Phares to the Majority Party of the European Parliament in Paris

on Jihadi Terrorism


"Identify it, explain it to the public and support reformers"

Phares speaking at the EPP Conference in Paris

Remarks by Professor Walid Phares, European Foundation for Democracy

Journées d’Etudes du Groupe du PPE-DE

Paris July 2, 2008

JIHADIST TERRORISM IDENTIFICATION AND COUNTER STRATEGIES

Executive Summary of the presentation by Professor Walid Phares

Phares addressing the open session of the Conference

Introduction:

The study and analysis of the so-called “Jihadist Terrorism” is highly relevant to European policy makers and citizens because of the impact it has on European Security, Economy and Foreign Policy. The inability to understand and explain this phenomenon has been a major reason behind the strategic failure in containing and reversing the threat which growth continues to expand across the continent.

Three Questions are to be addressed: The Identification issue, the Failure in Perception and Strategic Guidelines.

1)Identification

a. Self Identification: How do the Jihadists identify themselves? From reviewing their literature and doctrines, one can project their future plans and strategies.

b. European Debate on Root Causes: Arguments and Counter Arguments

Foreign Policy is a root cause: counter argument: Jihadism preceded Western Policies

Economic Disenfranchisement: counter argument: Jihadists comes from various classes.

Socio-Psychological Stress: counter argument: true for all communities not for Arabs and Muslims only.

Theological Debate: Religious texts are being used, but by a "movement" which is orchestrating radicalization.

Ideological root: The deep force behind Terrorism.

c. A History of Jihadism: From Ideology, Movements and Strategies.

The 1920s: Salafism, Wahabism and Brotherhoods

The 1970s: Khomeinism

Cold War Strategies

1990s Strategies

Current Strategies: In Europe and worldwide.

2) An Ideological Warfare

1945-1990: The first stage in the Arab and Muslim World

1990-2001: The second stage in the West and in Europe

2001-2008: The third stage: gaining time against Democracy

3)Strategic Guidelines

a. European Priority: Identify the Ideology

b. Explain it to the European Public

c. Encourage Debate within the Arab and Muslim communities in Europe

e. Support Democracy Forces in the Arab and Muslim world

Professor Walid Phares is a Visiting Scholar with the European Foundation for Democracy and the author of the books Future Jihad, The War of Ideas and Confrontation

The EPP Conference in Paris

The Group of the European People's Party (Christian-Democrats) and European Democrats (EPP-ED), the most influential group in the European Parliament with 288 Members from the 27 Member States, held its Study Days in Paris during the first few days of the French Presidency of the Council of the European Union.

EPP Conference Sign

Chaired by Joseph Daul MEP (UMP, F), the European centre-right parliamentary group concentrated its three working days on the theme of security in Europe: security for citizens, energy security and food security.

More than thirty speakers addressed MEPs who were joined by French Ministers Alliot-Marie, Barnier, Lagarde and Morin, Polish Minister Klich, German Minister Schmidt, the President of the European Parliament, Hans-Gert Poettering MEP, the President of the UMP Group in the National Assembly, François Copé, the Secretary-General of the UMP, Patrick Devedjian, the European Union Counter-Terrorism Coordinator, Gilles de Kerchove, as well as European Commissioners Ferrero-Waldner, Barrot and Tajani.

The event was transmitted live on the EPP-ED website.

Panel on Terrorism

Vue of the EPP Conference

MEP Mayor Oreja, Vice Chairman of the EPP

© Copyright 2003 by walidphares.com

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