Globalization, Entropy, and Terrorism

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Homeland Security

4 min readDec 30, 2014

(The second of four stories about entropy and homeland security)

This series of posts is dealing with the consequences of the opposing forces of entropy on one hand, and self-organization on the other in a global context. As we showed on the first post in this series, the Second Law of Thermodynamics, or Entropy Law, stipulates that systems tend toward maximum disorder, and that a closed system will tend towards randomness. In an open system, on the other hand, the importation of matter and energy can facilitate local self-organization, but due to the Entropy Law, total entropy, or disorder, still increases. One way of looking at this that the part of the open system that is self-organizing does so by extracting inputs from its surroundings, leaving them in a more disordered state. Another way is that the self-organizing part of the system exports its entropy to its surroundings. Either way, the Entropy Law for open systems implies that self-organization in on place will likely result in disorder elsewhere. The concepts of entropy and self-organization apply not only to physical sciences, but to social sciences as well, and is a basis of Social Entropy Theory. This post will deal with one of the most explosive forms of social entropy, terrorism.

The earth is essentially a closed system with sunlight coming in, therefore we should expect that if human processes are intensifying in a self-organizing manner that this self-organization should result in observable disorder somewhere else. Currently in the world, a confluence of trends including population increase, global economic growth, and the advance of technology are inextricably bound with other trends commonly known as “globalization” can be considered the main dynamic of self-organization occurring in the world. In accordance with the Entropy Law for open systems, there are actually many, to what Fathali Moghaddam calls the “lopsided benefits” of “fractured globalization”. 21st Century globalization is different than other phases of global economic integration that have preceded it in some important ways that combine to create conditions that spawn terrorism. Some aspects for the 21st Century social, economic and environmental landscape that byproducts of Globalization, are currently fomenting conditions conducive to terrorism, and are expected to continue into the foreseeable future include:

Economic disparity — Current globalization has led to wealth disparities among countries that are far greater than in the past. Also, as mentioned in a previous post, trade and economic integration has led to increasing wealth disparities within countries as well. This economic disparity can lead individuals or groups to make comparisons among themselves and perceive that they are experiencing “relative depravation.” This sense of relative deprivation can develop even when one’s absolute conditions are improving, especially if the economic disparity overlaps with identity signifiers such as ethnicity or religion. In such cases even well of people can feel a sense of “fraternal deprivation” if they feel that other’s in their group are being treated unfairly.

Global and Regional Economic Groupings — The benefits of specialization, economies of scale, and trade incent the formation of regional economic and political groupings. As Moghaddam points out, people in many parts of the world feel a stronger loyalty to their local regions, and feel their local identities under threat.

Technology Improved technology reduces the costs of transportation and communication, facilitating greater economic integration, facilitating trade and human migration. But increased communication also makes people more aware of their situation in a global context, making far away events feel more threatening and fostering a feeling of relative depravation for many. Information technology also provides a means for terrorist groups to propagandize and recruit online, and provides a means remote command and control.

Migration The economic benefits of human migration are a basic feature of Globalization. People are migrating in increasing numbers for economic reasons, and often are not willing to assimilate into their new surroundings. This can lead to a sense of threat and alienation.

The stresses of globalization often cause people to feel powerless and vulnerable, contributing to what Catarina Kinvall calls “existential anxiety” or “ontological insecurity.” Moghaddam points out that complex political economic, social, and psychological factors have combied to create circumstances in which Muslim communities in both western and non-western countries , and practicing Muslims in particular, fundamentalist Muslims even more so, feel collectively threaten. Moghaddam concludes that one of the detrimental consequences of globalism is the rise of Islamic fundamentalism and terrorism. Of course, other groups feel similar pressures and have resorted to terrorism, as well.

Environmental degradation. Economic processes that are needed to support an ever growing population are, consistent with the Entropy Law, causing ongoing environmental degradation. The environmental movement is a response to the perceived need to preserve the natural environment, and frustration with the lack of progress in this regard has led to the formation of radical environmentalist groups and eco-terrorists. The environmentalist cause has been given further impetus by the threat of the impact of climate change. As the processes and trend that are causing environmental degradation will most likely continue in the future and intensify, and therefore we face the real prospect of continuing and perhaps intensifying eco-terrorism.

Another characteristic of the interplay of entropy and self-organiztion, catastrophic behavior otherwise known as self-organizing criticality, which will be the topic of the second installment of this series on entropy “Sand Piles, Avalanches, and the Next Catastrophe”.

Globalization, Entropy, and Terrorism

Other stories in this series

Written by Tom D.