Terrorism - evenemangstips

OBS: tidigare angavs fel dagar, det är tisdag och onsdag som gäller.

I kommande vecka gästas Stockholm av professor Yonah Alexander, en av världens främsta terrorismexperter. På tisdag eftermiddag föreläser han på Utrikespolitiska institutet, och på onsdag morgon på Timbro, varefter undertecknad modererar ett samtal.

International Terrorism – surveillance, civil liberties and democracy. How safe should we feel?

One of the world’s leading experts on terrorism, Professor Yonah Alexander, will speak at Timbro during his trip to Sweden in late October. Professor Alexander has written or contributed to more than 90 books, including "Osama Bin Laden's Al Qaida," "The New Iranian Leadership" and the comprehensive, three-volume "Evolution of U.S. Counterterrorism Policy." His forthcoming book concerns electronic surveillance and the war on terror. The book examines, among other issues, the lengths to which democratic governments will go when combating terror and whether ordinary, law-abiding citizens risk being targeted when governments track terrorists.

Per Gudmundson, editorial writer for Svenska Dagbladet, will moderate a discussion with the audience following the conclusion of Professor Alexander's remarks.

Bra bakgrundsläsning är förstås Yonah Alexanders nya artikel i Middle East Times om terrorismen och Skandinavien:

In light of the foregoing realities, it is not surprising that the Scandinavian governments have sought to develop comprehensive counterterrorism strategies.

More specifically, Denmark, Sweden and Norway have improved their legal systems (i.e., enacting an anti-terrorism law that forbids instigation of terrorism and laws against the financing of terrorism); introduced new counterterrorism tools (i.e., surveillance of suspects and the use of coercive measures); strengthened inter-agency cooperation and coordination with information-sharing agencies, both on national and international levels; and boosted emergency preparedness at home and the consular preparedness abroad.

With a long tradition of respect for democratic values and international human rights, the passing of some of these counterterrorism measures is not entirely uncontroversial in Scandinavia, where the public have concerns it might infringe upon individual freedoms.

In order to successfully combat terrorism and prevent the radicalization of youth, these counterterrorism strategies alone are, however, inadequate. Efforts aimed at understanding and addressing the root causes of terrorism must simultaneously be explored. Promoting integration and opposing job discrimination can help alleviate feelings of resentment among Muslim youth, thus also having a hampering effect on terrorism recruitment.

In addition, interfaith dialogue may increase mutual respect and understanding between Muslims and non-Muslims. "Muslims in Dialogue" in Denmark provides a good example of an organization working for integration of Muslims into Danish society and dialogue with non-Muslim Danes.

In sum, history teaches us that neither economic nor security challenges provide for rapid and cure-all solutions; on the contrary.

Han verkar vara en riktig mjukbralla: root causes, interfaith dialogue, alleviate feelings of resentment... Gärna det, men först säkerhet!

Här finns, som alla ser, mycket att fråga om - jag tror Timbro har platser kvar!