Making Terrorism History

Resolving intractable conflicts has become an even more urgent task since the September 11 and 7 July attacks, and since the invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq. However, strategies which simply try to hit back at the 'enemy', the 'terrorists' or political opponents by using arms are counterproductive. They increase both the level of violence and the yawning chasm between the two sides. New thinking and new approaches are needed.The authors of this short and highly topical book argue that using arms alone will never be successful unless we also address the emotional and psychological effects of violence and humiliation on whole communities, and the various economic, social and cultural issues that sustain cycles of terror.They outline 20 key approaches that can be used with positive effect in Iraq, the Israel-Palestinian conflict, and also in our own towns and cities nearer to home. These essential measures will prevent and resolve conflict without the use of force. Some are to be used by our governments, and some by ourselves, to address and prevent the conditions which trigger violence. Unless we take the security of our fellow human beings as our starting point - by winning their hearts and minds - we will never find a way to lasting peace. And unless we ourselves take action, both by putting pressure on our own governments to act in the right way, and by taking the measures which the authors recommend in our own communities, the spectre of rising terror and violence in our world is a very real one.… (more)