Poll Comments - Root Causes of Terrorism as the Highest Priority of Development

This Poll was conducted February 15 - March 1, 2002

Identifying and addressing the root causes of terrorism should be one of the highest priorities for the international development community.

Do you agree? Disagree? Unsure?

AGREE

DISAGREE

AGREE


"Unless we deal with the root causes we may continue dealing with the symptoms." [Kenya]

"Once upon a time, there was Robin Hood. He ambushed the rich, took their excess belongings to give to the poor. Where there is unequal distribution of wealth and or power, somebody stands up some day, somewhere, somehow!" [Malawi]

"Human rights issues need to be addressed at all levels not just in the rhetoric of politicians. As people have more say in their situations through more open and transparent governments there will be less need to act out. Western countries need to act in a manor that reflects that these ideas by pressuring governments to change their ways". [Canada]

"There is lack of consistaency about the defintion of terrorism. this may cause big gap between countries efforts to control terrorism. The international development community should help in bringing people from different backgrounds to make a dialog so ideas could be claryfied and agreed upon. The community should also help developing countries in planning and implementing development plans, and also help to ubgrade their knowledge and skills so the dialog could be sustained and developed". [no country provided]

"I must fight against terrorism any time, any where". [Burundi]

"Terrorism roots are quite different in different countries or regions. In some places could be racial, in another could be the figth for land, in Colombia cleary the major cause and its main way to prevail is drug traffick. Both leftist and rightist guerrillas are narco-guerrillas acting througth terrorism". [Colombia]

"If the root causes of terrorism are not identified and addressed, the so called war against it will be like fighting a hopeless battle that uses terrorism to fight terrorism". [United Kingdom]

"We cannot pretend not to know that Poverty makes it very easy for unsound minds to recruit personnel for their nefarious activities. In developing countries especially official corruption in high and low places is at the root of poverty. The developed world must tackle the primitive corrruption especially in Africa the way they have been able to deal with the finances of terrorist organizations". [Nigeria]

"Agreeing with the above is of utmost importance to have some control (minimal) over terrorism. It's a difficult task to achieve, but with the right elements and continuity and I find this one of the highest priorities for the international development community". [no country provided]

"Terrorism continues to keep many developing nations from reaching their fullest potential and threatens to destabilize the developed world. Bringing to bear military might only adds fuel to the fire and peaceful means of conflict resolution are often a little too little, a little too late. It is the responibility of the international development community to look into and address the root causes of this social disease, before we find ourselves with an epidemic on our hands". [Sri Lanka]

"There is no hope for people who live under oppressive regimes or in the shadow of unpredictable terrorists. There is little hope for those who live in fear or who cannot progress educationally or economically, no matter how hard they labor. If you believe in the philosophies of participatory development and that people are capable of managing their own lives and living cooperaively, then one cannot disagree that ridding communities of terror has to be a priority". [USA]

"Though not at the expense of other worthy economic and humanitarian assistance projects". [USA]

"The root causes of terrorism is linked to poverty, and poverty reduction has the highest priority in the international development community". [no country provided]

"Inequality, globalisation, poverty are all factors that have led to terrorism. The Western world has its head buried in the sand and it is time we acted together (east and west) to bring equality to the world". [no country provided]

"The root causes of terrorism = injustice and inequality. End these end terrorism". [UK]

"I agree but with some careful qualifications. Polling in the US shows that in general the American public does not link poverty to terrorism, especially because so many of the terrorists involved in the WTC attack were educated and came from middle/upper class families. Being told that terrorist acts are bred from poverty, lack of opportunity and dispair actually creates a negative reaction among many Americans. Having said this, I think it is still important to be able to talk about the conditions of people's lives in countries where terrorism festers (including the US) and of course to continue to directly address those root causes in our work". [no country provided]

"Without some clear understanding of the root causes of terrorism, the issues will continue to haunt us. We know that poverty is a huge issue. However, we are less sure of other issues. And,I believe we would have to understand these issues from regional perspectives". [Canada]

"It should be the highest priority not only to the international development community but for the G 8 member countries and especially the United States of America". [no country Provided]

"Agree but not as a highest priority. Other development items come before that". [no country provided]

"Terrorism, a very destabilizing force, will persist without addressing the root causes". [no country provided]

"Many people neatly correlate the growth of terrorism with the increasing gap between not only rich and the poor nations but also the rich and poor within developing countries. I suggest that this over-simplifies this issue. It is of course true that poverty tends to make people turn to terrorism, however, Ben Ladin, the Arch-Terrorist is not poverty-stricken but in fact has access to extremely large funds. Terrorism is usually linked to the pursuit of closed systems of belief. We therefore need to understand these belief systems and what makes individuals and groups of people cling to such beliefs before we can hope to reduce the number of terrorists presently operating in this world. This is a task UNESCO should be tackling aided by the most expert communicators". [England]

