time, which is acquiring increasingly diverse forms and threatening proportions. Terrorist acts most often cause massive human casualties, entail the destruction of material and spiritual values that sometimes cannot be restored, sow hostility between states, provoke wars, mistrust and hatred between social and national groups, which sometimes cannot be overcome within the life of an entire generation. Terrorism on an international scale is increasingly becoming a factor in the geopolitical influence of world centers of power.
The scale of terrorism and its interstate nature have made it absolutely necessary to establish an international system to counter it, coordinate the efforts of various states on a long-term basis and at the highest level, and create international organizations to combat it. Terrorism, having long gone beyond national boundaries, has acquired an international character. This crime belongs to those types of criminal violence, the victim of which can be anyone, even those who have not the slightest connection to the conflict that gave rise to the terrorist act. The transformation of the problem of international terrorism into one of the most pressing global problems of our time related to the sphere of international relations is due to the following reasons:
1) international terrorism is becoming increasingly widespread on a planetary scale. It manifests itself both in regions of traditional international conflicts (for example, the Middle East, South Asia), and even the most developed and prosperous states (in particular the USA and Western Europe) were not immune from this dangerous phenomenon;
2) international terrorism poses a serious threat to the security of individual states and the entire world community as a whole. Every year hundreds of acts of international terrorism are committed around the world, and their victims number thousands of killed and maimed people;
3) to combat international terrorism, the efforts of one great power or even a group of highly developed states are not enough. Overcoming international terrorism as an escalating global problem requires the collective efforts of the majority of states and peoples on our planet, the entire world community.
The problem of international terrorism has many common features characteristic of other universal human problems, such as the planetary scale of manifestation, severity, negative dynamism, when the negative impact on the life of humanity increases, the need for an urgent solution, etc. At the same time, the global problem of international terrorism also has specific, characteristic features.
A distinctive feature of the problem of international terrorism is the significant influence on it of international criminal communities, certain political forces and some states. This influence undoubtedly leads to an aggravation of the problem under consideration.
In the modern world, there are manifestations of state terrorism associated with attempts to eliminate heads of foreign states and other political figures; with actions aimed at overthrowing the governments of foreign countries; creating panic among the population of foreign countries, etc.
Another specific feature of the global problem of international terrorism is its low predictability. In many cases, the subjects of terrorism are mentally unstable people and overly ambitious politicians. Terrorism is often seen as a way to achieve goals on the world stage and in international relations that cannot be achieved by any other methods. In modern conditions, the forms of terrorist activity are becoming more and more complex, and are increasingly in conflict with universal human values and the logic of world development. The preparation of a terrorist attack, the mechanism for its implementation, the amount of funding, the depth and degree of impact on society - everything has become more ambitious. This is greatly facilitated by the globalization of the world economy, the development of communications, and the improvement information technologies.
Thus, the problem of international terrorism poses a real threat on a planetary scale for the world community. This problem has its own specificity, which distinguishes it from other universal human difficulties. However, the problem of terrorism is closely interconnected with most global problems of modern international relations. It can be considered one of the most pressing global problems of our days.
2 The problem of terrorism in international relations: legal and political aspects
Terrorism is a very complex and difficult precise definition social phenomenon. Leaving aside various legal formulations that characterize terrorism from the point of view of criminal law, let us pay attention to its socio-political characteristics. One can agree with the opinion that an integral property of terrorism is the systematic use of violence, and violence is used with appropriate socio-political motivation and ideological justification. Achieving the goals set by terrorists includes two stages: at the first, an act of intimidation is carried out, and at the second stage, terrorists control people’s behavior in a direction beneficial to themselves. Consequently, any terrorist act is a structurally complex phenomenon that has two objects of criminal attacks. The primary object can be separate an individual, a group of persons or a material object; secondary - a control object that can be considered public relations in a broad sense .
