Abstract:
The thesis is focused on developing a preventive policy for radicalization leading to violence for students of higher education institutes in Pakistan. Even though Pakistan has been tackling violent terrorism for two decades; the rise in radicalized mentality amongst educated youth presents a grave challenge for the nation. The objective of this research work was to conduct a comparative study of various counter radicalization programs in effect around the world and evaluating their implementation mechanisms. The main focus of the research work was to evaluate external stimuli along with societal aspects that may trigger violent radicalism particularly amongst university students in Pakistan and devising a policy to counter or pre-empt such a possibility.
The research methodology is qualitative in nature taking into account a detailed examination of the UK and Australia radicalization prevention programs wherein the salient features are identified to devise a tailor-made conceptual framework for Pakistan. In addition to this, the social identity theory is integrated to further conceptualize the theoretical framework. Interviews of experts and policymakers were carried out to determine how Pakistan could develop a cohesive radicalization prevention approach. A comparative analysis of the interviews was carried out to deduce findings for the main research questions. These findings along with the frameworks for Australia and the UK became the basis for our policy recommendations. Key findings identified that intolerance and institutional fractures are triggering violent radicalization, hence more efforts were needed to forge a working relationship between the government and the religious clerics while the HEC can act as a focal point for a national level policy to prevent radicalization among tertiary level students.
