Promoting sociology in Australia
Facilitating sociology teaching and research
Enhancing the professional development of TASA members
Promoting sociology in Australia
Facilitating sociology teaching and research
Enhancing the professional development of TASA members
One of Canada’s leading experts in Armed Forces and Society has suggested that,
despite international accolades, Australia’s defence forces should follow the
lead of other nations in focusing more of their energies on domestic security
and potential threats of terrorism in Australia.
Dr Franklin C Pinch, Professor of Military and Applied Sociology and Senior
Research Fellow at the Canadian Forces Leadership Institute (CFLI), stated that,
similar to Canada and other western nations, Australia is vulnerable to terrorist
activity.
"Although the US has been the primary target of terrorist activity in
recent times, terrorism can be directed towards any developed country for effect,
and without the appropriate measures in place, open societies such as Australia
are at risk," Dr Pinch said.
"Australia is likely to place greater emphasis on domestic security and
to develop closer liaison with other nations in the interest of combating international
terrorism," he said.
Dr Pinch has also considered the detrimental effects that recent terrorist
acts have had on global peace. He believes that the US Government’s proportional
response to the September 11 terrorist attacks has provided a rationale for
other retaliations.
"We have seen a dramatic escalation in Israeli retaliations against Palestinian
terrorist attacks, particularly in response to the suicide bombings," Dr
Pinch said.
"This escalation in conflict has threatened to develop into an all-out
war in the Middle East, and we have seen necessary diplomatic intervention by
the US in an attempt to control the violence," he said.
Dr Pinch has also warned against dismissing regional conflict as ‘someone else’s
problem’.
"As the violence increases in the Middle East and elsewhere, Australia
and other affluent nations could experience a further flood of refugees fleeing
displacement and the terror of their homeland.
"We live in an increasingly global and interdependent society and it has
become almost impossible for any nation to remain immune to international conflict,"
he said.
Dr Pinch will join a host of leading academics and social science researchers
to discuss a broad spectrum of issues at the upcoming XV World Congress of Sociology,
being held in Brisbane from 7 – 13 July 2002.
For more information, please visit the official website at www.sociology2002.com.
