Let us Negotiate with Terrorists


The world has been awash with radical sentiments against the possibility of peaceful indulgence with terror groups and other forms of insurgencies. Powerful states have led the way in this. Negotiation is a pointer to recognition in international politics. This is a reservation for actors that have the capacity to explore the course of diplomacy and sustain international peace and stability. Legal personality is therefore conferred to such units. Terrorism falls short of this target. Its complexity is however evidenced by the lack of a consensus on its definition and basic elements. Who is a terrorist question would probably qualify as a “turtles-all-the-way-down” 

Some states despite their political insinuations explore secret talks and facilitate, ransom deliveries or prisoner swaps. Several others sponsor terrorism. This makes radical extremists, pawns in the game. The world, therefore has been gaming on the edges of a stable unchecked king. The backdoor engagements can only be neutralized by a transparent and calculated diplomatic system. Whip the outliers! 

Scholars have identified a wide cluster of the causes of terrorism. Senecha de la Roche’s social distance concept strikes the game at the centre probably well. The social geometry that encompasses the extremists, their grievances and the perceived enemies. Terrorists are criminals, their complains on the other hand, recruit others and inspire allegiance. This is because the real or imaginary enemy has kept distance on almost all human relations, through manipulative means presupposed. Now do you imagine some terrorists as freedom fighters? 
There exists a great variety of inequalities in societies today that if left unattended to, could make the next century ungovernable. Force will only kill terrorists but substantiates the very need for terrorism. Terrorism and activism could be two sides of a single coin but moulded and practiced in different world theatres. Can enhancing political freedom shift goal posts for terrorists? 

The manipulation effect has spread so fast amongst countries and the West finds itself at the receiving end. The international community can resort to the use of indigenous social structures to reach out to the insurgencies that resort to creation of caliphates and understand the most basic political objective. Internally the state system should even the divides to prevent radicalization. The local populations at times offer hide outs and sanctuaries to terrorists, all because they are the heroes of the savages! 

The resort to force may be inculcated but it should be in isolated cases. This is only effective if the terror networks are not engendered into the local people. The first step should be making the insurgents enemies of the people who denied consultation. There must be instigated a civilizational clash between the two. Placing the terrorists at the edge of the social fabric creates a civilization of outcasts. 

Giving them a chance at the table domestically and internationally initiates the process of inclusivity that denies them targets.

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