Examples of double standards in assessing terrorism can be seen both in the past and today. Russia and the West looked at the situation in Chechnya and Kosovo differently. The Georgian authorities have long denied the presence of Chechen terrorist militants on their territory, secretly providing them with assistance. Then Tbilisi abruptly changed its position, turning to the United States for help in the fight against Chechen terrorists, but, obviously, the main motives for such an appeal were motives other than a sincere desire to put an end to the hotbed of terrorism and banditry on its territory.
Of course, after September 11, 2001, the situation in the world regarding the fight against terrorism has changed. However, it is difficult to say how fundamental and irreversible these changes are. The September terrorist attacks in New York had other consequences for the theory and practice of international relations. Until recently, the concept of “international terrorism” emphasized the international danger of such a phenomenon rather than denoting a real, obvious factor in international relations. Recent events have shown that qualitative changes have occurred in world politics.
Back in the early 70s of the 20th century, many researchers noted the emergence and increasing role of non-state factors in international relations, with a simultaneous relative decrease in the role of individual sovereign national states. Supporters of neoliberal views drew attention to the positive, from their point of view, nature of such processes. Meanwhile, today their negative side. Thanks to technical and technological progress, the development of means of communication, non-governmental international terrorist organizations, which undoubtedly include Al-Qaeda, have received opportunities unprecedented for such structures. In the new conditions, these organizations are capable of challenging even the most economically and militarily powerful states and creating a direct threat to their security. The states, as it turned out, turned out to be poorly prepared for new challenges and vulnerable to the danger posed by opponents with significantly fewer resources.
Terrorism, in all its forms and manifestations, in its scale and intensity, in its inhumanity and cruelty, has now become one of the most acute and pressing problems of global significance. Manifestations of terrorism entail mass casualties; spiritual, material, and cultural values are destroyed, which cannot be recreated over centuries. It generates hatred and mistrust between social and national groups. Terrorist acts have led to the need to create an international system to combat it. For many people, groups and organizations, terrorism has become a way to solve problems: political, religious, national. Terrorism refers to those types of criminal violence that can target innocent people who have nothing to do with the conflict. Terrorism as a global problem requires constant attention and study and therefore represents a wide field for research with subsequent practical application.
The relevance of the chosen topic is dictated by our reality. The scale and cruelty of modern terrorism, the need for a continuous fight against it, only confirms the relevance of the work.
By the end of the twentieth century. international crime has become global. International criminal organizations have strengthened their positions both due to increased migration flows, greater openness of state borders, the development of information technologies that facilitate the coordination of criminal organizations and complicate control by the authorities, and due to the unresolved problem of poverty, uncoordinated legislation of different countries, and the weakness and corruption of individual governments.
The resolution of the World Conference on Organized Transnational Crime, held in Naples in 1994, identified ten main threats posed by international crime: the sovereignty of states, society, individuals, national stability and state control, democratic values and public institutions, national economies, financial institutions, democratization and privatization, development, global regimes and codes of conduct.
In the 21st century Such a type of international crime as global terrorism is becoming particularly relevant. This problem began to be discussed publicly after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 in the United States.
Among the numerous reasons giving rise to global terrorism, mention should be made of the formation of a “unipolar” world in the last decade of the twentieth century, where the United States began to be perceived as the dominant power and, accordingly, was held responsible for uneven economic development other countries. Globalization, which brings with it Western values, also contributes to the growth of nationalist sentiments, causing rejection among supporters of traditional views. The phenomenon of global terrorism today is also associated with the phenomenon of “asymmetrical wars”, where, on the one hand, there is a continuation of the policy of globalization through military means, and on the other, resistance in the form of terrorist acts leading to the death of civilians. Modern world oversaturated various types weapons of mass destruction (nuclear, chemical, biological), therefore the possibility of such weapons falling into the hands of terrorists represents a threat on a global scale.
