Extremism is a belief that the success and survival of a social group are inherently tied to hostility against an out-group, driven by a rigid “us versus them” mentality.[1] It is an exclusive mindset, based on ways that advocate for extreme patterns of behavior in social life. It has devastating effects on society: it creates distrust, radicalization, intolerance, and endangers democratic institutions.[2] Such far-right regimes and entities existed throughout history in different forms with different political objectives.
Education is the only power that can defeat extremism, but there is a need for transformation.
Quagmired in a number of socio-political and economic issues, Pakistan is also not immune from this challenge. Arguably, the threats of extremism in Pakistan are existential, creating a major national security risk. The republic is confronting insurgencies, terrorism, mob lynching, religious dogmatism, and ethno-nationalism, beliefs that seek refuge in fundamentalism. The country’s experiences with violent extremism have badly damaged its socio-political fabric, as multiple factors including geographic conditions along with religious misinterpretation have helped extremist beliefs flourish in the country.[3] Thus, this study suggests that a modern and tolerant education system, incorporating contemporary techniques, can aid Pakistan in combating all forms of extremism.
The concept of education and how it helps to establish a peaceful and tolerant nation entering an increasingly more interconnected world deserves a revamping. To make a tolerant society, Pakistan needs to use education as the main tool and weapon to combat extremism. United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) identifies education as a fundamental factor that serves to prevent violent extremism while offering countermeasures against it[4]. According to UNESCO Education provides a solution to eliminate extremism because it tackles fundamental factors including poverty along with inequality and social exclusion by developing critical thinking, empathy, and inclusivity skills.
To strengthen my say, first, the Dark Ages of Europe experienced extremist challenges starting from the collapse of the Western Roman Empire. European art, ancient Greek philosophy, and the appetite for learning and innovation were replaced with religious dogmatism pinned by papal dominance.[5] Leadership within the Catholic Church had complete control over all shores of life, which helped religious extremism subjugate the Western civilization. The end of extremism in Europe became possible through education as it brought back classical learning together with intellectual study and humanist concepts.
During the Dark Ages both monasteries and convents maintained classical literature through their scriptoria and the new universities of Bologna and Paris in the 11th and 12th centuries became major learning centers that drew scholars from throughout Europe.[6] It was the period when the new norms of the western civilization were underlined by some men of high character including Thomas Hobbes, J.J Rousseau, Galileo Galilei, and Nicolaus Copernicus to name few. Thus, Education shows a complex set of patterns when linked to this situation. Education performs instructional duties that simultaneously promote tolerance along with critical thinking as well as understanding to decrease extremism. It was the love, embracement, and integration of wisdom in European society in a systemic and structural way that made them rule the world.
Teaching students different religions, languages, and perspectives opens them to a world of understanding and sympathy.
Second, The Indonesian government fought religious extremism through the combination of civil society participation and Islamic education reform along with women’s empowerment programs and community-based projects. To rehabilitate former extremists, the government ran programs and operated the National Counter-Terrorism Agency as one of its institutions. Dewan Dakwah Islamiyah Indonesia Institute (DDII) worked to deliver moderate Islamic teachings and fostered interfaith communication and the organization defends against patriarchal elements that stir extremism.[7] Additionally, Singapore’s educational direction has converted from a hierarchically structured approach to an approach that gives schools complete administrative control.
The “Teach Less Learn More” program along with 21st-century skill developments concentrates on education that centers on students while promoting critical thinking abilities. [8] Teachers get systematic collaboration with professional improvement resources. Technology serves as a tool to improve the process of teaching along with learning practices. From 2015 to 2019 the government initiated programs to enhance critical thinking along with media literacy while fostering community participation which subsequently lowered the number of people detained under the Internal Security Act ISA from 73 to 27[9].
Third, Bosnia and Herzegovina has been taking a holistic approach to combating violent extremism, incorporating education as a critical measure of prevention. The strategy stresses the need to eradicate the causes of violent extremism and terrorism in society, focusing on young people. The strategy calls for educational initiatives that promote counter-narratives, critical thinking skills, interfaith dialogue, and a commitment to democratic values to prevent radicalization and advance tolerance, as well as a culture of democracy, human rights, and the rule of law.[10]
Through a focus on education, Bosnia and Herzegovina is seeking to halt the spread of violent extremism and to nurture a more inclusive and promote a more inclusive and resilient society. Therefore, it took only a short time for Bosnia and Herzegovina to become a developed country. Bosnia and Herzegovina has become one of the study destinations for international students[11]. The workforce education level has driven economic growth since Bosnia and Herzegovina experienced a 50% boost in its GDP per capita measurement from 2000 to 2020.[12] The change in the education system and using education as a tool indirectly determines the progress of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Based on the given historical and empirical accounts, what Pakistan can learn from them and how? First, Pakistan has to integrate critical thinking, reasoning, problem-solving, philosophy, and cultural diversity in educational institutions and national curricula as done by Europeans at the dawn of enlightenment. By teaching students different religions, languages, and perspectives, they will then be opened to a world of understanding and sympathy. As a result, they will easily interact with people from different backgrounds without shock and intimidation. The nation’s capacity to listen, compromise, respect others’ ideas, and approach topics with an open mind can only be increased through modern and tolerant education.
Rather than enforcing Western modernity, Pakistan needs to initiate conservative development tied to religious literacy.
