THE SOCIOECONOMIC EFFECTS OF TERRORISM IN NORTH SINAI CASE STUDY (AL-RAWDA VILLAGE)

This study aimed to identify the reasons that led to terrorism from the perspective of the respondents.It aimed also to highlight the social and the economiceffects of terrorism in the community of the study,in addition to identifying the relationship between independent variables and the overall degree of awareness of the respondents about the motives of terrorism and the counterterrorism mechanisms.The study offered some recommendations to reduce the phenomenon of terrorism from the viewpoint of the respondents. Data wascollected through personal interviews using a questionnaire prepared for this study.The sample consisted of (325) respondents, chosen in the simple random method from the village of Al-Rawda, Bir Al-Abd Center - North Sinai Governorate. The research used descriptive statistics, repetition and proportions. The simple correlation coefficient "Pearson" was also used to identify the possible correlation between the overall degree of respondents' perception of the motives of terrorism and the variables of the studyThe results indicated that the degree of the presence of the motives that led to terrorism in the region was strong by 54.2%,because most of the villagers belong to the Sufi school of the Jiriri method, which belongs to Sidi Abu Jarir.The results indicated also that most the villagers belong to one tribe, which is Al-Souraka, and most of the villagers cooperated with the army.The results showed that the degree of respondents' awareness of the motives that led to terrorism was average by 88%, because the respondents were aware that the main reason for the attack on the village was due to terrorists’ religious extremism. The results revealed that the degree of the respondents' awareness of the counterterrorism mechanismswas average by 84%, and this indicates the average cultural and educational level of the respondents. The results also showed that the degree of the social effects resulting from terrorism in the study area was average by 56.3%, because the accident or the terrible terrorist accidentthat happened in the village was shocking because the terrorist actionshave beenshifted from violence towards the army and the police to the defenseless civilians.This represents a qualitative transformation and a dangerous phase of terrorism,naturally, the social effects take a period to appear, unlike the economic effects, which appear directly and speedily. However, some social effects appeared on the respondents as soon as this catastrophe occurred,such the permanent feelings of fear, and the occurrence of some psychological problems for adults and children who saw their families murdered in front of them.These problems provoked a number of villagers to move to other villages. In addition to the occurrence of social disturbances in relationships and dealing with others. Many womenof the village becamewidows and they sufferedafter the death of their breadwinner, which led to themto bearthe responsibility of their families.This responsibility represents an economic, social and psychological burden on them. The results also showed that the degree of the presence of the economic effects resulting from terrorism in the study area was strong by 74.2%. The reason is that the terrorist operation destroyed the infrastructure and damaged many facilities in the village. In addition to the decline in marketing and sales of small projects’products of environmentalcrafts, due to the strict security measures.The results also showed a significant relationship at the level of significance 0.01 between the total degree of the awareness of the respondents with the motives of terrorism and the following variables: age, educational level, economic level, agricultural tenure, informal social participation, the degree of community affiliation, family cohesion, acquisition of projects, animal tenure, and cultural openness. The simple correlation coefficient valu were 0.872-0.958-0.881-0.822- 0.741-0.582-0.986-0.755-0.858-0.527respectively. The results indicated that there is a significant correlation at the significance level 0.01 between the total degree of respondents' awareness of counterterrorism mechanismsand the following variables: age, educational level, economic level, agricultural tenure, informal social participation, degree of community affiliation, family cohesion, acquisition of projects, animal tenure, and cultural openness. The 46 Fayoum J. Agric. Res. & Dev., Vol. 34, No.2 July, 2020 values of simple correlation coefficient, were 0.296-0.465-0.924 -0.644-0.331- 0.677-0.644-0.911-0.575respectively. The results showed a significant correlation at the significance level 0.01 between the overall degree of the sample perception of the terrorism motives and the following variables;social status, practical status, family type and health status.The values of simple correlation coefficient reached 0.512-0.959-0.975- 0.452respectively. The results showed a significant relationship at the level of significance of 0.01 between the total degree of respondents' awareness of the counterterrorism mechanismsand the following variables; social status, practical status, family type, and health status. The values of the simple correlation coefficient were 0.631 - 0.679 - 0.575 - 0.373respectively. The most important respondents’suggestionsto confront the phenomenon of terrorism were: protect those who cooperate with the security services to report terrorists in the region 98.5%, reduce security measures in the region 97.2%, provide transportation means 96.3%, put the village on the development map 95.7%, provide job opportunities for youth 92.3%, and disseminating correct ideas about Islam 91.7%. The most important recommendations were:the serious confrontation of unemployment as it is a direct factor for engaging in extremism, publishing intellectual reviews and discussion with members of terror groups in various media, to educate citizens, especially the youth of the danger of extremist ideas. There must be a change in the mental image of the valley community about the Bedouins of Sinai, easing tension, restoring confidence between citizens and the state, and repairing the existing defect regarding the correct evaluation criteria for citizenship values. Finally yet importantly, there must be an immediate trial for those terroristswho have been arrested as a warning to others.