Abstract
The article focuses on the convergence between the theoretical and empirical understanding of structural determinants of violent extremism in Pakistan. Given its broad-spectrum, the explanations accord special attention to Francis Stewart’s thesis of horizontal inequalities. Coalescing the theoretical explanations and data, the research argues that the drivers of violent extremism in Pakistan are diverse and centrally rooted in horizontal inequalities. The prevalent drivers of violent extremism and terrorism in Pakistan are the economic, political, and governance-related factors that add to the existing sense of alienation; eventually leading to the deepening of grievances resulting in the violent mobilization of (ethno-religious) identities. Moreover, the economic drivers of violent conflict also seem to overlap with political drivers. Emanating from the cases of erstwhile FATA and South Punjab, this article also establishes the nexus between regional inequalities (i.e., spatial exclusion) and violent extremism.
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Notes
Sabaoon was youth based de-radicalization and rehabilitation facality based in Swat, Pakistan. It was initiated by the Pakistan army in the aftermath of the counter insurgency in 2009. (Khan, 2019).
PAIMAN Alumni Trust (PAIMAN) aims to reach out to women and young people in the conflict-ridden region of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) to create awareness about the impacts of radicalization and extremism on their lives and the role they can play in combating it (Peace Insight, 2019).
Factors such as political repression or exclusion from mainstream politics, political instability, sharp ideological and political partitions in the population linked with their poor economic status, general poverty levels, unemployment, inflation, poor prospects for development, etc.
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This research was funded by Higher Education Commission (HEC) Pakistan under Thematic Research Grant Program (TRGP) 2019–2021.
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Makki, M., Akash, S.A. Poverty, regional inequality, and the role of governance: tracing geographies of violent extremism in Pakistan. GeoJournal 88, 2635–2650 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10708-022-10766-6
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10708-022-10766-6