War on Terror and Its Implications for Global Peace and Security

Abstract

The study starts with an attempt to outline terrorism conceptually. It then discusses the policy and operational background of the War on Terror. The study progresses with a brief review of the major processes of political decision-making and military atrocities resulting from the war. The main argument of this study suggests that the scale of global terrorism cannot be successfully combated through the sole application of military power that produces more terrorism. The study contributes to the critical academic literature that claims that by overstating the terrorist activities and adopting brutal military strategies, the War on Terror is actually inducing terrorism. As is evidenced, terrorist attacks are on the rise both in number and magnitude after the war. The study concludes that the War on Terror is leaving the world more at risk with adverse consequences on global peace and security by creating inefficient governments, malfunctioning institutions, cultural intrusion of the west, and degrading misconceptions like Islamophobia.