Terror attacks in Paris did not usher in a new war, rather, they represent yet another battle that falls within the “piecemeal world war” denounced by Pope Francis months ago, and which has been disintegrating the international system, whilst cohabiting with globalization. In fact, by paradox, this is bound to continue in many different ways. Precisely because it is at the same time a “global” and a “piecemeal” phenomenon, it is necessary to act with discernment in order to understand a very complex situation, which requires a new way of thinking guiding its responses. This is not an epoch of transformations. However, we are experiencing the transformation of our epoch, as the Pope said past Tuesday in Florence. In an environment totally unrelated to terrorism he reiterated his overarching, long-term vision, which does not let itself be deflated by details and contemporariness.
The Paris attacks, as well as those in the Shiite neighbourhood in Beirut and the shooting down of the Russian aircraft that took off from Sharm el-Sheikh, are linked to the unfolding of events in Iraq and Syria, namely, to the fight against ISIS.
We are facing a war fought on three fronts: a more conventional, military war is being waged in the Middle East. Then there is a non-conventional military front that is fought in our homes with intelligence activity in increasingly multicultural societies. Finally, there is an eminently cultural front, a front of a battle of ideas centred on human nature, on its meaning and destiny. This front is obviously transnational, global, and it is linked to the previous two.
The military front is the easiest to understand and probably also the easiest to face, provided the will to do so. The origin of ISIS is complex just as its global framework. In order to grow, each armed movement requires a favourable milieu that will further its development, coupled by a prevailing ideology.
The birth of ISIS is liked to a set of mistakes made by many different players. These include local dictators, regional powers that are fighting a proxy war, Western countries whose adventurous and partisan policies destabilized entire areas of the Middle East and of North Africa.
But now it’s useless to recriminate about the past. ISIS cannot be viewed (not even forcefully) through the lenses and logics of the international system as we know it today. Indeed, ISIS aims at unsettling it, and with unprecedented brutality. That’s why it needs to be stooped. Finally, it appears that the Vienna Conference on Syria and the G-20 in Turkey have been developing a diplomatic scheme that involves all the most important players in the area, including Saudi Arabia and Iran.
As for the second front, that involves terrorism in Europe and in the United States, it is necessary to step up intelligence activity and use all means to stop the terrorist cells, thereby preventing their organization: monitoring every possible target of attacks is technically unfeasible. Terrorists move from one State to the next, they communicate and they cooperate. It’s crucial to think and act in unison, to strengthen cooperation among secret services and police forces, as was the case of the investigation that led to the arrest of 17 people throughout Europe last week. However, it is equally crucial to rethink our societies, to identify rightful and efficient ways to manage multiculturalism, since (referring to one single image) Paris’ banlieues are in the same terrible conditions of ten years ago, at the time of the notorious revolts. Here we come to the third front, the cultural, ideal front. Is Europe still able to propose an idea of society based on the respect for every human life, to overcome selfishness, to embrace solidarity, to act with integral humaneness and righteousness, thereby becoming more appealing than the hatred propaganda of ISIS fanatics? Only if we meet this challenge for a new Europe and a new epoch with the Muslims who oppose terrorism living with us, will we be able to win the “piecemeal World War III.”
