GLOBAL SECURITY shared injustice in a very visual and cosmopolitan way .”
Dr Smith says the videos provide a narrative that many people can relate to . But far from seeing them as a dangerous source of radicalisation , he regards them as an important pressure release .
They allow the frustration and sense of grievance to be aired , not bottled up . In terms of responding to their calls for action , he says the vast majority of followers fulfil this by simply clicking the ‘ like ’ button : “ Others more committed may collect material online to contribute to future videos or donate money , for instance .”
The problem , says Dr Smith , is while the majority of people who consume the narratives of social media communications wouldn ’ t even contemplate violence , injustice – real or imagined – can attract the psychopath or sociopath who uses anything as justification .
“ And it is impossible for any government to create legislative protection against the individual whose brain is wired this way . All you can do is lessen the potential damage if they do try to carry out a deadly action .”
Cause for optimism
Today , Dr Smith says this threat is diminishing : “ Start searching the internet or dark web for ways to plan or implement a terror act and you ’ ll quickly have security people at your front door . That ’ s why we have seen vehicles and knives used and civic authorities around the world have done a lot to mitigate even this .”
This more positive perspective feeds into Dr Smith ’ s overarching assertion that the Western world today is not as dangerous as often portrayed , especially in the media and by some governments : “ However you want to measure it , violence is declining . Statistically , this is the safest period humanity as a whole has ever experienced ,” he says .
“ Conflicts overall are on the decline compared with past periods of history . In terms of terrorism , just think back to the 1960s and 1970s when groups like the Red Army Faction ( also known as Baader-Meinhof ), the IRA , the Red Army Brigade , the Weathermen in the US , and others in different parts of the world , were active . We regularly need this cold comparison to get perspective and set smart policy .”
Charles Oduk II , MSc Digital Business Management
A stronger sense of direction . The opportunity to specialise . Discover postgraduate courses made to unlock careers .