One of the most important events that occurred during the last month is the ISIS attack in Paris and other countries in Europe. France had been on high alert for terrorism since the Charlie Hebdo shooting and a series of related attacks in January by militants belonging to Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula. A series of coordinated terrorist attacks occurred in Paris and its northern suburb, Saint-Denis, on the night of 13 November 2015. The attackers killed around 130 people, including 89 at the Bataclan theatre, where they took hostages before engaging in a stand-off with police. Around 368 people were injured, 80–99 are in a serious situation.Seven of the attackers also died, while authorities continued to search for accomplices.
Three suicide bombers struck near the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, followed by suicide bombings and mass shootings at cafés, restaurants and a music venue in Paris. The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) claimed responsibility for the attacks, saying it was in retaliation for the French airstrikes on ISIL targets in Syria and Iraq. The President of France, François Hollande, said the attacks were an act of war by ISIL planned in Syria, organised in Belgium, and perpetrated with French complicity.In response, a state of emergency was declared, and temporary border checks were introduced. On 15 November, France launched the biggest airstrike of Opération Chammal, its contribution to the anti-ISIL bombing campaign, striking ISIL targets in Al-Raqqah. On 18 November, the suspected lead operative of the attacks, Abdelhamid Abaaoud, was killed in a police raid in Saint-Denis, along with at least two other people.
France had been on high alert since the January 2015 attacks in Paris that killed 17 people, including civilians and police officers. The November attacks were the deadliest on France since World War II, and the deadliest in the European Union since the Madrid train bombings in 2004.
The reason why this happened is link to previous war in Syria that the powerful states attack Syria to get rid of President Assad in order to get their oil resources. Then now it comes to the Paris attacks by ISIS while because those countries are attacking them first which make them attack back. The attack becomes a cycle among Middle East, Europe, Russia, and the U.S.
The realist theory is much more suitable in explaining this event because it viewed that the world is anarchy and there is no international world government to control the world. People are egoist; they don’t care about other as long as its benefit them. Especially, only the powerful states would able to survive. According to the ISIS case, it is a war between individuals and states. It won’t be possible for states to combat terrorists in the world, even though they try to kill ISIS. The fact, that those who family were killed by the powerful states will decide to be part of ISIS and revenge, so the war won’t end.
Follow the realist theory gives us the real pictures that those powerful states are selfish try to use their power to dominate the other weak states. For example, Russia is a back support of President Assad in term of military, weapons, economic, and other technology. Yet, Russia is fighting against ISIS. However, look at the U.S side, they are strongly against President Assad because Syria is not on the U.S side. Therefore, the concept of realist on the balance of power is workable in this event. Syria, in order to flight with the U.S, they have to back by Russia. Furthermore, for ISIS, they have a lot of support from major countries around the world in order to attack back with the powerful states. ISIS sells their oil in the lower price in the trade of money, weapons, and other military equipment.
This is really difficult for realist to believe in change as long as human nature is selfish, yet only war is permanent solution. How can the world combat the used of arm force? It is impossible. In contract, if pluralist is workable, the world won’t be anarchy. If interdependence tends to be effective, ISIS won’t occur. For example, the international governmental organization is served only the powerful states as they receive big support from them. Therefore, the world starts to bias. States won’t help any other states if they don’t earn any benefits back. We can see the operating among the British, French, American, and more corporate on the war in Syria because they will get back the oil another natural resources. Thus, states won’t corporate each other for peace but for benefits. Indeed, realist theory appears right for the powerful states while pluralist isn’t seem to be effective especially during the war time.