"Human Beings are not EVIL by nature I don't think...it is for their own survival that they sometimes have to use violance in order to be heard and to survive. There are many reasons why acts of violance are taking place in the World at the moment. Western Media and politicians like to call such acts: Terrorism because it stamps those acts with connotations of EVIL and sbliminally pushes public opinion into identifying such movements with EVIL without wanting to look behind the acts and understand why they take place. In my opinion, such acts in Palestine, the Arab World generally and in the West generally are taking place because there are many frustrations created by the present World System: Economic, political, military and ideological frustrations. There is an entire part of the planet which is not consulted on very much at all, which is not heard, which is misrepresented, made impotent and stamped with stigmas of violance, ignorance, unhumanity, barbarism...while the rest of the World is the GOOD, FREE, DEVELOPED, KNOWLEDGEABLE, HUMANE one...according to Western Media and politicians generally. These things need to be looked at, heard, considered and addressed as it seams that frustration ahs gon too far and that many of us are even happy to loose their lives today in order to change this World order! The system in place will not and should not get away with elegant and disguised terror anymore. This has got to STOP!" [England]

"Fighting terrorism should definately be of the highest priority for the international development community. However, I feel strongly, that it should not be initiated by the rich countries whose objectives do not appear genuine other than settling bilateral ideological matters. The approach should be abided by international conventions and UN treaties and resolutions, so passed to facilitate such a global response and action". [Zimbabwe]

"I think international organizations should focus on hunger, poverty and disease, but also justice". [USA]

"Thanks for asking. Let's get real. We must focus attention on the so called war on terrorism since by definition, our profession is activism, now synonymous with terrorism.If it be either fear or Denial or both that prevents us in development from focusing on September 11th related issues, and if we are serious about development and survival, the period of fear and denial must end. Perhaps you can somehow assist us to participate in honest communications without fear.This war on terrorism issue affects virtually everything we do and limits donor aid for our projects. For example, news in quiet Least Pacific Island countries like Vanuatu where there are no detention centres as of yet received word there will be less donor aid because donor aid money originally earmarked for here is now funneling directly into hands of governments that accepted Afghanistan refugees into detention centres.It is time to particularly address the issue of Depression related to world instability imposed on humanity since September 11th. Depression will soon be the main contributor to preventable deaths. Suicide rates of innocent people resulting from Depression are rising. Related Addiction is a pandemic, one fed by terrorism of the illegal drug trade. Developing countries are not speared any of these diseases or conditions. To the contrary, data suggests developing countries will be more affected by Depression and subsequent related death. Virtually all other development issues are dependent on mental health. Mental Health affects everything a person says and does. As I say, a person with chronic Depression who is drunk and suicidal doesn't care much about wearing a condom, no matter how much precious donor aid is poured into awareness raising, education and supplies. Yes, let's get real.And if and when we do return to this topic, I hope those who participate will not use the forum to create roadblocks through intellectualization and a battle of semantics over one person's interesting contribution as did on this forum shortly after September 11th. (One man's terrorist...) This issue is far too important for that and time is of the essence.You are our major communication forum for this subject. Thanks for that and thanks again for asking. Oh- apologies for emailing this response. The 30 seconds web response is cost prohibitive in developing countries like this where communications are serious problems". [Vanuatu]

"One of terrorism's root cause is poverty and lack of empowerment. Isn't this what development cooperation is about alleviating/improving?" [no country provided]

"Yes I agree, because it is more than poverty. Even in situations of poverty people can have hope and dignity with appropriate access to opportunities that relevant development can facilitate. It is when these conditions cannot be met that commitment to extreme causes become a rationale for living (and dying) and regaining a different hope and dignity: from fighting injustice till death, if necessary". [no country provided]

"If and only If the international community will not stop there! meaning if the International development community is willing to take serious actions to deal with the main causes, then I strongly agree! if they only identify the problem better not to put it on their agenda in the first place!!! for every action is a reaction..... and I believe terrorism is a reaction .." [no country provided]

"Je suis 100% d'accord. C'est effectivement la première des priorités si nous voulons voir disparaitre le terrorisme.Ceci dit, les causes ne sont-elles pas déjà connues et n'est-il pas un peu hypocrite de vouloir les identifier comme si tout cela était nouveau. Mais lutter efficacement contre les causes à la racine du terrorisme ne mettra-t-il pas en question la manière dont le monde est actuellement géré par les grandes puissances et en particulier par les puissances financières?" [France]

"Unless you do that no remedy can be found. Also it will not be a permanent remedy. The root cause have to be understood well". [India]

"I totally agree because if not checked and dealt with the whole world wil find that some form of Adolf Hitler is being made out some power drunken fools.They would want their immediate community to dance and act according to their whims and caprices. Later they will extend it to the rest of us. [Nigeria]

"Once the root causes are identified and corrective measures are taken, then peolple will not have reasons for inflicting terror on others. As it is some people feel/think that others owe them something and want to revenge thru acts of terrorism". [Zambia]

"We don't need to spend a lot of time "addressing the root causes". We know what they are (poverty and injustice). What we need to do is get real about the choices we and the Governments we elect make about allocation of funds. Fixing many global "problems" would take less than the amount currently being spent on perfume and cosmetics, icecream and candy, diet programs and exercise equipment, entertainment and gambling, let alone defence expenditure. The Financing for Development Conference in Mexico in March was to have been the breakthrough in relation to financial commitments rather than more statements of good intent. Tragically, this is unlikely be achieved because of the decisions of rich countries who are too comfortable with things the way they are and fail to grasp the connection between poverty and terrorism. The same people who pride themselves on free market principles while imposing extraordinary levels of "protection" and are too fixed on short-term objectives to see that the margin for error for a "borderless world" and its soon to be 8 billion inhabitants is very slim". [Australia]

