he third wave of terrorist activity is likely to be expressed primarily through domestic terrorism, which the FBI defines as “violent, criminal acts, committed by individuals and/or groups to further ideological goals stemming from domestic influences, such as those of a political, religious, social, racial, or environmental nature.”
The U.S. government is focusing its attention on the global polycrisis—including external wars around the world. This is leaving an impression amongst Americans that their wellbeing is neglected, specifically the crises affecting our own country.
The U.S should increase its budget to address domestic issues, such as the struggling education systems, expensive healthcare system, and increasing homelessness, which would likely dampen potential recruitment for current and future domestic terrorism in the United States. Note, this is not to negate terrorism that is caused because of ideological reasons.
Our education system is struggling. The International Institute for Management Development's World Competitiveness Center reports that the U.S. to be ranked 12th in education according to the 2024 Competitiveness Report—continuing a downward trend after the U.S. fell to the third spot in 2019 despite ranking first in 2018. The fall to 12th place represents the lowest the U.S. has ever been in the annual ranking system.”
Our healthcare system is expensive. The international insurance ranks the United States 69 in the world for healthcare.
Homelessness is a problem—estimated to be 653,104 in January 2023 according to the Housing and Urban Development (HUD) an increase of 12.1% increase from 2022.
Adequate education, affordable healthcare and housing are critical necessities to improve the wellbeing of those living in the U.S. Without these basic rights, domestic extremism, terrorism, and crime will increase. Most Americans cannot afford colleges and universities, this lack of education can be an impetus of deterring individuals from obtaining jobs and becoming domestic terrorist. “According to a 2023 UN Development Program report, a lack of employment opportunities is the most common reason people join extremist organizations.”
The plethora of news outlets whether it be on social media or official news channel outlets creates bias thinking from the viewers, videos whether it is social media or news and messages impacts the understanding of threats and wars around the world. This can lead to the manipulation of the mind eventually leading to allegiance to a terrorist group or mass shooters, especially when an individual sees his/her own religion, ethnic group, and race being marginalized, threatened, and targeted.
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Terrorism’s ‘third wave’ could hit closer to home
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/5fa4da31b6c3a45d2cfd2d5d/66bf2e2521bc0ed806fb5b24_terrorism%20third%20wave%20could%20hit%20closer%20to%20home.jpg)
Empty Sky Memorial, New Jersey. Photo by Lumin Osity on Unsplash.
August 16, 2024
The so–called third wave of terrorism could be more home–grown than previous waves, because the U.S. government has been overly focused on external problems. Increasing the budget to address social issues could reduce the draw of extremism, writes Naheed Vadsaria.
T
he third wave of terrorist activity is likely to be expressed primarily through domestic terrorism, which the FBI defines as “violent, criminal acts, committed by individuals and/or groups to further ideological goals stemming from domestic influences, such as those of a political, religious, social, racial, or environmental nature.”
The U.S. government is focusing its attention on the global polycrisis—including external wars around the world. This is leaving an impression amongst Americans that their wellbeing is neglected, specifically the crises affecting our own country.
The U.S should increase its budget to address domestic issues, such as the struggling education systems, expensive healthcare system, and increasing homelessness, which would likely dampen potential recruitment for current and future domestic terrorism in the United States. Note, this is not to negate terrorism that is caused because of ideological reasons.
Our education system is struggling. The International Institute for Management Development's World Competitiveness Center reports that the U.S. to be ranked 12th in education according to the 2024 Competitiveness Report—continuing a downward trend after the U.S. fell to the third spot in 2019 despite ranking first in 2018. The fall to 12th place represents the lowest the U.S. has ever been in the annual ranking system.”
Our healthcare system is expensive. The international insurance ranks the United States 69 in the world for healthcare.
Homelessness is a problem—estimated to be 653,104 in January 2023 according to the Housing and Urban Development (HUD) an increase of 12.1% increase from 2022.
Adequate education, affordable healthcare and housing are critical necessities to improve the wellbeing of those living in the U.S. Without these basic rights, domestic extremism, terrorism, and crime will increase. Most Americans cannot afford colleges and universities, this lack of education can be an impetus of deterring individuals from obtaining jobs and becoming domestic terrorist. “According to a 2023 UN Development Program report, a lack of employment opportunities is the most common reason people join extremist organizations.”
The plethora of news outlets whether it be on social media or official news channel outlets creates bias thinking from the viewers, videos whether it is social media or news and messages impacts the understanding of threats and wars around the world. This can lead to the manipulation of the mind eventually leading to allegiance to a terrorist group or mass shooters, especially when an individual sees his/her own religion, ethnic group, and race being marginalized, threatened, and targeted.