Oleg Lanovenko
Head of Department of the National Institute
of International Security of the National Security
and Defense Council of Ukraine,
Doctor of Philosophy,

moderator of a scientific and practical section
“Ethno Cultural Component of Modern Terrorism”

Ethnical, Religious Aspects of the Fight Against Terrorism

A year ago at the 2nd International Antiterrorism Forum we discussed the problem of culture as a contributing factor of national and international security. That was a considerable breakthrough as the role of culture in emergence and spread of terrorism had been ignored. Meanwhile the analysis proves that roots of modern terrorism come from the sphere of culture and the forms it is represented by.

In this aspect there are sufficient arguments to call neither political, nor economic, religious factors to be decisive to determine terrorists’ motivation. Incentives come from social and cultural fields. This fact needs to scrutinized and it should be admitted that it not only natural but also regular as ethnical, habitual and linguistic characteristics help to realize and understand those differences which enable to oppose “Friends” to “Enemies”. This creates premises for conflicts including economic, political and religious confrontations.

This subsequent order enables to discover certain dependencies which are crucial for successful fight against terrorism and extremism. Overwhelming majority of antiterrorism operations, the number of which is growing rapidly, are defensive. This policy can’t ensure positive results. It can only minimize damages to the state and society incurred by terrorists, but it can not prevent these processes as they are becoming widespread. We should admit that the fight against terrorism has to be offensive and aimed at prevention – eliminating roots not consequences (also counteraction is also necessary and it should be improved all the time). Is this possible to have this efficient fight against terrorism without clear understanding of its origins and conceptual strategy? Definitely, not. In other words we have sufficient reasons to state that international community doesn’t focus its efforts on developing scientifically-grounded and conceptual recommendations to counteract factors promoting terrorism. Until this situation remains there can be no efficiency in the fight against terrorism.

Exactly here we can see the place for scientist and politicians to step in. These specialists should consider and analyze the very ethnic and cultural components of modern terrorism as it is dominant in the process of dissemination of racism, xenophobia, all forms of radical intolerance which all furnish room for terrorism and extremism. At this Forum and especially within our section we have a splendid opportunity to formulate answers for all questions that may appear.

I am appealing to the participants to concentrate on ethnical and cultural premises of terrorism as well as perspective ways of prevention. It is not only that Ukraine can’t stay away from this crucial issue of the world agenda. In fact, in the near future Ukraine can face (God forbid!) the problems that we have been talking about.