"Terrorism is not beneficial to any kind of struggle, nor is an instrument of reinvidication. As means is obviously a way to call attention but not on the principles only on the actions of terrorism.Moreover many people suffer unecesarily". [Colombia]

"Terrorism is borne by frustrations and problems faced by the third world and the oppressed people e.g the Palestinians.Addressing issues such as poverty, hunger, disease and opression such as the situation in Israel and Palestine would help reduce the anger against the West and America who control more than 3/4 of the worlds economy and have the capability both economical, political and even military to help put a stop to the huge gap of social and economic between them and the epole from the breeding grounds of terrorism that is Africa, Middle East and other underdeveloped regions of the world". [Kenya]

"It seems to me like treating the symptom and not the cause if we DON'T look at the root causes of terrorism, and address them. Waging war against people who are acting out due to poverty, hunger, etc. is not a reasonable nor productive response, in my opinion". [USA]

"The answer is YES. However, it should'nt be forgotten that in many instances, terrorism is not a political issue, that is, there are interests beyond the development problems that affect people and countries such as drug traffic and economic power strugle. To these causes should also address the development community". [Colombia]

"Fear and insecurity underly terrorisme. Addressing root causes is a highly potential way to combat terror and its consequences". [no country provided]

"Ultimately, if we look to ourselves and ask the question - what event or issue would cause me, as an indidual to resort to terror to get my point of view accross or to "have my own way"? And then to ask the question - If I were the catalyst for someone's decision to turn to terror as an option, how did events turn so bad that a) a terrorist evolved and b) how will you deal with the consequences?" [no country provided]

"In the minority world we are obsessed with September 11, and it is robbing resources from all other sectors, especially non-military aid. Bombing will of course just exacerbate the situation of terrorism, leading to a descending spiral of violence of benefit only to the arms dealers. Therefore, it is of paramount strategic importance that aid organizations identify the root causes of terrorism, educate the public about them, and continue addressing issues of inequality and injustice". [Canada]

"Terrorism has become a problem to every nations hence if the root cause of terrorism can be found then it will be easier to find ways of dealing with the problem but we can not just start addressing the problem without finding the root causes. I beleieve if the modality of first identification of the problem and addressing it is applied then terrorism will be a thing of the past". [Kenya]

"If only it were so easy. Often the causes seem to be known but are difficult to eradicate. Chronic poverty, unemployment , corruption, political instability, how does one even begin to address these?" [India]

"The root causes of terrorism are the root causes of disease, hate, illiteracy, poverty......we have to keep on the path". [no country provided]

"Sponsors of terrorism take advantage of poverty, poverty is the main cause of terrorism, the wide differences in the development between Nations and individuals, greed for power leads to people being vulnearable. We wil only tackle terrorism by ensuring equity, justice and appreciation of basic human rights accross the Universe". [Kenya]

"The dividing line between insurgency, cessationist movement,and other protest movements is getting thinner because most of the time, they all start with economic and social causes within communities. It is when their voices are not heard that they look for attention thru'violent means, which can get out of hand and the de jure/ de facto Govt.s call them 'terrorist acts'". [India]

"Warfare has changed steadily during the 20th century from conflict between states to conflict within states, and from military casaulties to civilian casualties. In the 21st century this will only increase if the religious, cultural and economic causes of terrorism are not addressed single-mindedly by a body like the UN, NOT the US". [South Africa]

"No body can keep his/her eyes shut today. Terrorism is one of the iggest dangers of modern age. It needs to be addressed". [Pakistan]

"Prevention is better than cure. We've all known that all along, but tend to focus on curing instead of using longer term thinking and realizing that prevention is cheaper and better..." [USA]

"Look inwards to see why the attacks are being prompted, that makes sense doesn't it?" [no country provided]

"Terrorism cannot be beaten only by force. Its causes must be identified and dealt with. Only this way can a more tolerant and peaceful world be established. It's a matter of social psychology". [no country provided]

"Terrorism is one aspect of fanaticism and whether it comes from political ideation(Hitler) or religious beliefs (Taliban) eliminates the possibility of rational thinking without which it is impossible to make an orjective, realistic conclusion". [USA]

"While low level of development cannot be used as excuse for terrorism, I do believe that low level of development - poverty, dim of hope for the future e.t.c. - provide ready breeding grounds for inducting young people by terrorists. On the other hand, terrorism can make nonsense of all developmental gains. so, it deserves the attention of the development comunity, and its root causes ought to be addressed". [USA]

"Issues relating to why terroism exists encompasses the conditions people are living in and by working to eliminate these conditions we can start to break down terroist activity. There is no one solution to the problem. These issues need to be addressed politically and socially". [no country provided]

"We have to find the causes of the problems to be able to think about possible solutions". [Colombia]

"It should be a concern, especially in looking at the (mainly US-based)multi-national corporate world's support for dictatorships and military-backed governments. Too much "aid" serves the financial interests of the developed world and the use of terror by governments against their own populations. The current US-sponsored "war on terrorism" is a sham to protect the interests of the US military-industrial-oil interests". [no country provided]

