Journal of Sociology and Social Work

Terrorism and Globalization
José Antonio Segatto

Abstract
This article analyses the dissemination of terrorist attacks by Islamic Jihadist groups in different countries as a phenomenon connected to the process of globalization. It aims to understand these attacks not only as a reaction to fundamentalist political-religious groups against the Democratic and Christian West or as an epiphenomenon of the „clash of civilizations.' I argue that the understanding of these attacks involves a complex set of historical and political factors, both secular and contemporary, which has been reinforced and potentialized by European and North American military intervention in the last few decades. Furthermore, the lack of access to human rights is an increasingly disrupting factor in international politics and economics as the effects of globalization have encompassed a weaker position of workers everywhere increasing discrimination and ethnic-cultural oppression. Therefore, globalization has indirectly incentivized the re-emergence of conservative nationalist ideologies, religious fundamentalism, and other intolerant or anti-humanist movements. In this context, the persistence of Islamic jihad groups and the electoral successes of extreme right-wing political parties in Europe can be seen as different manifestations of the same underlying problem.

Full Text: PDF     DOI: 10.15640/jssw.v5n2a8