Religion, Extremism and Violence in South Asia

Description

This book sheds light on religiously motivated extremism and violence in South Asia, a phenomenon which ostensibly poses critical and unique challenges to the peace, security and governance not only of the region, but also of the world at large. The book is distinctive in-so-far as it reexamines conventional wisdom held about religious extremism in South Asia and departs from the literature which centres its analyses on Islamic militancy based on the questions and assumptions of the West’s ‘war on terror’. This volume also offers a comprehensive analysis of new extremist movements and how their emergence and success places existing theoretical frameworks in the study of religious extremism into question. It further examines topical issues including the study of social media and its impact on the evolution and operation of violent extremism. The book also analyses grassroots and innovative non-state initiatives aimed to counter extremist ideologies. Through case studies focusing on Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, this collection examines extremist materials, methods of political mobilisation and recruitment processes and maps the interconnected nature of sociological change with the ideological transformations of extremist movements. Acknowledgements Contents Notes on Contributors List of Figures List of Tables 1 Introduction II III IV 2 Colonial Transformations, Postcolonial Afterlives: Extremism, Exclusion and Distrust in India and Pakistan Introduction Orientalism and the Colonisation of Indian Religions The Coloniality of the Postcolonial Religious Extremism in Pakistan: Exclusion, Distrust and State Power Religious Extremism in India: History, Communalism and Violence Conclusion 3 Religion, Extremism and Buddhist–Muslim Relations in Sri Lanka Introduction The Context of Collective Identity and Religious Extremism in Sri Lanka Buddhist–Muslim Relations in Sri Lanka: The Historical Context Sinhala Buddhist Nationalism, Religious Extremism and Anti-Muslim Movements Political Conditions: The Religion-Political Nexus Conservative Religious Ideology and Moral Policing of BBS Muslims: Labelled from Social Others to Extremist Groups Muslim Political Consciousness, Conservative Islam and the Rise of Radicalism Muslim Political Parties and the Missed Opportunity for Religious and Cultural Reforms Diffusion of Conservative Islam, Rise of Radicalism and Self-Alienation of the Muslim Community Economic Roots of Religious Violence, Social Isolation and Anti-Muslim Narratives Conclusion 4 Social Media and Hindu Extremism in India Introduction Part One—Hindutva in Indian Political Discourse Hindutva’s Cultural Nationalism Hindutva and the Modi/BJP Election Campaign The Politics of Cow Protection Love Jihad Ghar Wapsi Part Two—Social Media and Hindu Extremism Conclusion 5 Ram Was a Prophet Too: Syncretism as a Hindu Nationalist Political Strategy The Limits of Syncretism Syncretism in India Manch Syncretism Producing Syncretism Why Produce Syncretism? Conclusion 6 Islamic State’s Recruitment Strategies: The Case Study of Bangladesh Introduction Arrival of Daesh (Islamic State) in Bangladesh Why Has Bangladesh Become a Fertile Ground for Daesh’s Recruitment? IS’s Six-Pronged Bangladeshi Strategy Recruitment Conclusion 7 Religious Extremism and Terrorist Recruitment: The Case of Al Qaeda in Bangladesh Introduction Arrival of Al Qaeda in Bangladesh Radicalisation Narratives Al Qaeda’s Propaganda Narratives for Bangladesh Conclusion 8 Mobilising to Counter Violent Extremism in Pakistan: Innovative Undertakings of Non-state Actors Introduction Innovative Ways Non-state Actors Are Seeking to Counter Violent Extremism Paigham-e-Pakistan Hafiz Nizamani’s Resistance Poetry Final Thoughts 9 Between God, the Nation, and the State: Paradoxes of Islamisation in Pakistan Introduction From Islamic Law to Islamisation Sovereignty of God or the Sovereignty of the People? Conclusions: Colonial Continuities and Modern Paradoxes 10 Women and Violent Extremism in Pakistan: A Critical Assessment of Policies and Actions Introduction Context Women’s Radicalisation to Violent Extremism CVE Policies and Approaches in Pakistan The Role of Civil Society The Government’s Role The National Action Plan (NAP) The National Counter Extremism Policy (NCEP) Conclusion Index