Second, the unique approach of Indonesia and Singapore towards extremism provides huge guidance to Pakistan. Engaging civil society, and reform in Islamic education such as in madrassas (religious schools) and women’s empowerment projects in Pakistan, will take control of the roots of extremism. The national religions must be efficiently regulated and their curriculum must be revised in the light of modern trends.
The Establishment of educational programs engaging communities and students together will create a free environment of learning in a society where Students along with different communities serve an essential function when it comes to stopping and fighting extremism. Students who will become future leaders through their change-making work can create spaces that extend tolerance-relationships and social bonds[13]. The collaboration of teachers with professionals, and the use of technology as a tool can lead to an advanced educational environment. Educational reform through this new strategic direction delivers an inclusive environment where people focus on collaborative learning, acceptance of new ideas, and mutual respect.
In sum, education is the only power that can defeat extremism, but there is a need for a transformation. A transformation of Pakistan into an educated environment depends on advancing progressive thinkers and enlightening minds with flexible philosophical beliefs, and a change in educational institutions, old-fashioned systems, and outdated beliefs that can ignite extremism. Pakistan should promote an educational environment that can create unity through belonging as people actively value diversity.
Students who understand many issues learn to overcome simplistic two-sided thinking and prevent extremist mindsets.
Educating people about critical citizenship enables them to handle various identities while building resistance to extremist beliefs and learning democratic involvement. Studying history together with power structures develops youth’s capability to conduct thoughtful evaluations of social problems. Students who understand the many issues learn to overcome simplistic two-sided thinking along with acceptance of different worldviews within the framework that prevents extremist mindsets.
The practice of religious literacy leads to welcoming diverse approaches alongside critical analysis of dangerous cultural beliefs to stop religious conflicts between groups. We saw from the above examples how education can be a weapon for a society to fight extremism. It’s time for Pakistan to service its weapons, (educational institutions) and make policies that focus on advancing education and Encouraging open-minded discussion, by voicing support for progressive voices. Indeed then you can beat extremism with education.
References:
[1] According to Berger, extremism is the ideological belief which calls for in-group protection only through constant out-group aggression. Extreme behavior emerges when individuals create “us versus them” mental distinctions which strengthens because they believe their group needs hostile actions against opposing groups for survival. See, J. Berger, Extremism (Cambridge, MA: MIT Press, 2018).
[2] Gorazd Meško, Charles B. Fields, and Branko Lobnikar, eds., Crime, Policing, and Security: Challenges for the 21st Century (Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Justice, National Institute of Justice, 2004), https://www.ojp.gov/pdffiles1/nij/Meško/208033.pdf.
[3]Yaseen Zahid and Muhammad Muzaffar, “Extremism in Pakistan: Issues and Challenges,” Journal of Political Studies (January 31, 2018), https://jpis.pu.edu.pk/45/article/view/30.
[4] Ponce, Diana Paola. 2019. “The role of UNESCO in preventing violent extremism.” Opinion Document 35–35 (April). https://www.ieee.es/Galerias/fichero/docs_opinion/2019/DIEEEO35_2019DIAPON-Unesco_ENG.pdf.
[5] Walter Ullmann, The Growth of Papal Government in the Middle Ages (London: Routledge, 1955), https://www.taylorfrancis.com/books/mono/10.4324/9780203707524/growth-papal-government-middle-ages-walter-ullmann.
[6]Lee C. McIntyre, “Dark Ages: The Case for a Science of Human Behavior,” Choice Reviews Online 44, no. 08 (2007): 44–4530, https://doi.org/10.5860/choice.44-4530.
[7] Greg Barton, Matteo Vergani, and Y. Wahid, “Introduction: Countering Violent and Hateful Extremism in Indonesia: Islam, Gender and Civil Society,” Figshare, January 1, 2022, https://dro.deakin.edu.au/articles/chapter/Introduction/22105592.
[8] Denise E. De Souza et al., “Singapore: An Evolving and Increasingly Complex Relationship,” in ANU Press eBooks (2020), 743–69, https://doi.org/10.22459/cs.2020.31.
[9] Denise E. De Souza, “Educational Change in Singapore and Its ‘Tinkering’ around the Edges: A Critical Realist Perspective,” Journal of Educational Change 19, no. 1 (2018): 19–49
[10] Safet Mušić, Sarajevo Canton Government, and Ministry of Defense BiH, “The role of education in preventing violent extremism and radicalism”, (Conference Paper, May 2016).
[11] Hrebatć. 2023, “The Economy of Education: development, challenges, and prospects in Bosnia and Herzegovina.” Idarah (Jurnal Pendidikan Dan Kependidikan) 7 (2) : 197–212. https://doi.org/10.47766/idarah.v7i2.1667.
[12] world Bank, Bosnia and Herzegovina: Economic Growth and Poverty Reduction, World Bank Country Study, 2020, 12–15, https://www.worldbank.org/en/country/bosniaandherzegovina/publication/economic-growth-and-poverty-reduction.
[13] The article investigates how students play a vital part in stopping violent extremism while demonstrating their power to create unified communities that confront extremist narratives. See ,Ayaz Khan, Muhammad Qasim, Muhammad Wasif, and Bilal Shaukat, “Role of Students in Countering Violent Extremism,” КиберЛенинка (2023), https://cyberleninka.ru/article/n/role-of-students-in-countering-violent-extremism.
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author. They do not represent the views, beliefs, or policies of the Stratheia.
