William R. Keylor, Ph.D., is professor of History and International Relations at Boston University, and a noted historian. He speaks of the past, the recent pain of Paris, and the new threats of cyber invasions.
An Interview With William R. Keylor
SBB: Why Paris? Why anywhere?
WRK: Here, off the top of my head, is what I would like to say to you and your publication.
“Why France? Why Paris?” I have been asked this question ever since the recent attacks. I believe that the answer is fourfold:
First, France is probably the most secular nation in the world. It would never have “In God We Trust” on its coins. Its parliament would never invite clergymen to give the invocation before each of its sessions. Its political candidates would never think it necessary to affirm their religious faith as a qualification for elective office. It has a total separation of church and state, unlike our own country. That makes it exactly the opposite of ISIS and the advocates of the imposition of Sharia law.
Second, France was the strongest supporter of the United States-led bombing campaign in Syria, even before the Paris attacks.
Third, France has the largest Muslim population in Europe and the largest number of citizens who have traveled to Syria to enlist in the ISIS campaign.
Fourth, the Muslim population of France has not assimilated into French society and culture, as have Muslims in the United States to American society and culture. They are, therefore, much more alienated and dissatisfied than are American Muslims, which make them much more vulnerable to the siren song of ISIS.
That said, France is not the only target of jihadist attacks. But it is a convenient symbol, for the reasons listed above, of the kind of society that is anathema to ISIS.
SBB: A large cyber attack on French websites has been reported following the nationwide anti-terrorism demonstrations. How will the the digital revolution change International Relations?
WRK: France has faced this type of cyber attack throughout 2015, starting in the aftermath of the Charlie Hebdo attack and the attack on the kosher supermarket in Paris. The problem with this type of cyber attack is that it’s impossible to determine which ones come from jihadist groups such as ISIS or Al-Qaeda, and which come from single individual techies who are sympathetic to the terrorist cause but are acting on their own.
An attack from this or that “Cyber Caliphate” might simply be an act by someone in a room with the kind of technological sophistication that allows this kind of cyber-aggression. One of the unfortunate consequences of the digital revolution.
SBB: Thank you Bill.
Reflections
The Internet: The new print, the new light, the acquisition of a new language, the new global campfire: Can someone put out our fire?
