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I've been thinking about this off and on for a bit. The issue, I think, is that we've moved from a past filled with imperialism, conquest, and opposition and into a period of interconnectedness and co-dependence. Where once it was the norm to be destructive, oppressive, and competitive, it is now becoming important to be generative, cooperative, and compassionate on a global scale.
The best way to "fight" things these days is not through military might or political wrangling or sanctions, or what have you. The best way to "fight" things is by being supportive of societies and their cultures. While this isn't universally so on the ideological level (i.e. it doesn't help to support oppressive regimes), it generally is on the social level (e.g. we solve the problem of poverty by supporting women economically and educationally).
Alleviating or eradicating social problems on a global scale has global benefits. You address the issue of terrorism and new forms of fascism by reducing the appeal. How do we bring young men into the fold of social integration and economic stability and out of the clutches of terrorist recruitment? That is the question, and only one of many.
There is too much to think about regarding this topic. It's broad. But those are my initial thoughts. I should explore some of the specifics more.
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Knowing that death is certain and that the time of death is uncertain, what's the most important thing?
—Bhikkhuni Pema Chödrön
Humankind cannot bear very much reality.
—From "Burnt Norton," Four Quartets (1936), T. S. Eliot
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