Introduction

In the light of a still growing fear for fundamentalism and terror, it maybe worthwhile, in western Europe, to re-examine our position. Is there a line of defence? To shed light on some of the possible actions it may be necessary to identify the various levels of misguidance. For it is misguidance that leads men and woman astray. I don’t know if my line of thinking is very much off, or that it helps towards a better awareness of the real problems at hand. I just don’t believe the reactive way the world responds to the present threads is the sole solution.On the other hand it would be foolish not to acknowledge the necessity of the various defensive and safety measures taken. And maybe alternative measures aren’t very realistic, still one must try. In eu-counter-terrorism-strategy you’ll find an overview on present day points of view regarding terrorism.

In this article I will identify 7 levels of misguidance, each with its own specification and possible approach. The levels are in a way connected with each other and may build upon each other. Yet we can distinguish what is actually needed given the situation. We can also see a time frame given the fact that that are many educational factors involved. In each level we can view a cause of actions. Yet each level clearly needs another solution according to its source. Fundamentalism and terror can be managed if we understand the process of misguidance. We must however also see our own misguidance. Definitions of course will have to be more specific but as a working hypothesis there are: Susceptibility, absence of hope, deprivation, victimization, devaluation, targeting or blaming and sacrifice.

Nothing left to lose

Giving ones life for a cause is one thing. Taking a life for a cause is an other. It was Jan Amos Comenius who said that taking a life for a cause is not helping a cause but … taking a life. This, no doubt, holds also true for the killing done in the name of fundamentalism. Where can we find the misguidance?8
The following statements probably are in need of scientific proof but I will argue the case anyway. Misguidance results form the following situations.
1] People susceptible to fundamentalism, or some greater cause, often have little to lose, or perceive others, their group or family as such.
2] People having little to lose often live in an impoverished environment. The normal “route” in their lives gives no “hope” for change or betterment.
3] They live in a state of  deprivation, which may be psychological or material. They may live deprived of relevant information, a poor and/or unhealthy life.  They may live in a rigid religious regime.
4] Their sense of non-worth will be so cultivated as to be an easy victim of the apparent worth of some great cause. It offers hope and perspective.
5] This apparent “great cause” has some intrinsic devaluation of any human life that is not committed to it.
6] Committed means worth any sacrifice, as not committed means being an enemy. There is targeting and blaming.
7] Willingness to sacrifice and use of violence overcomes the last fear for the self.

ad 1] Being susceptible is often a matter of being born in the wrong place. Those born in the right place should take every measure to battle against the existence of wrong places. Which is therefore fundamental to our own misguidance. Linking terrorism to immigration is a cheap argument (1). Of course there will be fundamentalists among those that are capable to flee their poverty. As we seem to think being wealthy is our right. In fact it is an unfortunate accident and should be accompanied by a sense of compassion. As for “having nothing to lose”, I don’t think anyone will easily admit to being in that deplorable state. We cannot therefore count on acknowledgement of the problem to be able to solve it. We must assume it is there. As for perceiving others to be in a deplorable state and wishing to help can also mean susceptibility to fundamentalist thinking when all reasonable means of solving the situation are out of reach. Susceptibility is therefore a complex criterion but usable for profiling and addressing it in education.

ad 2] An impoverished environment is not necessarily a bad thing as long as people are content. It becomes a bad thing however when it amounts to enhanced suffering, hunger etc. Apparently there are groups of fundamentalists or terrorists that are well funded. One must wonder why these funds are not used for the relief of some of the suffering. It is obvious certain financiers gain more from funding weaponry than from aiding their fellow men. To track these money trails is fundamental for it also reduces the market for arms. It took some time but the the Terrorist Finance Tracking Programme (TFTP) has been adopted by Europe (2). Now blocking certainly is not enough, diverting it to developmental programs seems essential. It is also essential that in all development countries there is an awareness of aid programs started by rich countries in a way that gives real hope.

ad 3] The amount and the kind of deprivation, material or psychological, will cloud their judgement. When deprivation is the result of will-full actions, like censoring information it may be considered a crime. When it results in terrorist attacks and killing, regimes in question will have to answer. It forms the basis of 4] Any regime which responds to alternative thinkers with whipping or shooting will be a source of resistance.

ad 4] The key to the success of Hitler lay in the years he was able to incorporate and boost German values in years of depression and a growing sense of non-worth. When researcher state that foreign fighters are from all times that is not helping much towards understanding from where there motivation comes from (3). The harm has already been done. They have felt a victim for too long.

ad 5] Intrinsic devaluation is what divides people. Also in sports it may happen. The behaviour of Hooligans is exemplary of the loss of respect for one another due to one-sided commitment. As for the Koran it may seem obvious to some it is a book of violence, as is our bible. Also the book of Yaweh has a track record of killing. It seems the New Testament for the Koran has not been written yet and much is left to the interpretation of the reader. This holds equally true for the Hebrew Tenach. Israel is fundamentalistic in nature, yet they are only violent when attacked. We should study these differences and I think again we will find that prosperity, a sense of belonging and hope are the key factors.

