11 September and the Widening North-South Gap: Root Causes of Terrorism in the Global Order
Author(s)
Elnur, Ibrahim
Abstract
The dramatic changes in the nature and sources of threats to global peace following the September events rendered both the management of the “arrogance of power” and even the statecraft not only insufficient but also less relevant. A shift towards a multipolar world order in politics seems to inevitable. But such a multipolar global order needs to incorporate mechanisms that will allow a wider global participation if the invisible enemy is to be made more visible and if the non-nuclear dangers are to be averted. There are important lessons to be learnt from the sluggish responses from the international community to the call for joint action against terror. These are: The limited room for maneuver of the nation state with reference to deep divides within its national boundaries (Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Pakistan, to cite only few examples); and with reference to its direct interests and actual and potential spheres of influence (The Industrialized countries); and finally the inadequacy of unipolar order as a vehicle for providing a broad international platform for joint action.