"A microscopic proportion of the world population are engaged in terrorism for their self and vested interests. It must be stopped, be it within a small community, among communities and or between countries and continents. There must be causes and ways that are very much linked. If we want to free the world and its people, we muct pinpoint the causes to find a solution there in". [Bangladesh]

"The politically and economically dispwsessed with no powerful sympathyzers or economic support are in most cases driven into desperation. hey will use any means, including violence, to send their messages. This is enhanced if they see sympathy and support go to their oppressors. Such is the case in Palastine". [no country provided]

"But it is very difficult to identify the root cause, the causes are mostly region specific and so require a micro level analysis rather than an opinion poll result based review". [India]

"Your statement unfortunately does not clarify whether you see terrorism as an inherently secondary phenomenon that cannot exist without crass inequality and severe repression. Terrorism is not solely the product of mad fanatics' misguided ambition. One of the predominant problems I see is that the issue is misused much in the same way as Communism was to distract from the root cause: inequality. If that is what your statement is intended to say, I agree. If what you are saying is that development should be made a subservient part of defense and security policy, I strongly disagree". [USA]

"Groups that engage in terrorism gain credibility and strength from the enormous and inequitable differences in well-being between rich nations and poor ones as well as from local disparities between the wealthy and the poor. They also are strengthened when democratic channels for addressing these differences are stifled. Economic justice and participatory channels for effecting change are two key goals of development. Terrorism is an ugly indicator of critical shortcomings in development". [USA]

"Isn't it obvious? But easier said than done! Easier to identify causes than to effectively address them!" [Canada]

"Actualy nations know why there is terrorism already, and that is why addressing it and its root causes needs to be upscaled to the international agenda and forum". [no country provided]

"Labelling should also be something we look at as far as what is constituted as terrorism, and what is constituted as revolutionary self-defense". [no country provided]

"We've seen the devasting effects of terrorism--both in the USA and in other countries--but fighting terrorism must include addressing its roots". [no country provided]

"Greater attention needs to be given to the implementation of the Spirit driving the UDHR". [USA/Switzerland]

"The International Development Community is the portion of the world population who can be low profile and able to ease their way behind the scenes and in to local communities/movements/cultures deeper than Government officials and agencies are able too in a short time and with less expense". [USA]

"Fundamentalsim is rapidly growing and suppoorted by dictators in the East. Without curbing the main caueses of Terrorism it is impossibile to curb it". [Pakistan]

"I'm surprised to see this question framed this way. Actually, this is precisely what I do think development is about; in other words, I do think there is a strong link between terrorism and access to resources". [US]

"The root cause of inhumanity is inequality, at the root of inequality is greed which spawns fear and that leads to self justification. Development has to be about moving away from self justification to openly addressing inequality, in so doing the root causes of terrorism will be exposed. We will then need the courage to acknowledge and address them". [UK]

"Truly, this should be one of the highest priorities of governments, but since some of our governments are not taking this responsibility, the work needs to be done by anyone with a conscience and the evidence continually presented so that our designated leaders will make informed decisions in the light of public opinion". [USA]

"I believe we've already identified a number of the root causes of terrorism--now is the the time to start addressing them. The U.S. cannot continue ignore the world's poor". [USA]

"Absolutly agree, I think. Does not existe an limited number of "terrrorists human being" so you can catch them and destroy. Terrorism has some root causes, so the priority are identifying and adressing thus, and proceed to turn this" [Colombia]

"We should understand why terrorism is taking place in some cases people say: one's freedom fighter is an other man's terrorist". [no country provided]

"I agree with this because due to the disaster caused by terrorism on human life and property is far reaching and the effects of this cause more problems and complications that the world does not need at this moment. We have enough to deal with already without terrorism adding to it". [India]

"To commit or not to commit an act of terror, like any other action, stems from some form of void that the offender or actor perceives. The action taken is either one of hitting back, or one of improving one's plight, as appropriate. However, when cornered, people are more likely to take the drastic option of hitting back, and it does not matter whether it improves ones lot or not. One could argue that it does lead towards looking for solutions, as it calls to attention matters that we have often taken for granted. Naturally, in looking for soultions, there is no better way than to first try to identify the root cause of the problem. It is like a chronic wound- there is no stopping it until you have identified its source and cause". [The Netherlands]

"No one is born a terrrorist. Actions perceived as acts of injustice leaves indelible mark int he minds of a few who uses mass hynotism to make people see their point of view from a negative perspective. A terrorist is born then. His whole psyche reals with revenge and hatred. Thers hould be ways of calming down these agitated minds so that they do not resort to acts of violence". [USA]

"This will help uprrot the causes and make the world a safe place for mankind". [Ghana]

"Without looking at the causes of the problem, you cannot solve it. You are just chopping off Hydra's heads and waiting for them to grow back". [USA]

"I do not think that we still need to spend time talking about identifying the root causes as most of the key causes such as poverty are as old as humanity. I think it may be advisable to be talking about identifying the reasons why such long standing issues have not been addressed in the past and continue not to receive any meaningful attention at all, despite the abundant information on the implications of such issues on sustainable development". [UK]

