Introduction
Historically, networks can be traced back to the early days of Marxism and later by Lenin. While their causes of action can be just or unjust, to date, networks and governments have failed to get in common grounds. Constantly, these bodies are ever under frictions. While nations have portrayed themselves as constitutional and their governance very much justified; network groups, legal or illegal have been treated with a lot of mistrust.
Network objectives
Despite their place in the society, network groups in every nation have emerged due to societal constraints. Both local and international networks, aim at deconstructing traditional norms, creating peace, fighting for environmental sustainability, ensuring equitable distribution of resources, and poor political policies and systems. While at times, they have tried to achieve these through peaceful means such as round table discussions and empowerment programs, most times their actions are associated with conflicts.
Governance
Network groups lack proper central government system; they operate through separate cells linked through communication system. As a result, technological development has greatly facilitated their activities. When telegraph came into existence, communication was made easy to different parts of the world.
Other forms of communication, such as radio and cell phones have become vital linking systems. Cybernetics, also, has been a vital tool as most all places in the world can easily be accessed. Consequently, many people can stay in the link despite geographical distances. Additionally, computers have enhanced e-commerce for running different activities.
The objectives of the network groups such as creating neo-liberal society have made them accessible to many people despite their societal class, race, nationality, and cultural system. Consequently, networks such as Al-Qaida have gained entries in almost all the nations across the world. Additionally, some of these networks have got support from other groups such as Non-Governmental Organizations and political parties, thus, they easily penetrate into the societies.
Most of the network groups have been portrayed by the government and the media as people who are destructive and governed by self-interest, while they generally fight to liberate their societies from poor national structures. Taking Al-Qaida, for example, their goal was to reduce the power wielded by United States in Muslim communities.
The group believed that Muslim nations have lost their independence to the Americans. As a result, Osama bin Laden and his group were fighting to get the American out of Iraq. However, it should not be forgotten that there exist illicit networks such drug barons, whose moves are only guided by self-interest.
However, nations have taken different approach of dealing with the network groups. United States plus other nations have taken to direct attacks against the victims rather than addressing their grievances. Historically, this can be associated with Lenin’s period that waged war against the communists’ liberators. Al-Qaida, also has taken the advantage of its network to wage terror wars in retaliations. Just like the Zapatistas, all the network groups strive to succeed in their goals.
Conclusion
While nations have taken to radical means of dealing with the network groups, this will not provide lasting solutions. The best approach should address the political, economic, environmental, and other social concerns of these groups. Nations should set understanding grounds for the groups rather than using resources to eliminate them. The move of eliminating these groups is seen as suppression move to human rights, which inevitably attracts ‘netwar’. Lenin, among many leaders at long last failed against the network.