Daniel Pipes

Many scholars have argued that poverty is a root cause of terrorism and that by providing economic assistance to developing nations, Western countries can reduce the spread of terror. In the following viewpoint Daniel Pipes disputes this claim by contending that economic distress does not lead to terrorism. According to Pipes, militant Muslims—including Palestinian suicide bombers and the September 11, 2001, hijackers—are more likely to be educated and well employed. In fact, Pipes concludes, impoverished Muslims are more likely to turn away from fundamentalism during politically and economically difficult times. Pipes is the director of the Middle East Forum and the author of several books, including The Hidden Hand: Middle East Fears of Conspiracy and The Long Shadow: Culture and Politics in the Middle East.

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