The harrowing terrorist attacks in Paris just a few weeks ago rocked the world. While the perpetrators, from the self-proclaimed Islamic State, or ISIS, had previously threatened attacks against the West, the events in Paris regrettably showed that their threats could become reality. Thus, it might be understandable that many American college students who are currently planning to study abroad in Europe might feel more ambivalent than ever before. Yet at this time, I would advise prospective students to continue with their plans, unless terrorist threats get exponentially more severe in the near future, as changing study abroad plans out of fear serves to enhance the Islamic State’s cause and is an unnecessary decision so long as proper precautions are taken.
Needless to say, as someone who is studying abroad in Spain next semester, the Paris tragedy made me feel especially uncomfortable. Europe, the continent I have wished to explore for years, no longer felt like the safe destination I had imagined since I was young, but rather an unpredictable and vulnerable place. Of course, Europe has been a terrorist target before, and Spain in particular suffered a horrific attack in 2004 that killed nearly 200 people. Yet, this attack particularly hit home for me, and I would be lying if I said I did not have immediate second thoughts about my decision to travel to Europe.
Nevertheless, the primary goal of a terrorist organization like ISIS is to invoke fear in its Western opponents and cause sustained damage to society over time. Changing travel plans is a result ISIS would look upon favorably, as it would disrupt Western way of life and the economy. In response to Paris, the U.S. State Department issued a travel warning that encouraged Americans to “exercise vigilance” while abroad, making special note not to discourage overseas travel altogether. Likewise, following previous European terror attacks in 2004 and 2005, in Madrid and London respectively, tourism dropped immediately. Yet within several weeks, the industry was flourishing again. The State Department understands that discouraging travel to Europe is not a move that would benefit Americans, as it would be too extreme and would ultimately serve the ISIS’ ends. Likewise, the past demonstrates that it is common for tourists to get hung up in the immediate aftermath of a traumatic act of terror, and some colleges, such as Furman University, have already decided to cut their study abroad programs short. Yet hopefully in the future colleges and individuals will recognize the impracticability of such as move, because acting in such a manner only serves to enhance the ISIS’ perverse ambitions.
The Paris attacks have heightened the perception that Europe is very susceptible to terrorism as of late, and that avoiding the continent altogether is an infallible way of staying safe. However, this is a gross overgeneralization. While the United States is currently slightly less susceptible to terrorism, it is still relatively equal to Europe when compared to other countries around the world. For example, between 2000 and 2013 80 percent of terrorism casualties occurred in just five countries, all of which are in Africa, the Middle East or South Asia. American citizens are nearly four times more likely to die from being struck by lightning than they are from dying in a terrorist attack in any part of the world, including both Europe and one of these five highly susceptible countries. Thus, while it is a normal human reflex to fear travelling to places where terror has recently occurred, it is nonetheless critical to understand the greater context of terrorism in the West, and the mere improbability of it affecting an American citizen.
Since the Islamic State’s ominous attacks in Paris on Nov. 13, the terror group has appeared closer to the West than ever before, especially in Europe. Nevertheless, over 1,000 University students travelled to Europe last year to study abroad, and I certainly hope that number does not decrease because of the looming threat of Islamic terrorism. Threats may continue to be prevalent, but they should not keep students from embarking on an unforgettable study abroad experience.
Jesse Berman is an Opinion columnist for The Cavalier Daily. He can be reached at j.berman@cavalierdaily.com.
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