Violent extremism or terrorism has become the most pressing political problem. Random violence has not been controlled across the globe. The main reason of the failure is that we concentrate on after effects of terrorist attacks while ignoring why they take place. Concentration is given only to the victims of such acts.
Violent extremism takes place when a group of people feel discriminated against, marginalised or deprived off their due rights. When such people do not get their rights constitutionally, they are motivated to use extra-constitutional means to snatch them away.
There cannot be one motive of all terrorist attacks. In different socio-economic groups, there can be different motives. Violent extremism is used by terrorists to put pressure on the government to accept their demands or to achieve a certain end. Feeling of revenge is also a powerful motive.
Hence rather than looking at the consequences of terrorism, there is need to focus on the causes and motives of the terrorists. But even for that one overarching model of why people are terrorists should be avoided.
AMNAH AMJAD
LUMS, Lahore
