The Globalization of Terrorism by Ihekwoaba D. Onwudiwe

Author:Ihekwoaba D. Onwudiwe [Onwudiwe, Ihekwoaba D.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781138734616
Goodreads: 39949127
Publisher: Routledge
Published: 2017-12-21T00:00:00+00:00

External Intervention

The aim of this section is to look at external intervention as an addition to the factors that direct structural violence in peripheral societies with particular emphasis on Africa. External intervention arises at two different phases in Africa: one occurs with respect to conflicts concerning two internal factions in an African nation. The other emanates in conflicts between one African country and another. Most of these conflicts are characterized by military takeover of power (Mazrui and Tidy, 1984).

The problem again rests on colonial exploitation, neocolonialism and other pertinent factors, which prevent post-independent African states from producing goods, and services, which are needed to satisfy the minimum expectations of the masses. One may expect the new rulers of Africa (after independence) to abandon or abolish exploitative economic relations and to redistribute African wealth for the betterment of the material conditions of the masses. Such was not the case after independence, and such is not the case today.

Instead, the pressures were too much on the rulers to the extent that they could not resolve the problems of authority and integration. They decided to maintain the colonial legacy, that is, sustain the exploitative relations and a stratification system, which is dominated by the privileged stratum. They refused to restructure the economy and abandon demands for mass participation in both political and economic circles of the society (Ake, 1978; Gamer, 1983). Consequently, dissident groups, political opponents and progressives are terrorized, intimidated and murdered. Public outcry against the use of terrorism/violence by the ruling elite against the "wretched of the earth" may lead to either foreign intervention (imperial powers) or an African country intervening in the internal affairs of another African country as shall be demonstrated.

The threats to peace, security and development in Africa caused by colonial rule and economic dependency are unique and part of the reasons core powers intervene in African affairs. For example, France intervened in the 1980s in Chad and the Central African Republic through the employment of open military force. In Angola, between 1975-76, core powers intervened through covert military oppression. In both instances the interest of the core countries was to prevent a threat to western raw material supplies and investments, to maintain a satellite regime in power and to avert socialist influence in the former colonial regions (Mazrui and Tidy, 1984).

The tendency of the core states to continue to control the affairs of the peripheral states (African nations) and the desire of African rulers to remain in power at all costs (e.g., Mobutu Seku Toure in Zaire) demonstrates external intervention in the internal conflicts of a peripheral state. One example is the arbitrary boundaries created by the colonial powers that were not based on race, religion, language and culture. In many African countries these boundaries have created and reinforced conflict and instability. Nigeria, Zaire, Sudan, and Uganda have all experienced crises caused by colonial boundaries (Gamer, 1983). As a result external interventions have been common in these nations. Yugoslavia is experiencing the same fate but instead has engaged in ethnic cleansing of its population.

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