"The real tragedy of Sept. 11 is that Washington thinks it just has to kill terrorists and everything will be okay again". [Ghana]

"Any sincere effort to find root causes will in fact bring attention to long standing problems -- poverty, lack of education -- and redirect attention from the military approach, which will only incite more terrorism". [Canada]

"It's about time that the International development community learn how to look at the real problems and understand that the world cannot be ''standardized''. International consultants and professionals should STOP seeing their jobs as ''a way to eurn a living'' and start seing it as '' a way of giving''. They have to become what they were supposed to be in the first lace ''activists for human equality''".[Haiti]

"The developed countries are more interested in their gains and domination of smaller and developing countries that they do not care a hoot about who they trod on and the results in those countries in achieving their ends. Exploitation and poverty are mainly responsible for terrorism today. There is need to acheive a balance between the rich and poor countries of the world". [Guyana]

"Firstly we need to define what terrorism is so that when it is applied it is consistent for example, I don't understand why the Americans said that the fifteen year old boy who plunged the plane in the building was not a terrorist. So what was he? How different is he from the people who flew the planes to the world trade centre? What is causing terrorism, we need to look at the root cause not treat the symptoms. America's actions, how different are they from those of the terrorists. America preaches about human rights yet they hunted the Red Indians like beasts". [Zimbabwe]

"The key word here is "root"got to the root causing terrorism,not use more violence to fight violence,we are just doing as bad as they are". [USA]

"Knowing the route causes of terrorism provides a insights of how to deal with a situation. The cause might be a situation that can be solved withoughout loss of life can be easily dealt with early enough". [Uganda]

"I do live in a country - Colombia-where terrorism is present every brakfast. It is more difficult to create development without an international support and with adecuate economic and social policies". [Colombia]

"It is mandatory to identify the cuases of terrorism to be sure that terrorism can be reduced, even if it will be very difficult to stop it. Or it will take a lot of time and capabilities of accepting responsibilities and change the way to find solutions". [no country provided]

"This should include in-country terrorism where the so called freedom fighters are terrorising the inocent people under the name of Freedom eg rebels in Angola, Sierra Leone,DRC, Columbia, Phillipines etc". [Malawi]

"Check the definitions of terrorism". [no country provided]

"Surely "established development priorities" coincide with root causes of terrorism (leaving politics out of it for the moment)." [ ]

"We need to know what we're really up against." [ ]

DISAGREE [top]


"Before the events after Sept. 11 I would probably have voted Agree. What the events after Sept. 11 have shown me is that since then,everything else took second place and this was THE ONLY priority at that time. CNN had nothing else to report, its link the rest of the world had come to a standstill and the only thing happening was finding bin Laden. Terrorism obviously undermines human development, but is it the greates threat? While American soldiers were combing the Afgan wilderness for bin Laden, thousands of people in pooer countries were getting infected with HIV, thousands of babies were starving, thousands dying of malaria and malnutrition. Surely, how can finding the cause of terorism take priority to this?" [South Africa]

"This statement is going too far beyond the boundaries of what should be the main concerns of development practitioners. Of course, the root causes of terrorism need to be addressed, but they are more often tied up with ethnic animosities, and global politics rather than solely arising from issues of underdevelopment. If development practitioners concentrate on the basic requirements of environmentally sustainable development and poverty alleviation, it will surely impact on international conflicts that are resource based. Development practitioners have a difficult enough task in getting action on development and environment issues in global decision-making forms; opting into the terrorism debate, with all its animosities and militaristic emphasis, may be counterproductive. By all means, however, try to introduce the wider context of international conflict where it involves resource and economic aspects, into the terrorism debate". [New Zeland]

"I think that terrorism impedes development, but the skill sets that development (and in my case, public health)workers bring to the table are in development, not in tracking down terrorists. I think that if other agencies with specialists in the area of terrorism provide guidelines, we can follow them in our work so that the policies we work under do not in some way promote the very systems that support poverty and disease that we are working to prevent". [no country provided]

"The present spate of terrerosm has nothing to do with development. It has something to do with the mentality of a particular group of people. How can you explain so many saudis and kuwaitis and the American Taliban among them when they enjoy such high standards of living. Also the kidnapper of Pearl was brought up in London and is a wealthy man. Americans have a simplistic notion of everything. Until it bites them they cannot understand. America must stop providing money and weapons to to the countries which have harbored terrorists in the past. USA must "wind up" the Immigration Lottery which has opened the floodgates of immigration from Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sudan and other countries which has a reservioir of terrorists. USA provide visas for persons from "demogratic and secular" countrie like India based on qualifications and their usefulness to USA.USA must try to "secularize" countreis like Pakisatan, Egypt, Saudia etc, and must be firm in dealing with them". [Bosnia-herzegovina]

"Terrorism is part of a result of many factors including discrimination and poverty which need to be tackled together". [no country provided]

"There are many more important problems". [no country provided]

"The loss of basic rights is too severe". [no country provided]

"Terrorism is a symptom of broader issues of global inequality". [Australia]

