From 9/11 to 2025: How terrorism and fear have been reinvented

My students were born after 9/11. As they themselves would say, they were born in "07" or "06." Talking to them about the 2001 attacks sounds, literally, like another planet to them. And they're right. That was another planet.

In 2001, we were still living in a brave new world of free trade, peace dividends, waves of democratization, and economic prosperity. China was joining the World Trade Organization, and President Bush Jr. wanted to focus his efforts on domestic policy.

Europe has just approved the Treaty of Nice , the prelude to the major enlargement of 2004.

Who doesn't remember how happy we were!

Then came those live feeds of the Twin Towers . Global terrorism changed the world as we knew it.

Today, terrorism persists, but its form has mutated. Let's see how.

Al Qaeda on the rise

In 2001, al-Qaeda paved the way for a global terrorist organization with a clear ambition and hierarchy. The attacks followed one another, marking a decade of international relations following the invasion of Afghanistan. After 9/11, 3/11 in Madrid , and 7/7 in London , Islamic terrorism became the primary enemy of the international order. Its brand represents the multinational terrorist organization.

The decline of al-Qaeda was followed by a state project that led the Syrian war. The Islamic State (Daesh) is structured according to a different model: decentralized networks of armed franchises connected to the global leadership. From the Sahel to Southeast Asia, armed groups identify themselves as part of the network, although their hierarchical connection is nonexistent. Each affiliate operates freely.

The abrupt end of the war in Syria raises questions about new forms of terrorism. Today, attacks are not as spectacular, but their recurrence (vehicles, attacks at markets, stabbings) pursues the same objective: fear reigns supreme. The structures are not rigid, but rather small cells connected through networks and digital media.

Therein lies the great transformation of global terrorism. In 2001, the internet hosted propaganda, but terrorists were open to interviews in international media. We saw Osama Bin Laden on major television networks three times, giving long interviews in his cave.

Today, the digital transformation has affected the methods and uses of terrorism. In terms of propaganda, it is created and consumed on social networks, video games, streaming channels, and forums. It is digitally native communication that connects with new generations and bypasses the mediation of journalists, television channels, or press releases.

The new propaganda has an impact on recruitment, as young people are trapped in networks of connection, access, and express training for committing attacks. Financing has also changed. Digital money flies and leaves little trace. Cryptocurrency payments are another nightmare for counterterrorism.

New targets and new threats

In addition to recurring attacks, terrorism has incorporated new targets. Critical infrastructure, from transportation networks to energy, appears to be destabilizing elements. And chaos, in a democracy, fuels conspiracy theories.

The threat has thus mutated, but we lack a solid, unified political response. Nor is it clear that we have learned from our mistakes.

In 2001, the response was a global war on terror with dubious results (900,000 direct deaths, 38 million displaced people, and an approximate cost of $8 trillion).

In 2025, terrorism is looking home: preventing radicalization, border control, judicial cooperation, and counterterrorism. Moving forward with these policies exposes the contradictions of democratic countries. How much security do we want at the cost of our freedom? No, there is no single right answer, and yes, we must set limits on surveillance, control, financial monitoring, and many other issues that affect our privacy. Therefore, there is no standard, universal solution.

The only certainty is that global terrorism is part of what we call "asymmetric threats" and is far from disappearing. Terrorism has acquired new "names": far-right, supremacist, and conspiracy theorists. The recent murder of Charlie Kirk confirms the spiral of political violence in new forms, but with the same outcome. It is the worst of all paths.

Let us, then, use this date to remember and learn from the ravages of terrorism in open societies. Because it will not stop.