"Extremism thrives where ignorance and injustice prevail."
21 SSB Bhopal
In your opinion, what is the primary reason for the rise of extremism and riots in a country?
a) Foreign Influence
b) Weak Policies
c) Inter-State Disputes
Extremism and riots are becoming increasingly common in many countries, including India. Whether it’s ethnic clashes, religious riots, or political violence, identifying the root cause is essential for sustainable peace. Let’s break down all three leads:
1️⃣ Foreign Influence 🌐
📌 External Funding & Radicalization:
- Terrorist groups like ISIS, Al-Qaeda, and Lashkar-e-Taiba have actively used online platforms to radicalize youth.
- India’s Intelligence Bureau (IB) has reported that foreign agencies fund separatist movements like Khalistan and insurgencies in the Northeast.
- Social media disinformation campaigns originating from China, Pakistan, and other adversaries aim to create communal rifts in India.
📌 Cross-border Terrorism:
- Cross-border infiltration from Pakistan accounts for 60% of terrorist incidents in Jammu & Kashmir (MHA Report, 2023).
- Foreign extremist ideologies, like Wahhabism, have influenced certain homegrown radical groups.
📌 Why Foreign Influence Matters:
- It exploits existing fault lines, funding and fueling domestic tensions for strategic or political gains.
- Foreign-backed extremist movements are difficult to contain due to external safe havens and resources.
2️⃣ Weak Policies ⚖️
📌 Poor Intelligence & Preventive Measures:
- Failure to track online radicalization, hate speech, and unregulated funding channels allows extremism to grow unchecked.
- Lack of strong anti-riot laws and weak enforcement of hate crime legislation embolden violent groups.
- Delayed or biased action by law enforcement often escalates small conflicts into full-blown riots.
📌 Political Polarization:
- Many riots stem from political parties weaponizing religious or ethnic differences to mobilize votes.
- Weak electoral reforms allow candidates with criminal backgrounds to contest elections, leading to politicized violence.
📌 Inadequate Socioeconomic Policies:
- Unemployment, poverty, and illiteracy create fertile ground for radical ideologies to spread.
- Youth with limited opportunities are easily manipulated into violence by extremist groups.
📌 Why Weak Policies Matter:
- Effective governance, transparent law enforcement, and strong anti-hate policies can prevent minor disputes from turning into riots.
- Strong policies can disrupt funding, propaganda, and recruitment networks of extremist groups.
3️⃣ Inter-State Disputes 🗺
📌 Ethnic & Regional Tensions:
- In multi-ethnic countries like India, border disputes between states (like Assam-Mizoram) often escalate into violent clashes.
- Northeast India has seen numerous ethnic riots triggered by land, language, and migration issues.
📌 Resource Conflicts:
- Water-sharing disputes between states (like Karnataka-Tamil Nadu over the Cauvery River) create tensions that occasionally turn violent.
- Illegal migration across state borders can lead to native vs outsider conflicts, fueling extremism.
📌 Why Inter-State Disputes Matter:
- Regional grievances are exploited by extremist groups, who paint the conflict as a struggle for survival.
- States blaming each other instead of cooperating leads to further alienation and extremism.
Conclusion (opinion*)
Primary Reason: Weak Policies 🏛
✅ Foreign influence and inter-state disputes are significant, but they only succeed in causing riots when domestic governance is weak.
✅ A strong legal framework, timely intelligence, impartial law enforcement, and socio-economic development can mitigate foreign meddling and resolve inter-state tensions peacefully.
✅ Extremism feeds on injustice, inequality, and weak governance — all of which stem from poor policy implementation.
