Terrorist Attacks as a Social Problem

In this article terrorism is reflected from a social science point of view. Terrorism is seen as a complex societal problem that must be analyzed according to the theory of societal complexity. The Compram methodology is based on the theory of societal complexity (DeTombe, 1994) and is advised by the OECD to handle complex societal issues on global safety. This methodology gives directions to analyze the situation, to find causes, to find interventions, to prepare and guide negotiations and to evaluate results afterwards. In acting on terrorism several phases can be distinguished. The most important phase is the prevention phase: not to have terrorist attacks at all. This can be done by focusing on the causes of terrorism. Shifting the main human power and money to the phase of prevention will, in the end, help to mitigate terrorist attacks. There are many causes for terrorism. Some of these will be discussed like the relation between power and idealism, between fundamentalism, identity and religion, and between poverty and immigration. An example of trying to influence one of the causes of terrorism is implemented in a project in Turkey of increasing the level of living. The theory of societal complexity dictates that before finding interventions the problem has to be defined and the causes have to be analyzed. Otherwise only effects are handled and the problem will stay the same. Looking at the way governments in Western Europe and the USA react to threats of terrorism, it seems that threats of terrorism are used to abuse the rights of civilians. Analyzing the 'war on terrorism' of the Bush jr. administration seems to support this statement. This results in a double threat for the people, that of terrorist attacks and that of their own government.