Sabotage

Monkeywrenching

Nature

Acts of sabotage are aimed at threatening or destroying life and property, or at hampering or hindering specific activities. Sabotage is used during war, and is also used by terrorists, guerrillas, resisters and criminals during peace-time. Deliberate sabotage of projects which harm the earth and living systems, sometimes called "monkeywrenching", is a hardline ecological activity. These activities would include sinking metal spikes into trees to prevent them being felled or incapacitating bulldozers. Sabotage is also widely used among the more radical animal welfare activists.

Background

Sabotage emerged as a recognized global problem during the industrial era, when deliberate acts to disrupt production or infrastructure became tools of labor disputes and political resistance. Its significance intensified during the World Wars, as state and non-state actors targeted critical assets. In the late 20th and early 21st centuries, the scope of sabotage expanded with technological advances, drawing international attention to its potential to destabilize economies, security systems, and essential services worldwide.

Incidence

Sabotage remains a persistent global threat, affecting critical infrastructure, industries, and governmental operations across continents. Incidents range from targeted attacks on energy grids and transportation systems to the deliberate disruption of supply chains and digital networks. The frequency and sophistication of sabotage have increased, often resulting in significant economic losses, compromised security, and heightened geopolitical tensions. Both state and non-state actors are implicated, making detection and prevention a complex challenge for authorities worldwide.
In 2022, the Nord Stream gas pipelines in the Baltic Sea suffered extensive damage due to suspected sabotage. The explosions disrupted energy supplies to Europe, intensifying regional security concerns and international investigations.

Claim

Sabotage has become a worldwide hazard, employed by extremist groups either to effect a radical change, strike at the real or imagined oppressor, or bring a situation to attention. Sabotage attacks have included bombings on the ground and in commercial airliners, destruction of property and destruction of life.

Counter-claim

Frankly, the concern over sabotage is vastly overblown. In today’s world, the likelihood and impact of sabotage are minimal compared to real, pressing issues like climate change or economic instability. Most organizations have robust safeguards, making sabotage more of a theoretical threat than a practical one. Worrying about sabotage distracts us from addressing genuine problems that actually affect people’s lives. It’s simply not an important problem in the modern era.