Chapter 16

Conflict, War and Terrorism

Chapter Outline

The Global Context: Conflict in a Changing World

Sociological Theories of War Causes of War Terrorism

Chapter Outline

Social Problems Associated with Conflict, War, and Terrorism

Strategies for Action: In Search of Global Peace

Understanding Conflict, War, and Terrorism

War

War, the most violent form of conflict, refers to organized armed violence aimed at a social group in pursuit of an objective.

Whether war is just or unjust, defensive or offensive, it involves the most horrendous atrocities known to humankind.

War and the Development of Civilization

War resulted in small groups and villages becoming incorporated into larger political chiefdoms.

Centuries of war between chiefdoms culminated in the development of the state.

State

An apparatus of power, a set of institutions—the central government, the armed forces, the regulatory and police agencies—whose most important functions involve the use of force, the control of territory and the maintenance of internal order.

Cold War

The state of political tension and military rivalry that existed between the U.S. and the former Soviet Union.

Military Spending

Global military spending has been increasing since 1998, with dramatic increases between 2002 and 2005 as a consequence of U.S.-led post–September 11, 2001, expenditures.

According to government figures, the war in Iraq costs an estimated $4.3 billion a month; the war in Afghanistan costs $800 million a month.

The United States accounts for nearly half the world’s military spending.

Structural-Functionalist Perspective

Gives members a “common cause” and a common enemy.

In short term, war increases employment and stimulates economy.

Inspires developments that are useful to civilians.

Conflict Perspective on War

War is the result of antagonisms that emerge when two or more groups struggle for control of resources.

War benefits corporate, military, and political elites.

Symbolic Interactionist Perspective

Meanings and definitions influence attitudes and behaviors regarding conflict and war.

Attitudes and behaviors that support war develop in childhood.

Most world governments preach peace through strength, rather than strength through peace.

Question

Which sociological perspective suggests that war benefits the corporate, military, and political elites?

A. conflict theory

B. structural functionalism

C. strain theory

D. symbolic interactionism

Answer: A

Conflict theory suggests that war benefits the corporate, military, and political elites.

 Causes of War

Conflict over Land and Other Natural Resources

Conflict over Values and Ideologies Racial and Ethnic Hostilities Defense against Hostile Attacks Revolution Nationalism

Conflict over Values and Ideologies

World War II was largely a war over democracy versus fascism.

Cold War largely involved conflict over capitalism versus communism.

Wars over differing religious beliefs have led to some of the worst episodes of bloodshed in history.

Terrorism

Premeditated use, or threatened use, of violence to gain a political or social objective.

Transnational terrorism occurs when a terrorist act in one country involves victims, targets, institutions, governments, or citizens of another country.

Domestic terrorism is exemplified by the 1995 truck bombing of a nine-story federal office building in Oklahoma City, resulting in 168 deaths and the injury of more than 200 people.

International Terrorism byRegion, 2003

Patterns of Global Terrorism

In 2003:– There were 208 transnational acts of terrorism.– The number of deaths from terrorist acts was 625.– A total of 3,646 people were wounded.– Thirty-five U.S. citizens were killed.– The Middle East had the highest rate of terrorist

attacks, followed by Asia and Western Europe.– The Middle East had the highest number of

deaths, followed by Asia and Western Europe.

Causes of Terrorism

A weak state unable to control terrorist operations.

Rapid modernization. Extreme ideologies—religious or secular. A history of political violence, civil wars, and

revolutions.

Causes of Terrorism

Repression by a foreign occupation Large-scale racial or ethnic discrimination. The presence of a charismatic leader.

Question

What are some of the causes or accompanying factors associated with acts of terrorism, with such behaviors as suicide bombings?

A. Extreme poverty.B. Extreme autocratic rule.C. Extreme ideological clashes in

religious and/ or secular beliefs.D. All of these choices.

Answer: C

Extreme ideological clashes in religious and/ or secular beliefs is associated with acts of terrorism, with such behaviors as suicide bombings.

