Dynamics of Violent Extremism in South Asia : Nexus Between State Fragility and Extremism

This book offers a comprehensive analysis of the multifaceted dimensions of violent extremist groups in South Asia, attending especially to the relationships between the local and regional forces influencing their emergence and activities. In addition, research in the book shows how political, security-sensitive events and processes are framed, and the factors responsible for such framing. Similarly, it discusses prevalent discourses on anti-violent extremism policy and the on-the-ground militarized preventive/reactive interventions they guide, which are inspired by ideologies that increasingly reflect controversial understandings of the experiences of people within conditions of state fragility. In doing so, the book balances attention to local conditions that frame the rise and fall, or persistency, of incidences of violent extremism. The systems-based ecological framing of issues in the book is influenced by a concern for the broader questions of securitization, global governance, poverty, (under)development, and armed conflicts in South Asia. Shafi Md Mostofa (Ph.D.) is a theologian and security studies scholar with broad interests in political Islam, authoritarianism, modern South Asian history and politics, and international relations and clash of civilizations. He is an associate professor of World Religions and Culture at Dhaka University's Faculty of Arts and an adjunct lecturer of the University of New England, Australia. Foreword About This Book Contents Notes on Contributors List of Tables 1 The Nexus Between State Fragility and Extremism in South Asia References 2 Differing Trajectories of Salafism in India and Pakistan: State Fragility, Identity and Violence Introduction State Fragility and Violence Salafism: An Introduction Salafism in India and Pakistan Shared History and Common Beliefs Tracing the Divergent Trajectories Reasons for Differences: Salafist Identity Formation Pakistan Under Siege Majority–Minority Dynamics Geopolitical Factors How State Fragility and Democratic Rights Can Play a Role in Preventing/Fomenting Violence—Hints for the Future Conclusion Note References 3 State Fragility and Violent Extremism in Bangladesh Introduction State Fragility and Bangladesh Ethnic Extremism Left-Wing Extremism Muslim Extremism Muslim Millat Bahini (MMB) Harkat-ul-Jihad Al Islami Bangladesh (HuJIB) Jamaatul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) Ansar Al Islam (AAI) Neo JMB State Fragility and Extremism in Bangladesh Conclusion Notes References 4 State Fragility and Dynamism of Islamist Extremism in Bangladesh: Recruitment Strategies, Women and Prison Radicalization, and Future Trajectories Introduction State Fragility and Islamist Extremism The Arrival of IS and Al Qaeda in Bangladesh Use of Lethal Weapons Targeted Killing Some Worrying Trends Recruitment Women Radicalization Prison Radicalization Future Trajectories Conclusion References 5 State Fragility and Hindu Extremism in India: An Analysis of the Role of the Bharatiya Janata Party Introduction State Fragility and Extremism in India Part One—Hindutva in Indian Political Discourse Hindutva’s Cultural Nationalism Hindutva and the Modi/BJP Election Campaign Politics of Cow Protection Love Jihad Ghar Wapsi Part Two—Hindutva and the 2019 Elections Conclusion Notes References 6 Fragile State Policy and the Rise of Muslim Extremism in Sri Lanka Introduction General Remarks on the Sri Lankan Muslims or Moor Sinhala-Buddhist Violent Mobilization Against Muslims State Fragility and the Emergence of Extremism Among Sri Lankan Muslims Decline of Muslims’ Trust in the Sri Lankan Government Conclusion Notes References 7 Fragile Peace, Violent Extremism, and Feminist Solutions in Nepal Introduction Feminist Understanding of Violence: ‘Matrices of Domination’ and ‘Continua of Violence’ State Fragility and the Maoist Insurgency in Nepal Poverty and Inequality Inequality among Social Groups Are Grievances Enough to Start the Insurgency? Political Mobilization of Grievances State Repression Is Violent Extremism a Possibility in Nepal? Natural Hazard-Related Disasters and Conflict Nexus Intersectionality and Positive Peace Democratic Restructuring of State & Peacebuilding: Stagnation and Frustration Conclusion Notes References 8 State Fragility, Violent Extremism, and Future of Afghanistan Introduction Defining State Fragility State Fragility in Afghanistan Taliban Take Over Afghanistan Future of Afghanistan Conclusion References 9 State Fragility and the Challenge of Violent Extremism in Pakistan Introduction State Fragility and VE in Pakistan Terrain of VE in Pakistan Pakistan’s State Fragility and PCVE Measures Hard Measures Soft Measures How State Fragility Has Impacted VE in Pakistan? Conclusion References Index