Phases of Terrorism in the Age of Globalization

Phases of Terrorism in the Age of Globalization

Phases of Terrorism in the Age of Globalization From Christopher Columbus to Osama bin Laden Asafa Jalata

PHASES OF TERRORISM IN THE AGE OF GLOBALIZATION Copyright Asafa Jalata 2016 Softcover reprint of the hardcover 1st edition 2016 978-1-137-55233-4 All rights reserved. No reproduction, copy or transmission of this publication may be made without written permission. No portion of this publication may be reproduced, copied or transmitted save with written permission. In accordance with the provisions of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, or under the terms of any licence permitting limited copying issued by the Copyright Licensing Agency, Saffron House, 6-10 Kirby Street, London EC1N 8TS. Any person who does any unauthorized act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages. First published 2016 by PALGRAVE MACMILLAN The author has asserted his right to be identified as the author of this work in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988. Palgrave Macmillan in the UK is an imprint of Macmillan Publishers Limited, registered in England, company number 785998, of Houndmills, Basingstoke, Hampshire, RG21 6XS. Palgrave Macmillan in the US is a division of Nature America, Inc., One New York Plaza, Suite 4500, New York, NY 10004-1562. Palgrave Macmillan is the global academic imprint of the above companies and has companies and representatives throughout the world. ISBN 978-1-349-56866-6 DOI 10.1057/9781137552341 ISBN 978-1-137-55234-1 (ebook) Distribution in the UK, Europe and the rest of the world is by Palgrave Macmillan, a division of Macmillan Publishers Limited, registered in England, company number 785998, of Houndmills, Basingstoke, Hampshire RG21 6XS. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Jalata, Asafa, 1954 Phases of terrorism in the age of globalization : from Christopher Columbus to Osama bin Laden / Asafa Jalata. pages cm Includes bibliographical references and indexes. 1. Terrorism History. 2. State-sponsored terrorism History. I. Title. HV6431.J3227155 2015 363.325 dc23 2015017995 A catalogue record of the book is available from the British Library.

Contents Preface vii 1 Introduction 1 2 Defining, Conceptualizing, and Theorizing Terrorism 9 3 Terrorism from Above and Below 29 4 The Impact of Colonial Terrorism on Indigenous Americans 49 5 English Colonial Terrorism, Genocide, and Indigenous Australians 73 6 Colonial Terrorism and the Incorporation of Africa into the Capitalist World System 87 7 Comparing Ethiopian and Sudanese State Terrorism 115 8 State and Oppositional Terrorism: The Case of Israelis and Palestinians 133 9 Al-Qaeda: A Global Multinational Terrorist Network 161 10 Conclusion: Can We Imagine a Terror-Free World? 209 Notes 231 Bibliography 241 Index 261

Preface The earthshaking terrorist episodes of 9/11 and their devastating effects on the United States of America were the main impetus for the writing of this book. Because of the complexity and difficulty of the subject matter of terrorism, it took me several years to complete it. One of these complexities involved unpacking contradictions between the knowledge for domination and maintaining the status quo and the knowledge that embraces and promotes principles of human liberation, social justice, human rights, and democracy. Another complexity was developing the conceptual, theoretical, and methodological frameworks that would enable me to critically study terrorist practices for over five centuries from above and below in the capitalist world system. While thinking about the tragedy of 9/11 and the injustices committed against innocent Americans, I realized that most indigenous peoples around the world have been exposed to state or state-sponsored terrorism for more than five hundred years. Unfortunately, the media, academia, government, and international institutions have more or less neglected to report or to explain the tragedies of indigenous peoples around the world. Only recently have human rights organizations briefly addressed their lethal problems. Nowadays, terrorism is affecting powerful institutions and countries and is not limited to powerless peoples. As history demonstrates, starting in 1492, Christopher Columbus, his associates, and other Europeans arrived in the Americas and initiated state or state-sponsored terrorism, committing genocide against indigenous peoples and dispossessing them of their land and other resources. Ignoring this stark reality, most peoples of European origin in the Americas today celebrate the year 1492 calling it the year Christopher Columbus discovered the Americas. How could one discover a place that was already inhabited? Nevertheless, the descendants of indigenous Americans and progressive intellectuals of diverse backgrounds vehemently denounce this so-called discovery of the Americas by Christopher Columbus by recognizing its subsequent devastating effects on indigenous Americans. Over five hundred years later, Osama bin Laden and his associates engineered and executed the 9/11 terrorist attacks in 2001 on the United States and against its institutions and citizens. The subtitle of this book is From Christopher Columbus to Osama bin Laden: while the crimes that Columbus and other Europeans committed against indigenous Americans cannot be forgotten, the crimes that al-qaeda committed against American citizens and their institutions and infrastructures under the leadership of Osama bin Laden will be remembered forever. Although Christopher Columbus and Osama bin Laden still have worshippers around the world after their death, they are both symbols of terrorism. The impact of Ethiopian state terrorism on my life, my wife, and our people, the Oromo, and my scholarly interest in global studies also motivated

