When the economy of a nation collapses, terrorist groups become the most active bidders for human life. During its peak, ISIS deliberately targeted the vulnerable (unemployed and uneducated) sector in broken communities by providing stable incomes, marriage allowances, and other incentives for a better life. The void of regular jobs in the community was filled with the survival tactic of insurgency. One cannot nip the evil of ideology through military means if that ideology is helping the desperate people meet their ends. A terrorist attack does not set forth with the detonation of a bomb. It begins much earlier in the communities overshadowed by inequality and hopelessness. While the concept of terrorism is overwhelmed with the concept of security and military responses, its roots run much deeper in the socioeconomic context.

Socioeconomic Causes of Terrorism

Every extremist movement is rooted in the complex web of socio-economic grievances that acts as a base for the individuals targeted for radicalisation and extremism. Although religious affiliation and political association influence terrorism, socio-economic deprivation acts as a breeding ground for these narratives. Focusing on the elimination of terrorist groups without addressing the root causes will keep this cycle of violence unbroken.

Terrorism remains one of the most widely discussed issues of the 21st century. The Global Terrorism Index states that most of the terrorist-related deaths occur in the conflict-stricken and economically weakened states, with the Sahel region emerging as the world’s most terrorism-affected region. These figures speak volumes about the fact that terrorism is fuelled through hollow institutions and dwindling economic opportunities. Thabo Mbeki (former president of South Africa) highlighted this issue by saying:

“The fundamental source of conflict in the world today is the socioeconomic deprivation of billions of people across the globe, coexisting with islands of enormous wealth and prosperity within and among countries.”

“The fundamental source of conflict in the world today is the socioeconomic deprivation of billions of people across the globe, coexisting with islands of enormous wealth and prosperity within and among countries.”

Poverty as a Leading Cause

One cannot say that poverty is the ultimate cause; however, it increases vulnerability through deprivation and marginalisation. Statistics issued by the World Bank........

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