EXPLORING THE DETERMINANTS OF EXTREMISM IN THE UNIVERSITIES OF PAKISTAN

Abstract

This research explores various enticing factors that help to identify the root causes of extremism among youth, particularly in the higher educational institutions i.e., Universities. This article also addresses the behavioral changing factors of youth studying at the different public sectors universities. Several pieces of previous researches had discussed the extremism, but the relationship between the different variables and factors were unclear. A qualitative method was used to explore the enticing factors of youth extremism and respondents were selected through purposive sampling to examine their belief, views and attitudes towards  extremism. Researcher had done twenty focus group discussions (five from each university) with the students of graduate level who were attached with any cartel. The themes were discussed on the bases of information given by respondents about the concepts of extremism, youth extremism, and group extremism in universities. Student groups involved in different activities promoted goals through informal means. Researcher analyses various cases of violent and non-violent incidents in the universities. The study also explored the various factors, which may attract the youth to involve in extreme conflicts. The researcher explores the various factors of youth extremism which encourages youth toward extremism, which are university environment, identity risk and crises, cultural heterogeneity, participation of religious and political groups, ideological crises, students’ psychological issues and bad governance.   

Keywords: Extremism, University, Cultural Heterogeneity, Identity crisis, Bad Governance