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International Relations: Threats And Challenges

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Category Politics
Subcategory International Politics
Topic International Relations

Words 570
Page 1

Abstract

A decade has passed since the attacks of 9/11. The terrorist attacks of 9/11 on the World Trade Center have served to significantly influence world politics and international relations by bringing together countries while also pushing some far away. But most specifically it has dramatically altered the political environment in the Muslim World, a vast and diverse region comprising the band of countries with significant Muslim population that stretches from West Africa to the Southern Philippines. In the Muslim world, as in other religions, political and culture are intertwined in complicated ways. The purpose of this article is to look at the problems that Muslims had to face after the attack of 9/11.

Keywords

9/11 effects, Muslim world, terrorism, internet

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Introduction

Ever since September 11, 2001 Muslim countries, Muslim communities and diasporas scattered throughout the world. The USA, through his response to 9/11 terrorist attacks, the subsequent war on terrorism and the removal from power of Taliban in Afghanistan and of Saddam Hussein’s regime in Iraq has become deeply involved in the affairs of the Muslim world, where religion, politics and culture are intertwined in complicated ways and intersect with the geographical interests of powers.

The regional structure of the reports recognizes that while events since September 11 have affected US relations with all parts of the Muslim world, they have done so in different ways in different regions. Given the size and diversity of Muslim populations, no general discussion will be able to fully capture the complexity of the Muslim landscape.

Threats and Challenges

Three types of threats and challenges to US interests:

Direct and physical threats against US citizens and installations.
Destabilization of friendly states
Growth of anti-US, anti-Western and anti-democratic ideologies.

Preventing directs threats against the USA is the goal of the current war on terrorism, with the eradication of Al Qaeda and elated terror networks the highest US security priority. Cooperation in combating terrorism is therefore a critical component of US relations with Muslim countries, but it is not the only one. Beyond the problem of terrorism lies the issue of the future shape of the Muslim world and whether that world will be hospitable to US interests and values.

Ugly Americans

While Louis Armstrong sang on his international tours to win hearts and minds during the cold war that we have to “accentuate the positive”, he also noted that we have to “eliminate the negative.” This leads to the continuing problem of implementation, how Americans carries itself in the world. While US officials know they have a problem, it is too often depicted as simply poor public relations. President Bush, for example, has suggested the US is “behind when it comes to selling our own story.”

But a key lesson that any decent public relations firm will point out is that no amount of “selling” can move a bad product. Policies matter. Washington needs to show greater empathy for both sides, as well as at least a modicum of activity, on the Arab-Israeli peace process.

Conclusion

More than five years into the 9/11 war, America’s political challenge in the Islamic world remains the same as the day the war started that clear morning in September. An ideology of hate has targeted America’s security. In the years since, efforts to inject fear and suspicion into relations with an entire region and religion have proved fruitful. Most of the Muslim world hates or at least fears the USA. In turn, the distrust is reciprocated.