‘Global imperialism to blame for terrorism'

Global imperialism is the major factor for the rise of terrorism, said K.N. Panikkar, historian and vice-chairman of Higher Education Council, Government of Kerala, here on Thursday.

He was inaugurating a two-day national seminar on the topic' ‘Globalisation, Religious Fundamentalism and Terrorism — Issues in South India,' organised by the Department of Political Science, University of Kerala.

“ Globalisation thorough cultural imperialism and the concentration of wealth has created space for terrorism. Religiosity is now deeply rooted in society and it gets priority over rationality and the freedom to think.

“The State is approaching the issue and responding to it in a superficial manner. Terrorism should be viewed in the context of colonialism and cultural imperialism,” he said.

In his keynote address, Prof.(Dr) Ram Puniyani, noted writer and activist, said the global war on terror had become the overarching slogan for hiding imperialist ambitions for oil.

“Terror as such is not an abstract concept. Today, it is a product, retaliation against global imperialist policies, ethnic aspirations gone sour and a response to communal violence.

“Lately, one is witness to competitive terrorism, resorted to by majoritarian groups also.”

Mr.Puniyani stressed the need to look beyond the symptoms of terrorism, at the deeper disease infesting the social fabric.

“Just tightening the security net will not do as terrorists are willing to lose their life for their cause. We have also seen that some global powers may be assisting and promoting them. So we need to revive the role of the United Nations at the global level.”

He advocated a democratic arrangement between different nations to undermine the hegemony of dominating nation states.