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THE PARADOX OF

MAKING CHOICES:

YOUTH RADICALIZATION

IN PAKISTAN

Raziq Fahim

College of Youth Activism and Development

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Outline of the presentation

The Demographic Shift

The Challenge Posed by Youth Bulge

Defining young age

Psycho-social factors

Environmental Conditions

Identity Maters

Practical Implications

Way forward

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Youth Bulge and its corelvance

with Conflict

The world has undergone a major demographic shift, with youth under 25 nowaccounting for more than half of the developingworld's population.

Eighty percent live in developing countries whereeconomic, civic and social opportunities areinsufficient to address the diverse needs of transition to adulthood.

In Pakistan too, Young people today constitute thelargest segment of the population, with 67% under the ages of  35. Half of Pakistan’s citizens areunder the age of 20.

By 2030, there would be 85 million more citizens.

 

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Youth Bulge and its Likelihood of 

conflict

History shows a correlation between youth

bulges and war or terrorism worldwide

An increase in youth bulges of one

percentage point is associated with anincreased likelihood of conflict of around

7%

 Youth are instrumental in currentinsurgencies.

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The implications of Transition to

young age.

Youth is a complex/ sensitive period of transition:

Physically [puberty, physical change,]

Emotionally [hormonal changes + adolescent

crises] Socially [Discover world through their own

experience, sexuality, place in the society,shapes sense of identity]

Intellectually [Push & pull - factors childhood toadulthood, sense of issues and solutions]

…All these factors make them prone to violence

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Environmental conditions

Increased radicalization through achieving so calledstrategic objectives.

Increased detachment of young population in positivesocial and political activity.

Widespread Poverty and youth unemployment, Breakdown of traditional social infrastructure, the

interface of tradition and modern.

Inadequate educational opportunities/facilities.

The influx of communication rhetoric caused byglobalization.

increased social and political paradoxes amplifiedlikelihood for youths radicalization. Provocations

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Individual Characteristics

Radicalization can also stem from a variety of psychological motivating factors, including:

- ideological absolutism (us against the world) 

- necrophilia (obsession with death) - self-assertion (fight against marginalization) - self-identity (search for meaning in life) - youth romantic appeal and heroism - giving special importance to the activity- conformity, standardization, society- game motivation, adventurism, risk taking- groupthink (illusions of invulnerability, one-dimensionalperceptions)

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Identity Maters…

Study on the connection of conflict identity and violence

Linear sense of identities, more comfortable with

masculine identities.

 Aggressive response on issues related to prime identities

which they feel are in threat, and relatively peaceful tomarginal identities

Majority young male feel their ethnic or religious identity is

in danger while majority female responded on their gender 

identity. Perpetuate strong sense of others

Prefer to use violence as primary tools and strategy.

Swinging behavior in conflict situation

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The implication of Globalization

Globalisation impacts upon young people in complex ways and forces them toconstantly re-think and revise their sense of identity and place within society. Youngpeople’s lives are constantly being influenced by new trends, be they cultural,technological or social.

their economic position is such that they are more vulnerable than many other socialgroups to the uncertainties and risks associated with economic and culturalglobalisation

The rhetoric that might be associated with young people’s citizenship in a globalcommunity generally does not match the reality. Young people are in one sensecitizens of a global culture but at the same time struggle for a sense of acceptance inthe local societies in which they live. For youth, this is the ultimate paradox of globalisation

There is a tendency, often re-enforced through opinion surveys involving young

people, that considers the effects of globalisation to be unstoppable, and that it is aprocess young people react to rather than actively negotiate (Harvey, 2003; MORI,1998). Linked to this is an assumption that young people are merely the passiverecipients or vulnerable victims of global change. As Harvey (2003) has stated,‘Young people cannot control the speed or direction of social change, but they canand do have a say in the effect such change has on their lives’.

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Practical implications

Families:

Tend to increase supervision and restrictions

More arguments and tensions at home

Young people:Swing between childish and adult behaviours

Learn how to use / misuse their power: [violent crimes]

Suffer from low confidence: [isolation, suicidal acts]

Rebel against being judged: [own negative image, self 

destructive]

Destructive response towards the issues [suicide

bumming]

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Expression /communication

 Awareness /Knowledge

 Action Taking Leadership

Equalizing the opportunities:

Recognize the value of what you have to say

Express your opinions,

thoughts or feelings inan effective manner 

Listen and understanddifferent points of view

Participate inconstructive discussions

Prepare and assert aninfluential argument

Gather, analyze and assessinformation

Embrace cultural identify

(self and others) Learn global issues

Identify bias andmanipulated information

 Acknowledge and analyzedifferent points of view

Respect and value others

Understand your role in aninterconnected world

Understand theconsequences of your actions

Identify and defineproblems

Propose and analyze

potential solutions Prepare an action plan

Implement, monitor andevaluate your actionplan

Contribute to a groupeffort

Identify and engage in

effective actions

Make effective use of your personal interestsand strengths

Inspire and mobilize others

Define goals and follow-up

Demonstrate resilience and

perseverance

Form local and global partnerships

Facilitate team collaboration

Make decisions and delegateresponsibilities

Make effective use of existing talentand resources

Lead reflection on process,accomplishments and lessons learnt

Celebrate accomplishments andacknowledge contribution

 Address inequitable distribution of resources

Global Citizenship: The right and responsibility to engage in politic, economic, social,

technological and environmental (PESTE) activities in order to ensure global equity.

Self-confidence,

Psychosocial

well-being 

Respect and

empathy 

Responsibility for 

community and worldissues

Peaceful change for equitable

and sustainable world