When there is a terrorist attack, some political observers are quick to dub the issue a mere ‘lone wolf’ event – describing violence, without the motive that brought it about. This is a mistake and prevents us from getting to the core of the dangerous ideologies that drive individuals to commit such violence – and avoiding it in the future.
The individual, although isolated and possibly insane, is usually not solely in the grip of a delusional attack. In the case of Arras last week and Brussels on Monday, it was a case of two men pumped with Islamist ideology.
While French President Emmanuel Macron named the attacks as Islamic extremism, almost all EU leaders – chief diplomat Josep Borrell, European Parliament President Roberta Metsola, EU Council President Charles Michel, and Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen – have described ‘murders’, ‘attacks’ or ‘terrorism’, without attributing an ideology.
“The emotion expressed and the tribute ceremonies are no longer enough to quell the deep-seated concern and anger felt by the country,” former Socialist French Prime Minister Bernard Cazeneuve said about the importance of qualifying terrorism.
Terrorism in Europe has traditionally been organised, structured and linked to specific aims, such as that of the Mafia in Italy, ETA in Spain, republican and loyalist armed groups in Northern Ireland, and so on. They had a clear goal and an almost military organisation style.
But for several years now, a new way of describing terrorism has emerged: that of the “isolated individual”.
There is always a risk of commentators describing a massacre as the work of a single mad individual. In terms of criminal law, their madness often absolves them from responsibility for their heinous acts. But it is a mistake to transpose this into political and public discourse without risking excusing their actions.
We must name the problems that lie at the root cause of the act.
Recent days have seen a rise in anti-Semitic violence. In France, the number of anti-Semitic online acts has in one week almost reached the number it does in a year. In Germany, those figures are also rising, with several synagogues attacked in Berlin.
The situation in the Middle East is a trigger. The opposite phenomenon is less widespread, but it does exist: the car of a left-wing MP was vandalised with anti-Arab slogans, and an attack on a Muslim prayer hall was foiled in France on the same day as the attack in Arras.
Refusing to name such acts as what they are – whether Islamist terrorism, extreme right-wing terrorism, extreme left-wing terrorism, or pro-independence terrorism, is tantamount to sweeping the dust under the carpet.
True political leaders must name the problem as what it is. This requires courage, because the threat, in the public’s eyes, then becomes more real and immediate.
Sweden and France are among the targets of terrorists.
France has been designated as a priority target by Islamic State after strikes – done with other states – against it in Iraq and Syria. The result was the Bataclan attack in 2015.
The threat to Sweden has increased after the burning of the Korans. Not naming the threats, or not naming them correctly, will not make the problem go away and may only encourage future acts of terror, from those who feel they are feared.
Today, when an investigation revealed the presence of former jihadist fighters in Swedish schools, Sweden’s (Liberal) education minister spoke of “naivety”.
It’s the least we can do to acknowledge it.
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The Roundup
EU staff working around the world have criticised European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s position of ‘unconditional support’ to Israel, in a letter seen by Euractiv.
EU lawmakers have called for more independence from third countries in space launches, including EU-funded space pads and an EU preference, according to a draft report seen by Euractiv.
Four major companies have called on EU lawmakers to adopt ambitious CO2 standards that will boost the production of zero tailpipe emission trucks, urging them to reject renewable fuels as a future pathway to decarbonise heavy-duty vehicles.
The European Commission is ramping up industry reporting obligations in order to ensure the EU meets its stated goal of making data centres climate neutral by 2030.
Germany aims to boost its international competitiveness with a new digital strategy, while experts have warned of a growing geopolitical race for technological supremacy and the need to defend liberal values and human rights in the digital space.
Don’t miss this week’s Economy Brief: The climate-hostile paradigm, and the Tech Brief.
Look out for…
- Commission President Ursula von der Leyen delivers speech at “Deutschlandtag“ of the Junge Union Deutschlands on Sunday.
- Commission Vice-President Maroš Šefčovič participates in opening of Saudi-EU Investment Forum in Riyadh on Monday.
- Foreign Affairs Council on Monday.
- Agriculture and Fisheries Council Monday-Tuesday.
Views are the author’s
[Edited by Zoran Radosavljevic/Alice Taylor]
Source: euractiv.com
