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General Discussion => Controversy Corner => Topic started by: Phoenix on 2004-11-09, 05:46



Title: Freedom Defeats Terrorism (Poverty myth dispelled)
Post by: Phoenix on 2004-11-09, 05:46
http://www.news.harvard.edu/gazette/2004/1.../05-terror.html (http://www.news.harvard.edu/gazette/2004/11.04/05-terror.html)

Quote
"In the past, we heard people refer to the strong link between terrorism and poverty, but in fact when you look at the data, it's not there. This is true not only for events of international terrorism, as previous studies have shown, but perhaps more surprisingly also for the overall level of terrorism, both of domestic and of foreign origin," Abadie said.

Instead, Abadie detected a peculiar relationship between the levels of political freedom a nation affords and the severity of terrorism. Though terrorism declined among nations with high levels of political freedom, it was the intermediate nations that seemed most vulnerable.

Well there you have it.  The poverty myth has finally been put to rest, thank you Harvard.  Freedom > Terrorism! :thumb:


Title: Re: Freedom Defeats Terrorism
Post by: Assamite on 2004-11-20, 22:39
Was there ever a poverty myth? Terrorism is best bred in oppressive countries, and that's a well-established fact.

How can you explain the high crime rates in U.S. cities, where we doubtless enjoy the most freedoms in the world? Is it the fault of the po-lice? Somehow racial profiling policies cause the rise in black crime? I think it's a bit of a stretch there.


Title: Re: Freedom Defeats Terrorism
Post by: Phoenix on 2004-11-21, 05:19
Quote from: Assamite
Was there ever a poverty myth?
I've heard it said many times from various people that poverty and economic conditions cause terrorism.  Also, I've not made any attempt to explain crime in inner cities in the USA.  I'm just quoting the results of this study.  Take it or leave it as you will.  -_-


Title: Re: Freedom Defeats Terrorism
Post by: EKSelenc on 2004-11-27, 22:08
Quote from: Phoenix
 economic conditions cause terrorism.  -_-
Well, I can't agree. History can cause terrorism. But not economical problems. :offtopic:


Title: Re: Freedom Defeats Terrorism
Post by: Phoenix on 2004-11-28, 15:41
Actually, we're in agreement with each other.  You misread me.  I said:

Quote from: Phoenix
I've heard it said many times from various people that poverty and economic conditions cause terrorism.
That is an assertion that I've disagreed with for a long time because, frankly, it's not true.  Poverty and economic conditions are not the root cause of terrorism.  That's what this Harvard study concluded as well.

And you're not actually off topic.[/color]  :thumb: