Capitalism, Terrorism and The Third World

Terrorism has become all too familiar. The casual airline no longer exists. The headlines have become repetitive. Whether it be through planes, bombs, guns or even trucks, terrorism has implanted itself into our society and the frightening thing is -- it seems like it’s here to stay. Terrorism strikes every few months in the west and it’s always greeted with the same grief and outrage. This collision of the western capitalist populace and the third world which first occurred back in the 18th century has been brewing conflict for a long time and those antagonisms come to life in “terrorism.”

So where does terrorism come from? In a practical sense, it often comes from religious or political extremists whose all other means of change have collapsed. From the caves of Afghanistan to forests of sub Saharan Africa groups like Daesh, Al Shabab, and Al Qaeda make their debuts in their own countries but some of these groups amass enough influence to reach their tentacles to our safe and stabilized world. But it can’t be as simple as a radical group just gaining power and blowing stuff up. There has to be a reason people are attracted to this sort of stuff; why from the suburbs of Paris, teenage boys fly to Syria and join the ranks of Daesh.

A couple of centuries of political, followed by economic subjugation tends to take its toll on a people. The oppressive elements of capitalism in the 3rd world and the alienating effects it takes at its base creates the perfect environment for Salafism or Radical Nationalism to take hold. When a Nigerian boy has spent his whole life in economic squander it is quite easy for him to be grasped by the only group who offer death to his oppressors; the west. When a Lebanese woman is born into Israeli occupation and her parents killed by the occupiers, Hezbollah is the only rational choice. When a middle aged white man has found himself completely alienated in the middle of ultra-capitalist Las Vegas, he sees no reason not to shoot up a concert. And when a French-Tunisian boy lives in poverty in the projects of some metropolis, alienated from the masses of capital which reside a few miles away from him, he is easily swayed to join Daesh back in the Levantine desert.

Of course, the west is not alone in such destructive tendencies. Russian and Chinese capital, in the form of investment deals, and corporate domination has flooded Africa and Asia and, without a doubt, it will have the same effect. Russian and Chinese Muslims have already been reported by ABC to be participating in the Syrian civil war within the more radical sects.

There will be no end to terrorism without an end to capitalism. Everyone must grasp this truth. The imperialistic development cannot be reversed. Only superseded. And without such suppression, the oppressed shall willfully flee into the arms of jihad, and suicide bombing.