Page 12 - The Indian EYE 051223

OPINION MAY 12, 2023 | The Indian Eye 12

aspirations. This may include, but an issue of syntactical nuance but had
is not defined by, the willingness to practical implications. As each set of
condone, support, facilitate or use vi- counter-radicalization initiatives or
olence to further political, ideological, steps addressed a particular concern,
religious or other goals. used a unique approach, and had dif-
As the above definition may sug-
gest, radicalization is today linked to ferent standards of measurement that
are applicable in different stages of
extremism, which might suggest that the lactic cycle of radicalization—with
radicalism and extremism are synon- characteristic behavior, tactics, tech-
ymous and interchangeable. While in niques, and procedures (TTPs)—they
most cases this might be true, it is also could not be lumped under one over-
a fact that many academicians and ex- arching category.
perts fail to make any differentiation On the other hand, ‘counter-rad-
which is, in reality, quite subtle. icalization programmes’ target those
However, it would be necessary
first to understand the meaning of the radicalized elements that may have
not yet joined forces of violent ex-
term ‘political extremism’. According tremism or terrorism and can be res-
to several security experts, political cued before they attempt the danger-
extremists refer to people who are ous transition. The measures suited to
quite dogmatic, intolerant, and hos- counter-terrorism operations include
tile towards not only all competing disengagement, rehabilitation and
political ideologies and philosophies Violent extremism also covers hate crimes ranging from hate speeches, direct physical reintegration programmes. The third
but even towards their proponents. category pertains to ‘de-radicalization
While radical actors might be funda- assault, vandalizing and desecrating sacred and revered sites (File photo) programmes’, devised for those indi-
mentally antithetical towards the ex- viduals who may have already aided,
isting socio-political order, they may across the globe that struggle with genocide and ethnic cleansing in some abetted, or committed acts of violent
or may not view politics as a zero-sum different kinds of subjects that re- instances. extremism. Thus, these measures cov-
game. Furthermore, they may not be quire more specialized attention. Terrorism is just one of the man- er post-surrender and post-detention
vehemently opposed to the existence There are also two other terms— ifestations of violent extremism. Un- programmes.
of their rivals—be they, people of for- violent extremism and terrorism—that fortunately, as is well-known, there is However, all these three pro-
eign origin, belonging to a different are the subject of confusion and debate also a lack of international consensus grammes still generically fall under
religion or supporters of a different among security experts. Thus, violent on the definition of terrorism. Ac- ‘counter-radicalization’. Many of these
political ideology, etc. extremism is a broader term that cov- cording to Alec Schmid, terrorism can behavior modification programmes
Thus, Gandhi was a radical leader ers terrorism, along with hate crimes be viewed as a tactic and a doctrine.
in that he opposed the Western impe- and fomenting communal clashes. As a tactic, terrorism involves indis- under the categories mentioned above
cover ideological or religious counsel-
rial rule of his time and practiced his According to the Federal Bureau criminately using direct violent action ling, vocational education, recreation-
version of rural socialism as opposed of Investigation (FBI) of the United against non-combatants and civilians. al and psychological rehabilitation,
to capitalist colonialism. Still, he was States, violent extremism refers to the As a doctrine, terrorism involves the inter-religious or inter-communal
not an extremist as he never hated or “encouraging, condoning, justifying, strategic belief that political goals can discourse programmes, post-release
despised the British personally and or supporting the commission of a be achieved by coercing a government surveillance, and care, as well as the
used non-violence even as his means violent act to achieve political, ideo- or even the international community involvement of family members and
of resisting colonial excesses. Thus, logical, religious, social, or economic through terrorist actions. civil society to foster rehabilitation.
radicals may not be as harsh in their goals”. This is the broadest description According to the 2011 revised aca- Thus, we find greater clarity
actions as extremists are. of socially and politically disruptive ac- demic consensus definition, Terrorism emerging over previously contentious
Whereas non-extremist radicals tivities, including terrorist attacks. refers, on the one hand, to a doctrine
like Gandhi, Martin Luther, and Similarly, US Agency for Inter- about the presumed effectiveness of issues related to violent extremism
and terrorism. With more academic
Nelson Mandela can exist, who bring national Development (USAID) de- a special form or tactic of fear-gener- consensus and unanimity of views at
about a more democratic and egali- fines violent extremist activities as the ating, coercive political violence and, the international levels, it is hoped
tarian order, extremist radicals tend “advocating, engaging in, preparing, on the other hand, to a conspiratorial that various counter-terrorism and
to favor a more intolerant, militant, or otherwise supporting ideologically practice of calculated, demonstrative, counter-radicalization programmes
and authoritarian dispensation. Ex- motivated or justified violence to fur- direct violent action without legal or would become more effective in fight-
perts like Peter Neumann make the ther social, economic or political ob- moral restraints, targeting mainly civil- ing a significant threat to global securi-
distinction between cognitive radical- jectives”. ians and non-combatants, performed ty and the socio-political order.
ization (people who hold extremist Violent extremism also covers for its propagandistic and psycholog-
beliefs) as against behavioral radical- hate crimes ranging from hate speech- ical effects on various audiences and Dr. Adil Rasheed is Research Fellow at
ization (people who take non-violent es, direct physical assault, vandalizing conflict parties. the Manohar Parrikar Institute for De-
and violent action in support of radi- and desecrating sacred and revered Ironically, there has not just fense Studies and Analyses, New Delhi.
cal socio-political change). sites, property damage, lynching, ver- been confusion over definitions of Views expressed are of the author and
Although the meaning of radi- bal and physical abuse, social and/or terrorism, radicalization, and violent
do not necessarily reflect the views of
calism and extremism remains vague online stalking, sticking of offensive extremism but even counter-radical- the Manohar Parrikar IDSA or of the
in the absence of legal definitions, posters and graffiti, use of weapons. ization programmes launched by se- Government of India.
many strategic experts like Astrid Hate can be directed against members curity agencies worldwide. The meth-
Bötticher have sought to build ac- of a particular section of society based odologies and terminologies used in This is an abridged version
ademic consensus over these ter- on race, ethnicity, language, religion, counter-radicalization programmes of the article which first appeared in the
minologies to bring clarity to many nationality, sexual orientation, gender, were developed separately in differ- Comments section of the website (www.
government-run Countering Violent disability, wealth, etc. Violent extrem- ent countries and were subject to con- idsa.in) of Manohar Parrikar Institute
Extremism and Terrorism (CVET) ism also covers sectarian and ethnic stant revision. This, in turn, caused for Defense Studies and Analyses, New
programmes and De-radicalization clashes that may rise to the level of confusion as the matter was not just Delhi on May 2, 2023

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