


07/2010
Selected for the Global Economic Symposium 2010
In all parts of the world the processes of globalization have produced winners and losers. Socioeconomic disparities, which exist not only between nations but also inside the societies of all states, are regarded as the major cause for political or political-religious radicalization. Today, the most extreme form of this radicalization is represented by terrorist organizations. The transnational, non-state nature of terrorism and insurgencies has evolved into one of the most prominent threats for international security, stability, and prosperity.
Since it has proven impossible to counter terrorism solely with physical means, it became widely acknowledged that the threat of terrorism has to be also addressed on the psychological level. This means, in general terms, to reduce the support for terrorist organizations in societies.
Extremists generate support for their cause in socially and economically disadvantaged groups prone to political radicalisation. The supporters not only become the recruiting pool for new volunteers willing to kill and die for the cause but—maybe more important—represent the primary source of legitimacy for the extremists.
Thus, since it is almost impossible to cut off the malign influence of extremist ideologies on already politically radicalised groups, it is necessary to reduce political radicalisation in the first place.
Methods to undermine radical ideologies and to prevent disadvantaged social groups from joining violent extremist organizations have to accompany today’s counter-terrorism and counterinsurgency strategies. According to most scholars and practitioners this is the path to a truly comprehensive and lasting approach of addressing the challenge of terrorism in the 21st century. However, how to achieve this in practice remains unclear: