1. Managing Peace And
Security: Regional &
International Conflict
Transnational Terrorism

2.  Gulf War (Iraq-Kuwait War) is an example
of a conflict that can be resolved quickly
because:
◦ Aggressor (the country who initiated armed conflict) known
◦ Diplomatic efforts could be directed towards this state
◦ If war resulted…then there was a target for the forces
 New challenge facing international
stability – transnational terrorism
Managing Peace and Security:
Regional & International Conflict

3.  Terrorism: The use of violence and armed conflict to
strike fear in the people of a nation to achieve political
goals and weaken the government.
 Not a new idea…
◦ E.g. LTTE and IRA activities to de-stabilise the
governments of Sri Lanka and Northern Ireland.
◦ Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) used terrorism
to force Israel to grant independence to a separate
Palestinian State.
Managing Peace and Security:
Regional & International Conflict

4.  What is transnational terrorism?
◦ “…involves the unlawful use of force or
indiscriminate (lacking in careful choice)
violence by internationally-linked groups
against persons and properties in many
different parts of the world…” (Txt: p29)
Managing Peace and Security:
Regional & International Conflict

5.  The Sept 11th 2001 terrorist act, also known as
“9-11” showed that:
◦ Transnational terrorists could carry out simultaneous
mass attacks, which were well planned in advance. They
also had good training before they carried out their
violence.
◦ Transnational terrorists were willing to die for their
cause. Not opposed to killing many innocent people for
their cause.
(Adapted from Retnasamy. A, Perfect Guide: Social Studies Secondary 4&5, Marshall Cavendish,
Singapore: 2011., p
Managing Peace and Security:
Regional & International Conflict

6.  “9-11” attacks brought the entire USA to
a standstill and this had a great economic
and psychological impact on the world.
◦ Created fear in the hearts of everyone…anyone
could be a target.
◦ Business costs have gone up due to a lot more
money has to be spent on security
Managing Peace and Security:
Regional & International Conflict

7.  What is Al-Qaeda?
◦ Al-Qaeda (or The Base) was created in 1989 by Osama
Bin Laden. Formed from a network of Arab volunteers
who fought against Soviets in Afghanistan in 1980s.*
◦ Osama’s offer to form a force to liberate Kuwait from
Iraqi forces rejected by Saudi royal family…
◦ Unhappy with Western forces stationed on Arab soil
◦ Goals:
 To rid Muslim countries of Western influence
 Establish a global Islamic caliphate based on extreme
interpretations of Islamic concepts
◦ Achieve these goals – through terrorism against US and
its allies.
Managing Peace and Security:
Regional & International Conflict

8.  Why is it so significant?
◦ Planned & executed many attacks since “9-11”.
◦ Multinational membership – groups or cells operating in
many countries. No single HQ
◦ Makes use of globalisation – Internet & international
banking to plan attacks
◦ Resilient: Uses internet/social media to spread deviant
Islamic concepts rapidly and “taps” on unhappiness of
followers towards Western influence and the negative
effects of globalisation
Managing Peace and Security:
Regional & International Conflict

9.  Impacts of Trans-terrorism - Economic
◦ (See quote on p.35)
◦ Economic Impact
 US economy – the loss of life & property cost insurers
$US40billion.
 Airline industry lost a lot of business people afraid to fly
 Governments had to provide economic help to the
airline industry to prevent airlines from closing down.
 After Bali attacks – Tourism affected.
 Governments – increased spending on security of
airports and transportation services
Impacts of Trans-Terrorism

10.  Impact of Trans-Terrorism – Social
◦ Acts of terrorism - create tensions bet. religious
groups and ethnic groups esp. if terrorists are
“home-grown” (fellow citizens)
◦ Forced governments not to take racial/religious
harmony for granted.
◦ Many countries including Singapore developing
programmes to engage citizens to build social
cohesion and harmony.
◦ Purpose: To build & strengthen communal bonds
so that these bonds will ease tensions in the
aftermath of a crisis…such as a terrorist attack –
should one occur
Impacts of Trans-Terrorism

11.  Impact of Terrorism - Political
◦ Government has an additional responsibility to keep
their citizens safe from terrorism
◦ Stepped up border controls/security
◦ Greater checks on travellers identities & belongings
◦ Introduce laws that give governments greater
powers to investigate and prosecute suspected
terrorists.
 Singapore has legislation for detention without trial
(e.g. Internal Security Act – ISA) to counter acts of
terrorism
Impact of Trans-Terrorism

12.  Regional response – ASEAN’s efforts
◦ ASEAN leaders view terrorism as a major threat
◦ Determination to cooperate against transnational
terrorists through joint police & intelligence
measures
 Information & intelligence exchange between security
forces
 Used the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) to discuss
transnational terrorism issues.
 2007 some measures that committed their national
security and law enforcement agencies to work
together.
Can Trans-Terrorism be managed?

13.  International response – UN’s efforts
◦ The scale of “9-11” attacks mobilised the
international community. Passed resolutions to:
 freeze financial assets of terrorists and their supporters
 Deny travel and safe haven
 Prevent recruitment, weapons supply
 Cooperate with member countries in info sharing and
prosecution
◦ UN set up Counter-Terrorism Committee (CTC)
 Provides technical assistance to countries to help them
carry out anti-terrorism resolutions.
Can Trans-Terrorism be managed?

14.  Have the Regional & International
measures been effective?
◦ To some extent…but the trans-national terrorist
groups are still able to operate:
 Terrorists have been able to evade security
restrictions
 Terrorists continue to be able to recruit and
influence people to their cause.
 They make use of the Internet and social media
to spread their false ideologies
Can Trans-Terrorism be managed?

15.  Individual level – creating environments
that stop false ideologies
◦ All citizens have a role to play in countering
terrorism
◦ No ambiguity (no clear position, no wavering)
in our stand against such false ideas
◦ Actively reject these ideas, by rationally
explaining and persuading others why these
ideas are false and potentially dangerous.
Can Trans-Terrorism be managed?

16.  What is transnational terrorism?
 What is the difference between
conventional terrorism and transnational
terrorism?
 What are the impacts of transnational
terrorism?
Key points