Terrorism Risk During the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Outbreak Period

Year 2022, Volume: 31 Issue: 1, 73 - 89, 15.04.2022

Barış Esen

Abstract

The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, causes negative consequences for states in terms of political, economic, sociological, psychological and security. Due to the problems that have occured during the pandemic period, the capacities of states are under pressure. Terrorist organizations aim to put pressure on governments in line with their political objectives by creating anxiety, fear, and panic on the civilian population with their attacks. This study investigates how the COVID-19 process affects terrorism, and tries to answer the question whether there is a relationship between trust in authority and terrorist activities during this period, or not. Just as states were unprepared for terrorism, they were also caught unprepared for the pandemic. The responses of some states to COVID-19 may further broaden public concern and create conditions that are favorable to terrorism. According to the study, it is explicit that this anxiety environment created by COVID-19 is regarded as an opportunity by terrorist organizations, and it is also obvious that the concern among the population is used and led by terrorist organizations. Curfews and travel restrictions also create mitigating conditions for the terrorist threats in most parts of the world during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Keywords

COVID-19, Pandemic, Terrorism, Security, Social Anxiety

Koronavirüs (COVID-19) Salgını Döneminde Toplumsal Kaygı ve Terörizm Riski

Abstract

Koronavirüs (COVID-19) salgını, devletler için siyasi, ekonomik, sosyolojik, psikolojik ve güvenlik açısından olumsuz sonuçlar doğurmaktadır. Pandemi döneminde yaşanan sorunlar nedeniyle devletlerin kapasiteleri baskı altında kalmaktadır. Terör örgütleri, saldırıları ile sivil halk üzerinde endişe, korku ve panik yaratarak siyasi hedefleri doğrultusunda hükümetlere karşı baskı kurmayı amaçlamaktadırlar. Bu makale, COVID-19 sürecinin terörü nasıl etkilediğini araştırmakta ve bu dönemde otoriteye duyulan güven ile terör faaliyetleri arasında bir ilişki olup olmadığı sorusuna yanıt bulmaya çalışmaktadır. Devletler nasıl teröre hazırlıksız yakalandılarsa, salgına da hazırlıksız yakalanmışlardır. Bazı devletlerin COVID-19’a karşı mücadelede aldığı önlemler, kamuoyundaki endişeleri daha da artırabilir ve terörizme elverişli koşullar yaratabilir. Çalışmaya göre, COVID-19’un yarattığı kaygı ortamının terör örgütleri tarafından bir fırsat olarak görüldüğü ve halk arasındaki kaygının terör örgütleri tarafından kullanılarak yönlendirildiği de aşikardır. Sokağa çıkma yasakları ve seyahat kısıtlamaları ise COVID-19 salgını sırasında dünyanın birçok yerinde terör tehditleri için hafifletici koşullar da yaratabilmektedir.

Keywords

COVID-19, Pandemi, Terörizm, Güvenlik, Sosyal Kaygı

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