"Because it is misleading to identify underdevelopment as the root cause of terrorism (is this to say that the poor of the world are potential terrorists?). I would rather say that what is needed is an truly open dialogue, in which everyone has a say and is listened to...development is a different issue. Those who really suffer of poverty, misery, destitution do not have resources, nor the capacity, and nor the willingness to engage in terrorist or in any other violent action, unless forced or convinced otherwise". [no country provided]

" don't see any convincing examples of how terrorism (in its multiple facets of political cause or religious fanaticism, not to be confused with religious fundamentalism) has really influenced the course of world politics or social and cultural development. September 11th, for all thew pain it caused, will eventually be dismissed as a splash on the face of history". [Canada]

"I don't want to see this as a development 'growth industry'". [no country provided]

"Pienso que hay otras prioridades, como mejorar la distribuciòn de la riqueza entre países y dentro de los países. El terrorismo es en parte una consecuencia de la desigualdad y se apoya en la misma para llevar adelante sus actividades". [Argentina]

"Terrorism is not defined here, and such definition is essential to even begin to address such a question. Indeed it is possible to think of of many kinds of terrorists and terrorism from the Sendero Luminoso in Peru to the radical racist groups in the US, to special goverment forces that promote a nation's agenda abroad using covert activites and illegal force. For each of these, and all other, acts of terrorism, the root causes may be very different. These groups and their acts would have some things in common - some obvious things: The wish to promote their political or religious agenda; the sense that they are marginalized groups or nations that have nothing to lose from risking their own lives and perhaps also the stability of their nations; the belief that despite what 'evil' they may do, it is justified for a greater 'good.'But we know all of this. Exploring root causes seems futile, as 'terrorism' in the above senses is as old as human history as complex as asking what is the root cause of 'crime.' Invading armies are terrorists in the eyes of those being attacked. So, before we can really even begin to respond to the question you have posed, you must define your terms very carefully". [Peru]

"We already know the causes and that is what we try to address with development work. We should not divert energy/resources". [no country provided]

"The hell with identifying and addressing the "root causes." I say hunt them down, smoke them out, and kill 'em". [no country provided]

"I believe that the priority of the development community is development. Development addresses the environment that enables terrorist to be recruited, but not the root causes of terrorism That's as it should be: I would not want to see the development community's energy diverted to achieving some consensus on what terrorism is, let alone what its root causes are". [USA]

"Should only happen as a side line to development as is not dependent on the other. The most important thing - poverty alleviation - is the key but this does not mean that the main game is the prevention of terrorism". [Samoa]

"Ther are many more important issues whch kill much more peole like AIDS , Malnutrition and poverty in general". [no country provided]

"Terrorism is a minimal problem compared to poverty and diseases, and terrorism is only effective if we focus on it. The visibility of one act of terorism in the USA should not close our eyes to the fact that in Africa every week more children die of hunger and diseases than the total number of victims of terrorism in one year throughout the world". [Egypt]

"Firstly I would like to stress that the defination of terrorism differs from region to region, in Africa during the liberation struggles the liberation fighters were termed as terrorists by the colonial masters then. Now Bush terms criminals terrorists. Also Zimbabwean President terms his opposition leader as a terrorist. So what is terrorism?It is only now that America has been hit that we think of looking at the root causes of these criminal activities. When the American embassy in Tanzania was attacked and about 200 people were injured what was Americas reaction then? they evacuated their 11 employees and left the Tanzanian's to suffer.When we talk of the International development community who is in this? Because surely the issue of looking at the root causes of terrrorism is just focused at looking at the security of the western countries. It is high time we define Internationl development community, because a number of countries are left out". [Switzerland]

"Root causes of terrorism" is simply another label, made trendy by events of Sept.11, for inequities of the 20th and 21st century: poverty, lack of access to education and to opportunities. I suppose it is a new, and possibly an effective way, to market for and obtain support for development community initiatives. Unfortunately, it will not ensure effectiveness of these initiatives, or that they will actually succeed in reducing the inequities that create the sense of unhappiness and powerlessness among the world's most disadvantaged". [USA]

"Even if I knew what the international development community is, the problems that such a community is intended to deal have not gone away, you know". [Ireland]

"This question is framed in a way that makes me suspect that the so-called root causes of terrorism have already been established; i.e., poverty, injustice, etc. In my experience, many people working in development causes accept this way of thinking without questioning. But the latest round of terrorist attacks was launched by a group of influential men with considerable financial backing and, possibly, the support of governments. It is hard to believe that the poor people they claim to represent would ever want these men to be the champions of their cause. It seems as though the real "root cause" lies more in a spirit of opposition to the foundations of Western societies (free markets, democratic governments, etc.). If the international development community could somehow address this attitude--while still committing itself to eradicating poverty and injustice--we might make some progress toward eliminating terrorism". [no country provided]

"The International Development Community should concentrate on eliminiting developing countries debt burden, reducing poverty by undertaking projects that directly provide benefits, e.g. housing, jobs, food, education, electricity, and reducing the interest rates on loans including country banking institutions relending. CNN reported today that the US is spending US$3 billion a month on the military effort alone on terrorism and that is enough. Its now too easy to use terrorism as a buzz word. It has been around for ages and the international community supposedly led by the US has only recognized it after 9/11 because it finally affected the Americans". [Philippines]

