Beyond terrorism: Sousse attack, economic development, fair trade, and dignity
Thursday, July 30, 2015
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by Ahmed E. Souaiaia*
The intent of those who planned and carried out the recent terrorist attack in Tunisia and the reactions to it, both underscore the idiosyncratic connections between economic development and terrorism. Importantly, the attack ought to remind us of the global nature and imperatives, not only of ISIL’s brand of terrorism, but also of economic development. Both problems, terrorism and lack of economic development in the Global South, must be confronted cooperatively, because European countries were indeed involved, directly and indirectly, in creating the kind of conditions that weaken their southern neighbors’ economies, which in turn have created the kind of environment most suitable for terrorism.
When 30 British citizens
vacationing in the city of Sousse, Tunisia, were killed along with three Irish,
two Germans, one Belgian, one Portuguese, and one Russian, the Foreign Office
ordered all but essential travelers to leave that country immediately. Habib
Essid, Tunisia’s Prime Minister, said that his government would help to evacuate
approximately 3,000 Britons, but told Tunisia’s parliament that he was “dismayed
by the advice from the Foreign Office.” The Tunisian government said the UK “was
damaging the country’s economy,” which is heavily reliant on tourism, and may
end up inadvertently fueling poverty and therefore terrorism. Oliver Miles, a
former UK ambassador to Libya and Greece “found the [UK]’s response puzzling.”
Other commentators and international affairs analysts contended that Britain was
“wrong to bring tourists home” because it would weaken the only true emerging
democracy in that part of the world.
The intent of those who planned and carried out the recent terrorist attack in Tunisia and the reactions to it, both underscore the idiosyncratic connections between economic development and terrorism. Importantly, the attack ought to remind us of the global nature and imperatives, not only of ISIL’s brand of terrorism, but also of economic development. Both problems, terrorism and lack of economic development in the Global South, must be confronted cooperatively, because European countries were indeed involved, directly and indirectly, in creating the kind of conditions that weaken their southern neighbors’ economies, which in turn have created the kind of environment most suitable for terrorism.
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| Zakaria Hamad |
