School of Governance and Society
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Browsing School of Governance and Society by Author "Muhammad Feyyaz"
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Item Conceptualizing terrorism trend patterns in Pakistan - an empirical perspective(2013) Muhammad FeyyazTerrorism continues to be viewed conventionally in Pakistan. However, the phenomenon has assumed a structured formation driven by rational choice perspectives. This article attempts to identify distinct trends and patterns of terrorism within prevailing environments of Pakistan. In doing so, it also examines the validity of seasonality dimensions of routine activity theory (use of summer months and earlier days of week) for terrorist acts. Eight trends are identified tentatively. Using empirical data and analytical discourse, the findings confirm the assumed trends in terms of their typology, structure, operational system and rallying themes. In addition, the article finds support for the hypothesis of terrorism being a strategic approach rather than an ordinary form of violence. It is further found that changed patterns of violence warrant a revisiting of earlier assumptions regarding the applicability of routine activity theory within the Pakistani context. By implication, the study also suggests a variation of terrorism under different regime types, i.e. military or democratic.Item Item The discourse and study of terrorism in decolonized states: a case of Pakistan(Critical Studies on Terrorism, 2016) Muhammad FeyyazThe existing literature in the terrorism field does not address the absence of terrorism scholarship in developing countries. This article focuses on this intellectual gap using the case of Pakistan. It argues that most decolonised states, including Pakistan, are yet to grasp the complexities of traditional approaches to the study of terrorism, let alone its critical dimensions. The article explores some of the prevailing conditions in developing countries, speci- fically decolonised states such as Pakistan, which prevent the development of a robust academic discourse on terrorism and the development of a strong field of study. It suggests that the main barriers that account for this shortfall include the state’s legitimacy deficit, a flawed education system that nurtures fictions as truth and inhibits knowledge production, the institutionalised role of conspiracy theories in national politics and the multiplicity of terrorism discourses among government and sociopolitical entities. The conclusion highlights a number of reasons that might help to explain this persistent condition and offers a few policy recommendations.Item Facets of religious violence in Pakistan(2013) Muhammad FeyyazOrganized violence is a key characteristic of the security landscape of contemporary Pakistan. The character of religious violence has evolved from sectarianism to talibanization. This paper briefly reviews facets of religious violence by focusing on religious structures, inter-sect and intra-sect par-adigms of the conflict-laden environment.Item Multiform youth extremism in Pakistan(Pakistan Institute of Legislative Development and Transparency, 2013) Muhammad FeyyazNot AvailableItem Religion, ethnicity, social organizations and terrorists behavior's� a case of Taliban movement in Pakistan(Behavioral Sciences of Terrorism and Political Aggression, 2015) Muhammad FeyyazReligion and ethnicity is widely associated with the unrelenting Taliban-led violence in Pakistan. Their shari’a rhetoric coupled with a sympathetic politicoreligious constituency compounds the terrorism landscape for the general audience. Besides, less academic treatment of the phenomenon entailing analysis of its wholesome dimensions further constrains its understanding. Conceding the fact that religion pervades all aspects of contemporary conflict, this article argues that the present setting is neither rooted in the ethnicity nor in the religion literally as the conflict formation variables; it is instead governed since its inception by dynamics germinating from Pakhtunwali (a social code of conduct of tribal Pashtun), mainly its retributive imperative. It specifically investigates the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan’s rent seeking, greed and hypocritical behavior, which, it contends, lies in the selective perversion of Pakhtunwali permeated also by the nuanced influence of foreign fighters. The peace advocates’ claim for potential success in dialog with Taliban is therefore considered as misleading. Drawing upon an adapted theoretical framework, the article attempts to empirically demonstrate the viability of these assertions.Item Why Pakistan does not have a counter terrorism narrative(Journal of Strategic Security, 2015) Muhammad FeyyazPakistan has been at war with terrorism for over a decade resulting in over 55,000 citizen deaths, half a million injured, and a loss of over one hundred billion dollars to the national economy.2 Despite these heavy costs, it is ironic that the Taliban and their affiliates still enjoy the support of key political elites and certain sections of society.3 One reason for this heightened state of chaos is the highly charged religious discourse experienced in Pakistan over the meaning of the term jihad and its relationship within society.4 In fact, most Pakistanis draw distinct boundaries between the forms of violence attributed to their affiliations with various schools of jurisprudence and confessional doctrines. Analogously, the youths in the poor and upper-middle classes throughout the country tend to view the world through a strict black and white lens, developing their radicalized beliefs from the clash of civilization paradigm.Item Winning hearts and minds in Pakistani�s tribal areas: a personal recollection of a peace-building effort with the taliban(Perspectives on Terrorism, 2016) Muhammad FeyyazThis biographical contribution describes experiences of a military commander gained during field employment in North Waziristan Agency – the most militancy riven region in tribal areas of Pakistan. The recollection outlines the transformation of part of this turbulent area into a zone of peace through a well-structured peacebuilding vision. Primarily, the approach entailed the idea of applying the concept of inclusive human security in order to turn all stakeholders and antagonists into a cohesive community, tolerant of each other’s existence. Importantly, the strategy was evolved in a backdrop when security conditions in the Agency were characterized by a heightened phase of Taliban-led violence and fluid counter insurgency operations. Risk taking was vital to restore order but it indeed proved worth the effort.Item Youth extremism in Pakistan�s� magnitude, channels, resident spheres and response(Defence Against Terrorism Review, 2014) Muhammad FeyyazThis paper attempts to address religious extremism and the factors confounding its conceptual and definitional understanding within the existing reality of Pakistan. It particularly highlights and analyzes the demographic magnitude of extremists’ potential, inspirations, channels and geographical location of extremism in the country. These areas have been ignored in the extant literature on extremism in Pakistan. The conclusions respond to the reviewed issues besides proposing a contextualized definition of religious extremism. A few broad policy suggestions are also offered, including a generalizable framework to measure holistic spread of extremism in Pakistan to meaningfully respond to the situation.