4.3 Debates on terrorism and international relations

As introduced in the previous case study on Africa, this section on terrorism will refer to the debates over substantive topics on which people will take different sides.

Assessing the ‘war on terror’, there are different debates on the effectiveness and appropriateness of its military interventions. One argument is that the ‘war on terror’, and the military interventions and engagements that characterise the conflict, have been broadly successful, effective in eliminating key terrorist leaders and organisational structures, and disrupting their operational capabilities. There are arguments, for instance, suggesting that, despite mistakes made during the ‘war on terror’, such as the invasion of Iraq, the war has largely been successful. However, an opposing point of view is that the ‘war on terror’ has increased the risk of terrorist attacks, given oxygen to the ideology of AQ and IS, and caused mass suffering and regional instability.

It has also been argued that the war on terror, and the legal questions surrounding the invasion of Iraq and the conduct of US and allied militaries, has led to a significant undermining of international law and respect for human rights. There is thus a question here as to whether the ‘war on terror’ has succeeded on its own terms.

You can now listen to an audio discussion with Professor Michael Clarke, the former Director-General of the UK’s Royal United Services Institute (RUSI). In this discussion, Professor Clarke explores the impact of terrorism and the war on terror on international relations.

Activity 8

Allow about 30 minutes

Listen to the audio discussion with Professor Michael Clarke and consider the question that follows. Make a note of your thoughts in the text box provided.

• What, as identified by Professor Clarke, are the significant impacts of the war on terror on international relations?

Audio 2 Terrorism and international relations

Transcript

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Discussion

In the discussion, Professor Clarke identifies a few ways in which the war on terror has had impacts on international relations.

First, he makes the claim that the attacks of September 11 had, for perhaps the first time when it came to terrorism, a significant strategic impact: in this case, a reshaping of international relations by the drawing of the United States and her allies, including the UK, into a series of wars that al-Qaeda wanted.

Second, he then goes on to make the argument that, within the war on terror, the term ‘terrorism’ itself has been used by states to legitimise the repression of internal opposition.