"While addressing the root causes of terrorism is important - and certainly more constructive than conducting a "war against terrorism" that can never be won - the development community should not let the fear of terrorism distort out priorities". [Bosnia]

"Development is about tackling poverty, unequal access to resources, illiteracy because they're wrong - it's a moral imperative - not because they result in terrorism (in fact they don't, or there'd be a hell of a lot more terrorism in the world". [Belgium]

"Terrrorism is not the problem. Exploitation and poverty alleviation are the real issues". [no country provided]

"More people die every minute of every day due to hunger and poverty related causes. Once we''re able to deal with that, we can worry about terrorism". [USA]

"The international development community should not be used as pawns by governments who themselves create terror for their own vested interests". [Philippines]

"While wanting to eliminate terrorism is a noble cause, is it not far better to look deeper, at root causes, and continue programmes that address root misunderstanding (i.e. illiteracy) and denial of basic services that allows things like terrorism to continue? I think it far wiser to resist the temptation to support another war -- do we need more conflict in this world? -- and rather look at the roots. This wasn't a random act. There are far more deeply rooted issues that this is expressing. The only time we truly have paid attention is when we're reminded how fragile we are in our sheltered north-american safehold. We should be reminded of this every day". [no country provided]

"Fighting and alleviating world-wide poverty should be the highest priority. The massive poverty in so-called thirdworld countries is mostly caused by the economicand imperialist policies of the world's most developped and poweful countries, principal among which are the USA and the EU. Impoverisation is an aspect of terrorism". [UK]

"Environmental issues are MUCH more important. USA, and especially its selfcentric president and its voters, is one of the greatest threats to world stability. There are too many ignorant people in the States, whos life style negatively affects the rest of the world. How could one possibly say that Our lifestyle is not up to negotiation, when the rest of the world thinks precisely that the American way of living IS a threat to them (ex small island states being drowned because of sealevel rise because of American car industry)". [Europe]

"International terrorism is a symptom of other societal problems. Unless these are addressed, we shall always have people who are left with no choice but to try desperate measures. the Palestinans is one such group. we need are more humane world, not one led only by narrow national interests". [Nambia]

"I think we should focus development efforts on A. Sen's suggested four freedoms and terrorism will wither". [no country provided]

"The US needs to be held accountable for those acts that have resulted in so much hatred worldwide Those "root" causes ARE the US and its exploitation of resources and the dependency it creates. The highest priority should be EDUCATION, SAFE WATER and BASIC HEALTH CARE-all of these are severaly lacking STILL in developing countries". [no country provided]

"I wouldn't want the work of the international development community to use this as the priority goal, though I agree many of the issues that development addresses has the potential to minimize the rationale for terrorism. I believe it should be the priority of governments (like the US) to reveiw their own policies to learn why so many feel that terrorism is their only option. The US government, for one, is sadly unwilling to see their role in this whole mess. The limited nature of their response demonstrates that fact. Secondly, my hesitation to agree to the statement has to do with the fact that its just another one of those policy statements that organizations like USAID could use to hijack a comprehensive, well thought out progam of development". [no country provided]

"Identifying the basic needs and rights of people and trying to procure these should be the highest priority for the international development community". [Kenya]

"Because it would give some government such as the US, France, GB an excuse to abuse their role in other Governemts affairs. They have always interfered even before the 11th of September. The US did not act according to the International Laws. They ignored the UN. Would LCD's government authorities be allowed to interfere in the US affairs solely on the ground that they are fighting terrorism??? No need to answer". [UK]

"I am from a developing coun try and our focus at the moment is eradicatiocation of poverty and general imrpovement of livelihoods for our people. O think if we focussed more aon the general well being of individuals even terrorism would not have a place in our society. If we eradicate the sufferings of the people then we also reduce the chances of terrorism attacks". [Kenya]

"In order to accomplish that we would need to be able to have a more powerfuf effect on the political front both in the developing and the developed world. That is not why most of us became involved in development. Terrorism is a completely political animal both its causes and its actions". [no country provided]

"What exactly is "terrorism"? Until there is an agreed definition how can it be a top priority for any nation? Terrorism, as I understand it, is a lack of opportunity and a prevalence of poverty - until the international development community focuses on these roots causes of conflict "terrorism" cannot be targetted strategically, ethically, or effectively". [Canada]

"No, countries need to concentrate resources on providing health care for those in low socio economic status, opportunities for internal economid development, and public hearlth issues. If more countries like my native country, USA, invest their attention to probolems at home, then we would not be in prediciment we are in with internation terrorist. I say this based on our efforts after WWii, when we chose to support Isreal, a nation of terrorits, at the expense of the Patestineans. A county like the U.S. has enough problems internally, and should avoid medeling in conflicts between other countries". [USA]

"Investments in education are the best use of resources". [no country provided]

"We know the root cause of terrorism: economics -- the inequity between the very rich and the very poor. People who are suffering turn to drastic measures to get attention. The US advertises and insinuates its wealth in the developing world in callous ways. The international development community must address the root causes of terrorism by addressing the issue of economic inequity". [USA]

"With all the injustice in the world today - poverty, AIDS, lack of access to education etc...terrorism ranks pretty low - even if you look at the total number of deaths due to terrorism. It is not even a fraction of the total compared to number of children who die from diarrhea - and this is preventable". [Zimbabwe]

