Radicalization in South Asia
Context, Trajectories and Implications

First Edition

Edited by:

Mubashar Hasan - Post Doctoral Research Fellow, Department of Culture Studies and Oriental Languages, University of Oslo, Norway
Kenji Isezaki - Professor, Peace and Conflict Studies, Graduate School of Global Studies, Tokyo University of Foreign Studies, Japan
Sameer Yasir - Former Assistant Professor, Centre for International Relational, Peace and Conflict Studies, Islamic University of Science and Technology, India

Other Titles in:
Political Science & International Relations | Sociology | South Asian Politics

July 2019 | 372 pages | SAGE India

Radicalization in South Asia: Context, Trajectories and Implications presents a critical overview of radicalism, violence and terrorism in South Asia, a region that is diverse in terms of demography, religion, culture and political ideologies. While diversity could have worked as a push factor in strengthening democracies in the region, historically, fault lines in the South Asian faiths, culture, ethnicity, nationalism and political ideologies have triggered radical movements, and unleashed violence and terror attacks to destabilize democracies in the region.

Against the backdrop of the current wave of illiberalism and radicalism sweeping over the US, Europe, Middle East, Australia and Latin America, this book presents the most recent scenario of the context, trajectories and policy implications for radicalism, violence and terrorism in five South Asian countries including India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Maldives. It emphasizes the comparative insights provided by the changing values of South Asian society to offer a comprehensive picture of radicalization in this region.

Foreword by Irfan Habib

Acknowledgements

Mubashar Hasan, Kenji Isezaki and Sameer Yasir

Introduction to Radicalization in South Asia: Context, Trajectories and Implications

Maidul Islam

Fortunes of Radicalism: Indian Maoists and the Dead End of Politics

Noor Ahmed Baba

Kashmir’s Syncretic Tradition and Challenges of Radicalization in a Raging Conflict

Nazneen Mohsina and Sinan Siyech

Terrorist Narratives and Recruitment in South Asia: The India Factor

Azim Zahir

Religious and Political Transformations in the Maldives: The Macro-Level Contexts of Radicalization

Iraj De Alwis, Anishka De Zylva and Barana Waidyatilake

Counter-radicalization in Sri Lanka: A Blueprint for Action

Raafia Raees Khan and Feriha N. Peracha

Deradicalizing Militant Youth in Northern Pakistan

Fatima Waqi Sajjad

Countering Radicalization through Education: Global Policy Trends and the Case of Pakistan

Asif bin Ali

Bangladesh’s ‘War on Terror’ and Madrasa Education

Shahab Enam Khan

The Gender Dimension of Extremism: The Unfolding Links between Women and Extremism in Bangladesh

Bulbul Siddiqi

Perception of the Pathways towards Radicalization among Urban Youth in Bangladesh

Mahbubur Rahman

Developing Counter-narrative for De-radicalization in Bangladesh: Issues and Challenges

Index

‘We are constantly told that in understanding radicalization, the context and deep knowledge of local dynamics is crucial. That is why this book is such an important contribution. It will be a must read for anyone looking to understand the complex dynamics of radicalization and extremism in South Asia.’

Dr Andrew Blum,

Executive Director, Kroc Institute for Peace and Justice, University of San Diego, USA

‘The literature on radicalization focuses mostly on the Middle East and Europe. The editors of the present volume have rightly pointed to the multifaceted scene of radicalization in South Asia and put together a fascinating collection of case studies. The chapters add new perspectives on the cause and context of radicalization, from the local and psychological to the global and structural, perspectives that will add value not only to the literature on radicalization as such but also to the literature on South Asia.’

Dr Arild Engelsen Ruud,

Professor, South Asia Studies, University of Oslo, Norway

‘This book is a South–South effort, a fact that increases its relevance and importance. Its context-specific recommendations in several cases offer guidance to policymakers and practitioners, directly from the coalface. As such, this book is an important contribution to both the literature and practice.’

Dr Des Molloy,

Senior Programme Director, The Nippon Foundation, Japan

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Mubashar Hasan

Mubashar Hasan is presently a research fellow at the Department of Cultural Studies and Oriental Languages at the University of Oslo, Norway. In Bangladesh, he holds the position of an Assistant Professor at the Department of Political Science and Sociology, North South University, Bangladesh. In 2018, he was awarded an Emerging Early Career Research Award, 11th Global Studies Conference in University of Granada, Spain, by the Unites States-based Common Ground Research Network. He was previously a Bangladesh research fellow at the RESOLVE Network at the United States Institute of Peace,... More About Author

Kenji Isezaki

Kenji Isezaki runs the Department of Peace and Conflict Studies, and Global Campus programme at Tokyo University of Foreign Studies in Japan. He has served in several United Nations peacekeeping missions and when Japan became the lead country for the disarmament, demobilization and reintegration (DDR) programme for Afghanistan security sector reform (SSR), he directed DDR with the support of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan and successfully disarmed 60,000 soldiers of the former Afghan military forces in two years. He has also served as the chief of DDR Coordination Section for the United... More About Author

Sameer Yasir

Sameer Yasir is an independent researcher and until recently was associated with the Global Campus programme of Tokyo University of Foreign Studies. He was an assistant professor at the Centre for International Relations (Peace and Conflict Studies) at Islamic University of Science and Technology, where he taught conflict studies for five years and wrote academic and policy papers and was the youngest professor appointed by the university in its history. He is the winner of 2017 best academic article by Oxford Development Studies at Oxford Department of International Development, in the memory... More About Author

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