The Attack in Northern France on a Church: What We Know

  Introduction 

The attack in northern France on a church that came after the lorry attack during the Bastille Day celebrations in Nice are just the latest of the many deadly attacks that have been experienced in the country in the recent years. Other previous terror attacks in the country include the shootings in Paris at the Charlie Hebdo offices , the murder of schoolchildren and soldiers in Toulouse region by a lone gunman, and the suicide bombers on restaurants and bars, a concert hall, and a stadium in Paris. 

State Involvement 

The state that is involved in this conflict is France which constantly faces the threat of terror, even though some incidents usually do not get featured in the international news. The country is primarily involved in the conflict because its people are either killed or injured in the process. In addition, such incidents make people in the country live in fear. It is also worth noting that France is world’s destination as it attracts people around the world as tourists. For this reason, other states are often involved in the conflict when their citizens are affected by the terror acts as they are touring the country. 

In the recent past, the terror attacks that take place in the country are usually done by the so-called Islamic State which is a non-state actor that is involved in the conflict. It is a Sunni Jihadist terror group that is well known for its violent ideology and often calls itself a caliphate while claiming religious authority over every Muslim. The group took advantage of the instability in the Middle East to gain dominance in the region. It expanded itself through fundraising and recruitment by using the social media. 

Theory 

Constructivism is a theory that is based on scientific study and observation on how individuals learn. The theory argues that people often construct their knowledge and understanding of the world through a process of experiencing and reflecting on experiences. In other words, it indicates that when people encounter new things then they have to reconcile them with experiences and ideas that had been formulated in the past, which can, in turn, helps people change their beliefs or discard new information as irrelevant. 

In the process of assessing constructivism in researching terrorism, it helps in identifying new facets. Constructivism is often recognized through Wendt’s central thought that states that anarchy is usually what the various states make of it. 1 However, the construction of anarchy is based on the way it views itself and others through a common culture. Even though the theory mainly concentrates on relationships between states, there is often an extension of ideas between the state and non-state actors who are the terrorists. Sociologists often believe that terrorism is an interpretation of the events and their causes. 2 Constructivism often reminds people that terrorism is a social fact that needs a human function so that it can exist . 

Conclusion 

France is one of the countries that has experienced increased terror attacks in the recent history. Some of the attacks include the shootings in Paris at the Charlie Hebdo offices , the murder of schoolchildren and soldiers in Toulouse region by a lone gunman, and the suicide bombers on restaurants and bars, a concert hall, and a stadium in Paris. The country is primarily involved in the conflict because its people are either killed or injured in the process. 

Bibliography 

Wilkinson, Paul. International Relations: A Very Short Introduction. Oxford, 2007. 

Wilkinson, Paul. International Relations. Sterling Publishing Company, Inc, 2010. 

1 Paul Wilkinson. International Relations : A Very Short Introduction. ( Oxford, 2007 ) . 

2 Paul Wilkinson . International Relations. (Sterling Publishing Company, Inc, 2010).