Contents

What is Extremism?

Types of Extremism:

Determinants of Extremism:

Is Religion a cause of Extremism or is it Islam specific?

Major causes of Extremism:

Definition:
“Extremism is a term used to describe the actions or ideologies of
individuals or groups outside the perceived political center of a society; or
otherwise claimed to political center of a society; or otherwise claimed to violate
common moral standards.” In democratic violate common moral standards.” In
democratic societies, individuals or groups which advocate that democracy should
be replaced with authoritarian regime are usually branded extremism

What is Extremism?

 Any individual or group who holds to its ideology, does not tolerate others
viewpoint and tries to impose his not tolerate others viewpoint and tries to
impose his philosophy/ideology through violent means or use of force.
 Extremism is a term used to describe the actions or ideologies of individuals
or groups outside the perceived political center of a society or otherwise
claimed to violate common moral standards.
 Extremism is usually constructed with moderation or extremists with
moderates.
 Extremism therefore is a multifaceted complex phenomenon.
 In the present era, the term extremism is often used with reference to
those who use or advocate violence against the will of the society at large.

Types of Extremism:

1. Right-Wing Extremism.
2. Politico-Religious Extremism.
3. Left-Wing Extremism.
Right-Wing Extremism.

A form of radicalization associated with fascism, racialism/racism,

supremacism and ultranationalist. This form of radicalization is characterized by
the violent defense of a racial, ethnic or pseudo-national identity, and is also
associated with radical hostility towards state authorities, minorities, immigrants
and/or left-wing political groups.

Politico-Religious Extremism.

A form of radicalization associated with a political interpretation of

religion and the defense, by violent means, of a religious identity perceived to be
under attack (via international conflicts, foreign policy, social debates, etc.). Any
religion may spawn this type of violent radicalization.

Left-Wing Extremism.

A form of radicalization that focuses primarily on anti-capitalist demands

and calls for the transformation of political systems considered responsible for
producing social inequalities, and that may ultimately employ violent means to
further its cause. This category includes anarchist, Maoist, Trotskyist and Marxist–
Leninist groups that use violence to advocate for their cause.

Determinants of Extremism:

Extremism, a disease of our times has spread its tentacles all around. Of
its many defining determinants at least three are noteworthy.

One, the extremism that those in power exhibit. They go in with tanks and bombs
where patient force backed diplomacy can work, seek to destroy what requires
careful reconstruction, advance division and hate where understanding and
bridging of differences is needed, and abandon the path of justice and fair play
for pure partisanship. All this naturally promotes deadly and debilitating
extremism. (US Iraq and Afghan policy is a case in point).

Two, in the absence of a credible and participatory system of politics and a

reliable justice system, political groups often frame their concerns and solutions in
an extremist manner. When a non-credible political system leads to the
unconstitutional imposition of the rule of a specific elite, party, ethnicity or
institution over the ‘rest’ the response of the rest is often cast in extreme ethnic,
religious, anti-elite or anti-institution character. Hence through exaggeration of
their legitimate concerns, they construct a victimhood scenario. In countries
where credible political and legal systems do not exist, many would buy into
victimhood framing. The causes of discontent may be numerous. They could be
political, cultural, sociological, economic and moral. (Examples are East Pakistan,
LTTE, Kashmiris, Palestinians, Naxalites or even Baluchistan.)

Is Religion a cause of Extremism or is it Islam specific? Is it Islam

specific?

 Extremism is not peculiar to any religion, culture, creed or country.

 It has become a common practice to stigmatize Muslims because terrorist
acts are being perpetrated by a radicalized minority that professes Islam.
 Liberation Tigers of Tamil Elam in Sri Lanka “were the world’s Single largest
group of Suicide Bombers” Their cadres were not Muslims, but Hindu by
religion and 40 percent were women.
  Times of India of 4 April 2008 carried an article stating “ of the 2598
persons killed in terrorist attacks by various communities in India in the
year 2007, which is less than one third, were killed by Muslim
organizations, while the rest — 1821, which is more than two thirds —
were killed by others notably left wing extremist groups (650), ULFA in
Assam (437) and PLA in Manipur(408).
 Destruction of Babri Mosque in December 1992 and unabated attacks on
churches and worship places of other minorities.

Major causes of Extremism

 Political deprivation leading to hopelessness or a sense of powerlessness.

 Long festering political disputes.
 Lack of Education and poverty.
 Ideological imperatives may lead to extremism.
 Socio-economic inequities, unemployment, despair about the future.
 Corrupt and self-serving dominant elite.
 Foreign occupations.
 Sense of victimhood amongst Muslims.
 Resurgence of Islam phobia in Europe.

Major causes of Extremism

 Education and training in a narrow religious and cultural framework create

people with a narrow and bigoted worldview and breeds intolerance and
extremism.
 Children who are exposed to violence at an early age tend to adopt
violence as a way of life unless de-linked from early experiences (Child
Soldiers of Africa and Pakistani Children who experienced war in
Afghanistan alongside Taliban).
 Some extremist groups believe that they are following God’s instructions.
As such, they do not understand that what they are doing is wrong.
 Family members sometimes encourage extremism.
 Extremist websites/ videos have a big impact and are hard to regulate.
 Social networking websites allow people all over the world to influence
each other.