De-Radicalisation: Effective approaches discussed

Less emphasis on dealing with extremism in socio-cultural perspectives has contributed towards states’ failure.

ISLAMABAD:

States, in general, have failed to develop effective counter-radicalisation and de-radicalisation responses and strategies owing to their largely security-centric approaches. Less emphasis on dealing with extremism and radicalism in socio-cultural, economic and political perspectives has also contributed towards the states’ failure.

This argument emerged as a consensus point among participants of a discussion on “Assessment of de-radicalisation models” organised by PIPS on Wednesday.

Taking UK’s case study, Dr Tahir Abbas, associate professor of sociology at Fatih University in Istanbul, said social exclusion, Islamophobia, lack of effective theological and political leadership, regressive anti-terror laws and geo-political events are among the major factors contributing to radicalisation in the UK.

“Ideological factors only facilitate the process of radicalisation whereas the common driving factors lie in socio-cultural, political and economic milieus,” he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 2^nd, 2012.