The beginnings of terrorism have little to do with poverty but have much to do with frustration of the individual mentally and socially. According to Moghaddan, there are five steps a potential terrorist undergoes before fully conforming to terrorist agendas. The first and most important step is the ground floor where the perceived inequality and mistreatment of the individual leads to frustration. Perceived mistreatment an inequality is not a matter of objectivity. It depends on the terrorists expectations in life. An example is of the Air Corps is given. Despite their high rate of promotion, they are less satisfied with their jobs because they have high expectations of promotion but end up disappointed when they do not get it. Frustration in the ground floor is likely to result in terrorism if the feeling is fraternal deprivation. This means an individual is likely to engage in terrorism if they see other groups in society possessing what their group does not possess. The next step is where an individual looks for solutions. However, if the individual is in a place where talent is not recognize or there are no means of finding solutions normatively, they will proceed to the next step which is anger, frustration and direction of an anger towards an ‘enemy’. In the Middle East, terrorists lay blame of their frustration on the U.S government for its perceived manipulation.After identifying the enemy; the individual begins to accept terrorist beliefs and becomes engaged with them. At this point, the individual sympathizes with the terrorism movement. Once fully engaged, an individual submits themselves for recruitment and is taught how to side step inhibitory mechanisms. These are feelings of remorse or mercy on the plight of terrified citizens any individual may have when carrying out their agenda. This is done by demonstrating to the recruit that they are different from the rest of society and is justified anyone who is not on his/her side. This is known as categorization.
Terrorists succeed best when they are in large numbers. Recruits are likely to be found in the local community and will mostly be youths. The government’s best option to fight terrorism is to inhibit the movement of individuals up the stairway to terrorism. This would be done by offering attractive and sincere incentives which will benefit the community and ease the pressure to revolt among them. Economic inequality is not so much a problem as is the lack of opportunities to advance in life for the youth. After, school, the youths should be offered modest employment by the government in local community projects rather than the government hiring outsiders to curtail the feeling frustration among the youth. In addition, the government should increase opportunities for participation of the local community in decision making processes and grant their wishes for cultural independence. For such mechanisms to be put in place, it means that the government and other civilians should be willing to negotiate on the terms of peace. The pursuit of terrorists through technology and armed conflict is futile because the initial reasons for terrorism have not been solved and it is a matter of time before terrorists spring up and recruit more youths into their cause. Lastly, the government should put much of its effort to unite the community. The government should emphasize on the general aspirations of the nation and the shared hopes for greater economic, cultural and social freedom. This will fight off any terrorist agenda to split the community in the us-versus-them fashion which is the most dangerous weapon in terrorism. It makes recruits think they are fighting a worthy cause and that other members of society are not worthy of peace if they do not choose the terrorist’s side.
References
Moghaddan, F. M. (2005). Staircase to Terrorism: A Psychological Explanation. American Psychologist, 60, 161-169.
