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There are many events of violent and reprehensible circumstances, however, of all the attacks, terrorist ones are perhaps the most tragic event in a country’s timeline. Natural disasters are not man-made for example, but rather terrorist attacks are visions of hatred, extremism, or political manipulation. But the repercussions of the violence penetrate the attackers' effects that go much deeper to far more encompassing destructions on society, economy, and the mental normal of a country and its citizens. In this blog entry, we will focus on the fact that terrorist attacks are not in their strictest definition only violent acts, but rather, they are full-fledged catastrophes for the states they strike as well as the numerous problems they create.

1. Loss of Lives: The Human Cos

It’s a well-known fact that terrorist attacks do result in civilian deaths, however, the most tragic and obvious aftermath of such attacks is victory over innocents. People or civilians in this regard – would suffer great losses from an attack whether it’s at a public place like an airport or a busy office building or entrepreneurial hot shots that rush to stake their claim on an iconic building.

The United States has seen some of the deadliest attacks in history such as the September 11 attacks with an estimated 3000 casualties within the span of a few hours. Another inhumane recent example is the 2008 Mumbai attacks the Paris attacks in 2015 or even the Brussels bombings in 2016 which resulted in multiple fatalities and injuries. Any article about loss of life is a delicate issue to tackle. But, each figure here is much more than just a number. Each figure has a family, a friend, a community. This loss creates an immediate crisis for the country and is felt by countless others who experience grief and trauma.

2. Psychological and Emotional Trauma

The terroristic act must surely have a psychological impact not only on the victims that were directly involved. Survivors, first responders, as well as the general public tend to develop a range of emotional and mental health disorders including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, and depression with time.

The fear that it could occur again develops in the hearts of many people and produces an attitude of insecurity, and helplessness. Children, who may be too young to fully comprehend that specific situation, tend to be affected the most since they start seeing this world in a skewed perspective where anything public is inherently dangerous.

The perception that everything is normal has to take a number of years on average to be reinstated. This emotional strain is very common but quite overshadowed; however, it is one of the greatest and the most enduring results of terrorism in a society.

3. Economic Impact: Financial Devastation

Terrorist attacks create an immediate and lasting impact on a country’s economy. The direct cost involves the damage to economic and non-economy assets, loss of productivity, and the expense for emergency services and the expenditure for rehabilitation. For example, the Nazi terrorists attacked the World Trade Centre in 2001 which was estimated to have caused about 60 Billion worth of damage including loss of economic activities after.

In addition to the immediate damage, long-term economic repercussions include decreased tourism, reduced investor confidence, and the diversion of government funds from development projects to security and defence spending. Countries with a significant dependence on tourism, like Egypt or Turkey, often face economic setbacks when people are frightened to travel to locations seen as potential targets for attacks.

Additionally, businesses may close, and unemployment rates can rise as the economy reels from the uncertainty caused by the attack. The overall cost to the country can reach hundreds of billions of dollars, severely affecting the nation's growth and stability.

4. Social and Political Divisions

Let us first take a moment to consider the broader, more international impact that terrorism may have on a country or a region as a whole. Some social tensions may also contribute to or worsen terror attacks leading to even more prejudiced and hateful feelings towards a specific ethnic, religious, or political group. However, this may worsen the polarization.

For instance, the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks witnessed many Muslim Americans becoming victims of hate crimes, racism, and discrimination on the sheer basis of their ethnical or cultural identity. In this context, these false social distinctions may undermine inter-community relations and foster further violence.

Martial Law is to be expected in the aftermath because most people see the need to unify and lose civil liberties. But this same law is meant to breed distrust, and suspicion within a community with increased awareness and heightened security. The discourse within the democracy will then be balanced on securing the nation and ensuring the human rights of individuals.

5. Security and Loss of Civil Liberties

After terrorist attacks, countries normally harden the rules and regulations to avoid new attacks. This may involve heightened security, stricter immigration control and more intrusive examination in public areas. These measures are probably required to defend the nation, but in return, they will pay a price for civil rights and personal freedoms.

Or, countries introduce free-speech-escalating laws, redefine citizenship to expand the scope of governmental surveillance on citizens and implement the consolidation of the immigration apparatus. Although such measures are implemented with the objective of protecting the state, they can create an atmosphere of suspicion between the government and the people. Others might find it an invasion of their right to privacy, and some categories of people may receive biased treatment and oppression in the name of security.

The balance between ensuring safety and protecting individual freedoms is a delicate one, and terrorist attacks often prompt governments to make difficult choices about the extent of security measures.

6. Global Impact: International Relations and Cooperation

The effects of terrorist attacks are not limited to the place of the attack. Even countries whose citizens or resources are not directly involved in terrorism will often feel the effects of international terrorism, particularly when the attack is perpetrated by a transnational group, or targets international interests. Which brings changes in foreign policy, alliances, and global cooperation.

One example would be the global "War on Terror" initiated by the United States following the 9/11 attacks that led to the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. These interventions have caused repercussions that echo through history, straining relationships between countries and shifting political alliances

On the positive side, terrorist attacks often bring countries together in solidarity, prompting international cooperation on counterterrorism measures, intelligence sharing, and the strengthening of global security frameworks. However, the complex and interconnected nature of modern geopolitics means that the effects of an attack can spark a range of reactions that influence global stability.

Conclusion: A Country Forever Changed

A terrorist attack is beyond a calamity, it is a kind of national catastrophe that can shake the very existence of a nation. The impacts from loss of lives to the economic, social and political are widespread and long-term. Terrorist acts also leave scars that are felt for generations and the scars left by terrorism are just as much what governments and nations feel immediately and for generations afterwards.

The emotions that come in the days, weeks and months after such tragedies include grief, fear, and uncertainty but history suggests the human mind and soul — and even nations — are surprisingly resilient. Rebuilding from the massive impacts of terrorism requires the resilience, cohesion and cooperation—domestically and internationally—that Indonesia has both embraced and demonstrated to strive towards normalcy.

As citizens of the world, it is important that we remember the victims, honour the survivors, and continue to work toward a future where peace and understanding prevail over hatred and violence.