viii PREFACE and empowered me to take on the difficult project of writing this book. The Oromo have been suffering from the consequences of Ethiopian colonial and state terrorism for more than a century. Former European colonial countries, such as England, France, and Italy, and later successive global powers and their institutions such as the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund have been indirectly financing Ethiopian state terrorism. Successive Ethiopian regimes have been terrorizing and eliminating members of the Oromo community in general and Oromo political activists who have been struggling for the natural rights of the Oromo people in particular. Consequently, millions of Oromo refugees have been scattered around the world. I am one of these displaced refugees, and I know firsthand the tragedies of different forms of violence, including terrorism. Therefore, the terrorist attacks on my adopted country, the United States, and fellow American citizens renewed in me my previous psychological and emotional pains and traumas. I have started to realize that one cannot be sure about her/his safety in a world system born out of conflict, war, and terrorism, and that continues to use the same logic and approaches. I have also started to ponder and wonder what would happen if the movers and shakers of the capitalist world system began to mobilize their economic and intellectual resources and energies toward genuinely building durable peace and democracy in the world rather than believing that might is right and trying to solve political problems through war and terrorism. As we know, terrorism has no boundaries. Unfortunately, the appetite for money, power, and fame is overpowering and leads to shortsightedness and contradictory behaviors and practices. History demonstrates that the powerful individuals, groups, corporations, and states, and those who struggle against their oppressive policies and actions, are failing to learn from past mistakes. This book attempts to demonstrate the sickness of capitalist civilization that claims to promote universalism, justice, human rights, and democracy while in effect violating and destroying these principles. The oppositional projects of revolution or socialism have also repeated the same or similar mistakes, as the examples of the former Soviet Union and China have demonstrated. Furthermore, extreme ideologies of racism and religious and ideological fundamentalism have contributed to the intensification of conflict, war, and terrorism in the modern world because of narrow cultural, ideological, and political thinking and practices. This book identifies and critically assesses the devastating consequences of all forms of terrorism. My hope is that it will lead people to understand the importance of social justice, democracy, and multicultural knowledge and wisdom and will inspire them to start struggling to develop a peaceful and egalitarian democracy within their local contexts and beyond. I invite all people to consider the possibility of developing a better world that moves us beyond conflict, war, and terrorism. Finally, I thank Palgrave Macmillan and its staff particularly Mireille Yanow, publisher, Scholarly Division, and Mara Berkoff for helping me publish this book. There are many people, including the anonymous reviewers,

PREFACE ix who helped me strengthen my arguments. Furthermore, the University of Tennessee at Knoxville contributed to this project by providing me with a sabbatical semester to work on the book. Finally, I abundantly thank my wife, Zeituna Kalil, and others for supporting me in many ways. Particularly, Zeituna deserves special appreciation for constantly reminding me how Ethiopian state terrorism has been affecting Oromo women and children, and for encouraging and motivating me in working hard and completing this book. Asafa Jalata Knoxville, October 2015