POST-9/11, violent non-state actors impact the world order and intensify debate on their future, which will be shaped by governance quality and geopolitical, technological, environmental and societal trends. VNSAs try to erode state monopoly on violence, control territory, extort money, dispense ‘justice’, provide relief and perform security functions, using violence to achieve their political, ideological or economic aims. They challenge national and global security as well as governance and development, and weaken state authority and institutions, creating power vacuums.

Via the internet, VSNAs strengthen their propaganda, deface and hack official websites and attempt online radicalisation. Their use of encrypted communication platforms like Telegram, makes surveillance and tracking them difficult. They also use drones for sabotage, breaking state monopoly and accessing cheap aerial reconnaissance that aid attacks on targets. Thus states must invest in digital governance and cyber policing.

Due to the internet, their physical presence isn’t necessary for global coordination: propaganda can be spread at minimal cost, and worldwide recruitment and radicalisation carried out. Many terrorist groups prefer child soldiers — a grave........

© Dawn