“An eye for an eye will make the whole world blind.” — Mahatma Gandhi. In the light of the above statement, critically examine the challenges in addressing terrorism through a unif

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“An eye for an eye will make the whole world blind.” — Mahatma Gandhi. In the light of the above statement, critically examine the challenges in addressing terrorism through a unified global approach, particularly in the context of violence, peace, and international cooperation.

Examine

  • 15 marks
  • 8 min
  • 250 words
  • Medium

The Hindu

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INTRODUCTION

  • “An eye for an eye will make the whole world blind.” Gandhi’s warning highlights that retaliatory violence perpetuates cycles of conflict. Addressing terrorism therefore requires a unified, peace-oriented global approach grounded in cooperation rather than vengeance.

WHAT WORKS: ELEMENTS OF GLOBAL COOPERATION

  • Multilateral frameworks: UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy, FATF norms provide institutional mechanisms.
  • Regional cooperation: Platforms like SCO and its RATS enable intelligence sharing and coordination.
  • Norm-building: Growing consensus against terrorism as a threat to international peace and security.

WHERE IT FALLS SHORT: STRUCTURAL AND POLITICAL LIMITATIONS

  • Double standards: States selectively label groups as terrorists based on strategic interests.
  • State-sponsored terrorism: Some nations support proxy actors, undermining collective efforts.
  • Lack of common definition: Absence of a universally accepted definition of terrorism stalls legal coherence.
  • Geopolitical rivalries: Power politics weakens trust and sustained collaboration.

CONTRADICTIONS AND GAPS

  • Peace vs coercion: Counter-terror operations often rely on force, contradicting ideals of non-violence.
  • Sovereignty vs cooperation: States resist external intervention, limiting collective enforcement.
  • Selective condemnation: Inconsistent responses erode credibility of global norms.

CONCLUSION

  • While a global consensus exists in principle, it remains fragmented in practice. Effective counter-terrorism demands consistent definitions, zero tolerance for all forms of terrorism, elimination of double standards, and trust-based international cooperation, aligning security measures with the broader goal of sustainable peace.