UNYP Professor presents lecture at Oxford University
On the 5th May, Dr Charles Webel, a professor at the University of New York in Prague, presented a lecture at Oxford University’s Institute for the Future of Humanity.
Since Sept. 11, 2001, the world in general and the American and British publics in particular have become acutely aware of international terrorism and its devastating effects on the bodies, minds, and hearts of its victims. But while great attention has been paid to the military and geopolitical dimensions of terrorism and counterterrorism, relatively little effort has been made to understand the historical, cultural, and ideological roots of terrorism. And almost no one appearing in mainstream Western mass media has proposed a nonviolent, or less violent—a sustainable and effective--alternative to the current "global war on terror(ism)," and to the "resource wars" that are becoming an increasing threat to global and regional peace and security.
In his presentation, Dr Webel sketched some historical antecedents of contemporary terrorism and global conflict, focusing on the millennial struggles in the Middle East between "terrorists from above" (state despots) and "terrorists from below" (non-state actors). He also analyzed the current "War on Terror" and "Clash of Civilizations." The current “War on Terror” threatens to spiral out of control, possibly escalating to a “War of the World.” Is this to be the future of humanity? Or is the “End of War,” at least the end of the “War on Terror,” a feasible alternative?
A primary focus of his presentation was an analysis of recent empirical work by the Rand Corporation regarding concrete, effective measures to counter terrorist violence with negotiations, diplomacy, and police work. Dr Webel assessed the Rand report’s conclusions, and proposed an alternative.
Three UNYP students from Dr. Webel's Honors Seminar on "The Fate of the Earth" were in attendance.
