Column : We always overcome

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Column : We always overcome

: What do terrorists want? Whether they are attacking Mumbai or London, Madrid or New York, they want to shake our confidence that we can go about our lives without fear, they want to deepen polarisation along the faultlines linked to their cause, and they want massive publicity for their capacity to act. Beyond this, Jihadi terrorists want to attack what they view to be depraved capitalist wealth creation.

The first tragedy of the Mumbai attack was the terrible loss of life across all social strata. Perhaps the most poignant of the attacks was on a hospital known for helping the poor. The second tragedy was its short-run success with respect to these objectives. What will be the longer-term effects on the society and economy? The experience of other attacks suggests this depends on the response. Public action can either undermine or further the aims of the terrorists.

Statistically, terrorism is associated with adverse economic impacts that are much larger than the direct damage caused, a consequence of the effects on business confidence. However, New York in 2001, Madrid in 2004, and London in 2005 all recovered quickly. In London, the Underground was open the day after the attacks. Most Londoners used public transport.

Individuals looked for collective means of managing their grief and shock. Traditionally brusque New Yorkers became emotionally available in the streets. London streets filled with people from all ethnicities and religions. Mayor Ken Livingstone spoke to Londoners’ experience in the Blitz of the Second World War and terrorist attacks of the Irish Republican Army. In one memorable statement, he said there would be attacks again, but this would not shake Londoner’s commitment to their core way of life. In Madrid there was an outpouring of solidarity, especially since so many of the 190 victims were working class, and some 50 were immigrants. In all cities, the collective emotional solidarity was palpable. It constituted an immediate societal rejection of the aims of the terrorists. These are resilient cities, with old or new histories of inclusion.

The immediate responses were profoundly moving. But of equal importance was the extent to which leaders could transform these into actions that would deprive the terrorist causes of their oxygen. This was more mixed.