Chapter 1. Global problems of our time
1.1. The essence of global problems Origin of the concept
The concept of “global problems of our time” has become widespread since the late 60s - early 70s, since then occupying a prominent place in the scientific and political lexicon and firmly entrenched in the mass consciousness. It is often used as a fashionable term applied to events and phenomena that are not considered global. This happens if they equate “one’s own” and “global” (for example, referring to the social problems of any particular country, they call them global).
In philosophy, this problem is solved by identifying the appropriate criteria by which a particular problem is defined as global and thereby separated from many others that are not.
Etymologically, the term “global” comes from Lat. globus - globe. Hence the problems that affect the interests of both humanity as a whole and each individual person in different parts of the planet, i.e. those that are of a universal human nature are usually called global. They have a significant impact on the development of individual countries and regions, being a powerful objective factor in the global economic and social development. Their solution presupposes the unification of the efforts of the absolute majority of states and organizations at the international level, while their unresolved nature threatens with catastrophic consequences for the future of all humanity.
Problems at different levels
Since global problems affect not only the world as a whole, but also manifest themselves at the level of its regions, and even individual countries, in the scientific literature, along with recognition of their universal significance, they are also distinguished from problems of particular, local, regional ones, the essence of which is different , and the sphere of influence is much narrower. Considering problems of various levels as a specific expression of the philosophical categories “general”, “special” and “individual”, they are usually interpreted in such a way that particular problems appear as individual, local and regional as special, and global as universal. This approach also sets the main criterion that underlies the identification of these problems. It is called geographical because it expresses the spatial scale, or, in other words, the territory in which certain problems occur.
Hence, private problems are those that relate to a specific area of government activity, individual settlements or small natural objects.
These are, as a rule, various problems arising as a result of various accidents, breakdowns, local social conflicts, etc.
The concept of “local” refers to problems of a higher order when it comes to individual countries or significant areas of the largest of them. We are talking, as a rule, about strong earthquakes, major floods or, for example, civil war in a small state.
Regional problems already affect the range of topical issues that arise within individual continents, large socio-economic regions of the world, or in fairly large states. Examples of this kind could be the Chernobyl tragedy with all its consequences or climate change in fairly large areas covering whole line states The “catastrophe of the century” was, for example, the drought of 1968 in the Sahel zone, which affected 18 states of the African continent, when more than 250 thousand people and about 18 million heads of livestock died from famine, epidemics of dangerous diseases arose, and the territory of this huge region was practically everything turned into desert.
In socio-political and scientific terminology, the concept of “national problems” is often used, which reflects certain difficulties and concerns of a particular state or national community. Depending on their scale, they can be interpreted as regional or local problems.
Finally, global problems span the entire globe; and not only that part of it where people directly live, but also the rest of its surface, bowels, atmosphere and even outer space that fall within the sphere of human activity.
Thus, when we talk about global problems, we mean the planet as a whole, and the region is taken as the largest unit of its division. Moreover, the number of regions and their scale are determined by the nature of the problems under consideration. For example, when studying the problem of economic backwardness on a global scale, they usually limit themselves to dividing the entire planet into two regions - developed and developing countries. When considering demographic, energy or raw materials problems, the number of regions, as a rule, increases and each time is determined by the specific objectives of the study.
It is important to note that any problem can only be considered global when it is relevant in relation to any region of the planet, i.e. manifests itself in each of them. Otherwise, we will be talking about problems of one or several regions (or an even smaller scale).
It follows from this that all global problems have at the same time regional significance, but not all problems found at the regional level are global. Obviously, the number of the latter will be somewhat smaller. As for other levels, global problems may not have a direct local or private manifestation or may affect them to an insignificant extent. For example, in Antarctica or other parts of the planet, located at a sufficiently large distance from the main centers and sources of environmental pollution, the condition of the air or water basins can be satisfactory, and the anthropogenic impact on the natural environment can be practically not felt. However, this does not call into question the planetary nature of the environmental problem, the severity of which depends on the unevenness of anthropogenic influence on the natural environment. In turn, not all local, and especially private problems are related to global ones, because their number is disproportionately greater.