The Process of IdeologicalDevelopment

Reports of Prisoner Mistreatment at Guantanamo Bay

Isolated Incidents

Wider Pattern

Neither/ Don’t know

Men 56 64 10

Women 52 34 14

18-29 years old 43 46 11

30-49 years old 55 36 9

50-64 years old 59 28 13

65 years and older 56 25 19

Reports of Prisoner Mistreatment at Guantanamo Bay

Isolated Incidents

Wider Pattern

Neither/ Don’t know

White 57 31 12

Black 35 52 13

Hispanic 44 45 11

Republican 76 14 10

Democrat 43 45 12

Independent 45 44 11

Americans Killed in Wars:

WWI: Over 53,000 WWII: 292,000 Korea: 34,000 Vietnam: 47,000 Iraq - Between March 2003 and May 2005

• 13,000 U.S. troops have been wounded and 1,700 have been killed.

• 24,000 civilian deaths have been recorded.

Social Problems of War:Women and Children

Before and during WWII, the Japanese military forced 100,000 to 200,000 women and girls into prostitution as military “comfort women”.

Refugee women and female children are vulnerable to sexual abuse and exploitation.

Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Symptoms include recurring nightmares, flashbacks, poor concentration.

Associated with family violence, alcoholism, divorce, and suicide.

Estimate 30% of male veterans of the Vietnam war have experienced PTSD, and about 15% continue to experience it.

Diversion of Economic Resources

In 2004 worldwide military expenditures approached $1.4 trillion.

This amount exceeds the combined government research expenditures on developing new energy technologies, improving human health, raising agricultural productivity, and controlling pollution.

Diversion of Economic Resources

If just 3% of the proposed military budget for 2006 was redirected toward domestic issues:– 218,361 new teachers could be hired – health care coverage for 2.8 million

uninsured could be provided

Diversion of Economic Resources

If just 3% of the proposed military budget for 2006 was redirected toward domestic issues:– the number of public safety officers could

be expanded by 283,904– 113,451 affordable housing units could be

built– scholarships for 2.5 million university

students could be provided

Selected Federal U.S. Outlaysfor 2005 (Estimated)

Question

Do you feel the government is spending too little, just the right amount, or too much, on military, armaments and defense.

A. Too little

B. Right amount

C. Too much

GSS National Data

Political Party

Democrat Independent Republican

Too little 15.4% 18.7% 27.3%

Right amount

48 45.3 50.8

Too much 36.6 36 21.9

United Nations Peacekeeping Operations: Summary Data, 2005

Military personnel and civilian police serving in peacekeeping operations: 65,973

Countries contributing military personnel and civilian police: 105

International civilian personnel: 4,378 Local civilian personnel: 8,112

United Nations Peacekeeping Operations: Summary Data, 2005

UN volunteers: 1,763 Fatalities in peacekeeping operations since

1948: 1,983 Budgets for 7/1/04 to 6/30/05: $4.47 billion Total cost of operations from 1948 to 6/04:

$36 billion

Mediation

A neutral third party facilitates negotiation between representatives or leaders of conflicting groups.

Arbitration

A neutral third party listens to evidence and arguments presented by conflicting groups and arrives at a decision or outcome that the two parties agree to accept.

Mutually-Assured Destruction (MAD)

In a full-scale nuclear war, both sides would be destroyed; if both sides would lose in a war, neither side would initiate war.

Quick Quiz

1. What is the ultimate environmental catastrophe facing the planet?

A. a massive exchange thermonuclear war

B. global warming

C. chemical warfare

D. biological warfare

Answer A

The ultimate environmental catastrophe facing the planet is a massive exchange thermonuclear war.

2. Which of the following is an example of domestic terrorism?

A. The bombing of the World Trade Center in 1993.

B. The bombing of the USS Cole naval ship in Yemen.

C. bombing of the federal office building in Oklahoma City in 1995.

D. The bombing of Pan-Am flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland.

Answer: C

The bombing of the federal office building in Oklahoma City in 1995 is an example of domestic terrorism.

3. The United States accounts for how much of the world's military spending?

A. one quarter

B. about a third

C. nearly half

D. less than one quarter

Answer: C

The United States accounts for nearly half of the world's military spending.