ad 6] While commitment may also have to do with dependency, creating an enemy is rather easy. When the condition people are in is in some way related to the actions of others from other groups, cultures or religions the first step is taken. When one part of the world seems to have everything and the part you live in simply does not. When your present condition can be in some way, attributed to the shortcomings or disrespect of other groups, nations etc., they will become the enemy. Whether this “attribution” is actually the case will not matter much. The mind is easily stirred and pointed in the direction of some guilty party. When in a position of actualy taking action against an enemy a mechanism sets in that completely overtakes the personality. The original personality was bound to a specific situation, or location. Outcomes of actions were predictable. The overwhelming new input needs a new ground rule. One is either committed or one is not. This new mindset is the only order in the chaos. It will not be easy to demonstrate but temporary insanity may be argued in a trial against terrorists. There will be blaming and targeting.

ad 7] Something is triggered in the mind, that sees all the riches or other representatives of what one started to resent. And surely they believe their God will punish this wickedness, for clearly those who are in possession of al the wealth in world, have taken everything for themselves. So what is it that enters the mind of those having nothing left to lose? It may well be the ruthlessness with which they take our heads or fly planes into our buildings. At the same time this then this is the state of mind that is ruled by a sense of sacrifice.  The sense one is so small in so great a cause may be overwhelming.The step to consider all others, oneself included as insignificant is very small.

An integral approach

For the western world it will be necessary to undertake actions within their sphere of influence. We can see a call for unity in stead of fear to overcome the various threats that face us. Integral therefore also means unified. Each of the 7 steps toward fundamentalism and terror must be addressed. The only just approach is that through Information and Schooling regarding the 7 levels of misguidance.
Susceptibility, absence of hope, deprivation, victimization, devaluation, targeting and sacrifice.
1] Having nothing left to lose has everything to do with well being, health of families and scholing. The first step is allways taking away the susceptibility.
2] It is unbelievable that known locations on this earth that form a breeding ground for fundamentalism and the resulting acts of terror are not yet being supported and developed.
3] Methods must be developed that can have enough impact on deprivation, psychological and or material, that without interfering with local government will be acceptable to all parties involved. In fact it is useless to speak of  human rights when discussing Boko Haram or Al Sjabaab, or whatever self proclaimed freedom fighter organisation. The concept of Human Rights  has not been implemented in their culture nor in their thinking. So that is where our energy should focus on, implementing the values that sustain human dignity. Should we f.i. give scolarships to large numbers of foreign students, implement these values in their education and subsequently fund their return, we will have wisely spent every Euro. Think of it as a long term investment.
4] In the case that one sees a cultivation of the non-worth of the ” self”, either through the existing government, or through local influencers, other means of development must be sought. When f.i. imams that are expected to spread fundamental talks are extradited one can imagine they will do their harm elsewhere. They are already the result or victim of steps 1 to 4, so must also be addressed differently. Their sense of ” nothing left to lose” must be altered. The cultivation of victims will be hard to drive out since it is at the heart of f.i. a schooling system.
5] In most cases the “great cause” will be Allah, be it His Will is an interpretation. Those who interpret this (in it self) non aggressive religion in an aggressive fashion, are already lost to reasoning. The only way to deal with such persons is to discredit them. Make their folly widely known. To start such an action would be to drop 10 000 mobile phones in several regions and regularly SMS ” the truth. Repeat endlessly the folly of war and weaponry. Understandably these words are empty without proper aid programs and disrupting the enemy image.
6] As one must imprint relativistic thinking one must also disrupt the enemy-image that is created or cultivated. Against one cause to die for many causes must be shown to live for. Against the Enemy – image only true friends can stand up. So western countries must behave like friends. We have seen an effort to uphold our promise in the continuation of European Support to the Tunisia Government after the recent bombing. (4) (Euro Parlement).
7] Against the fear for oneself and our loved ones, only the joy and celebration of life may be a sufficient cure. No man should be in a position even to contemplate sacrificing himself or another person to whatever cause. Step no. 7 will never occur given an intelligent approach to steps 1-6. The sense that ones life really matters and can be of influence must be an integral part in education.

Will it work?

We don’t know, since we have never undertaken a planned effort on the scale that I would suggest, to ease poverty or expose leaders that cultivate victims. We can imagine some secret service trying to win over the right kind of leadership. Lets hope such influence exists is exerted and is not all about oil and money. Such a plan must be integral with a duration at least 20 years, targeting carefully assessed regions in the world. Of course we are not always in a position to offer any help even if we wanted to. Regimes and religions take care of their own. Yet this age of information will disclose any secret program or planned misguidance. We must use it to our full advantage.

Literature

1] Historical choices after the massacres in Paris, 14 January 2015, Yves Pascouau (Director of Migration and Mobility Policies)

2] After Paris: What’s next for the EU’s counter-terrorism policy?, by Camino Mortera-Martinez, 27 January 2015

3] Addressing the ForeignTerrorist Fighters Phenomenon from a European Union Perspective, ICCT, december 2014

4] Terror-attacks-targeted-Tunisias-democratic-path-MEPs-call-for-more-EU-support