"It is my feeling that the aid and development comunity must, if it is to become truly effective, maintain itself apart from the political elements which contribute to terrorism. Just as research is proving that continued efforts at westernization on the part of aid and development is having a negative impact on the comunities credability among various ethnic and cultural groupings, further involvement in the politics which engender terriorist type activities will risk a further erriosion of credability. Aid and development must be seen as being above such temporary squables and dedicated to the welfare of the human race as a whole. The fact that such unscientific terms as terrist and terrorism are being substituted for the more acurate terms shows a certian politisising of the comunity which in and of its self is disconserting. We have more than enough work to do with out becoming embroiled with diferentiating between an Isreali attack on inocent civilians in Palastine an!d a Palistinian attack against Isreal. The terms and their presentation are semantics employed as media keys to indicate the "good guys" from the "Bad guys". Are we now to become judges of right and wrong? Or would our involvement be more an extension of our individual nations, agencies, donors expressed views on who is a terrorist and who is not? One can never forget that the famous American George Washington was a terrorist, at least to the British way of thinking". [no country provided]

"NON ! Les priorites doivent etre (devenir ? rester ? )resoudre des questions fondamentales qui touchent une plus grande majorite dans le monde :questions qui empechent de vivre ou de jouir dedroits fondamentaux : sante, alimentation, education, logement, securite, qualite de vie - des questions tres tres concretes. Le terrorisme ne concerne qu´une minorite, au Nord et au SUD, et ne peut pas devenir LA priorite, meme si en partie ces questions citees peuvent etre en partie a l´origine du terrorisme, pour certains cas. soit conduite a cette vision deformee, en oubliant des questions plus importantes, dont depend la survie de l´humanite et de la planete, considerant prioritaire une question qui derange quelques uns, fait peur a quelques uns, mais ne touche et n´interesse qu´une minorite". [BRESIL]

UNSURE [top]

"Depends entirely on how one defines the "root causes" of terrorism. If we are speaking about gross social injustices and massive inequalities of wealth and power, then yes, I think eleiminating these should be among the highest priorities for international development work". [Canada]

"Terrorism is just one of the products of conflict, pain, struggle and politics. Therefore, to deal with the root causes of terrorism would require you to deal with hunger, trade, allocation of resources, education, world economies and the list goes on and on. Thus, to specifically target the root causes of terrorism would ultimately lead one to deal with almost all the problems within each society. Terrorism is a product of and reaction to our actions, not an object or thing. This is why education, development and reallocation of resources and knowledge should be the high priorities for the international development community. Anyway, wasn't it the Americans who created and defined the word terrorism?" [Canada]

"Root causes are usually clearly visible, but applying what we learn is more uncommon". [Canada]

"Identifying and addressing the root causes of poverty, the failure of economies to advance, disease pandemics, and societal disintegration ought to be the priority and preserve of the international development community. Terrorism is terrible, but tackling it in a reactionary way, on the basis that rich countries perceive a ‘quick win' benefit for themselves, may not be the most intelligent or locally acceptable approach to addressing the disaffection felt by poor people whose lives or actions are influenced by the rantings of relgious fundamentalists". [UK]

"The root causes which create environments where terrorsim exists are already known. Poverty, lack of education, limited access to health care, and corruption in government. Rather than using counter terrorism as the mode to root out terrorists we, the global community, should try and address these fundamnetal issues recognized for many years". [no country provided]

"Question is too vague and uses language that has been hijacked by the Bush administration...." [no country provided]

"The international development community is a very broad church, containing agencies and views across a wide political spectrum. There have been cases of NGOs and official aid agencies that have been involved in sponsoring terrorism, e.g. in Central America in the 1980s. Reagan referred to the 'contra' as 'freedom fighters', while for most Nicaraguans they were simply terrorists whose mission was to terrorise the civilian population, destroy basic infrastructure, and destablise the government. So it's not possible to give a yes/no answer, because it depends on who we assume 'the international development community' to be and from what perspective the question is being asked. It is of course a critical political, diplomatic, and development issue to engage with the issue of terrorism, but from a rights-based perspective". [France]

"I can see a need for balance between the two poles. How can programs be developed to address problems which lead to terrorist recruitment and and training? But how much time can be wasted in identifying problem areas?" [Canada]

"I cannot decide because the terrorism leaders many times have exppressed that they are "figthing" for the poors, that happened in my country: PERU.Many times in name of the poor, terrorists are killing poor people, that is what happened in Perú where they killed poor "campesinos" who did not want to join them in their "figth".Nevertheles, really exist economic, social, gender and other unequalities in today world, so we have to figth against such unequalities but, of course not with terrorist actions". [Peru]

"It's up to how to define Terrorism and Cause of Terrorism". [no country provided]

"The statatement is meaningless because 'root cause' does not mean the same thing to everybody. Bush and Blair say the root cause of terrorism is 'evil' whereas sociologists and economists would have their own ideas. For me, the root cause lies in economic, social and politaical imbalances that are heavily biased in favour of the West and are made worse by globalization and other systems that are forced by the West upon the rest of the world as well as internally in Western countries". [no country provided]