By : Dhritiman Banerjee, Research Analyst, GSDN
Introduction
The 9/11 style hijack attempt on a FlyDubai flight on September 30, 2026, points out the need to prevent religious radicalization. This event shows that the idea that the pernicious impact of radicalization is waning is wishful thinking and is not corroborated by evidence. The evidence also points that prevention of radicalization needs a global approach requiring international cooperation and domestic intervention by states is not enough to mitigate global pro-radicalization messaging. However, it should also be clear that targeting groups as radicals is not a practical solution to the problem and goes against the basic human dignity of human beings. Thus, this position of this piece is that we must prevent radicalization without being preyed to xenophobia.
The global appeal of radicalization
The major impact of radicalization has been on gullible Muslims and politicization of Islamism has been the main force behind radicalism. It can be said that the creation of Islam as an internationalist religion forged through war among tribes in the Arabian Peninsula has led to a history of radicalization in the religion. However, it is unacceptable to take the view that all Muslims by nature are radical. It is necessary to combat radicalism as an ideology through international cooperation and an approach aimed to eliminate such ideologies rather than wage war on communities. Nations need to focus on a comprehensive approach to this threat as radical forces are by nature globalists and appeal to a global audience rather than threats restricted to local communities. Secondly, one of the major causes of radicalism is the Israel-Palestine conflict and an international solution should be achieved for this perennial war that protects the human rights of Palestinians without sacrificing the rights of the Jewish people.
Therefore, radicalization which promotes terrorism is based on messaging made through a militant understanding of Islam and is different from an insurgency because violence is not directed against governments but against ordinary people. Therefore, it is important for nations to first analyze the root causes of the appeal to such messaging and mitigate them. Historically there have been arguments that lack of education and poverty may be the cause of appeal to such messaging. But it has been seen that people with talented careers including doctors, lawyers, engineers and in this latest case a pilot has been associated with radicalization. Therefore, the argument that education does not influence radicalization holds ground. Therefore, there is no easy way to combat the global messaging of radicalism and thus, the problem needs an international solution. It should also be noted however that often times states fund radicalism to fulfil their national interest. Such attempts should be condemned by the international community, and there should be a global consensus on the spread of democracy and human rights. In fact, the global appeal to radicalism comes from a militant understanding of religious scriptures and a rejection of liberal values of democracy and individual rights. The global spread of liberalism may perhaps be the best antidote to global radicalism.
Radicalization and religion
Karl Marx famously described religion as the opiate of the masses, and the global spread of religious radicalization vindicates this stance. While Marxist violent revolutions do not mitigate global radicalism and may actually spread religious radicalization, a commitment to liberalism and internationalization of liberal values maybe beneficial to combating the appeal to radicalism. Nevertheless, the FlyDubai terror attempt vindicated the continuing appeal of religious radicalization. Therefore, the role of radical clerics in the propagation of religion should be engaged more seriously at the policy level. European countries such as Germany and France have seen a considerable rise in religious extremism linked to a militant interpretation of Islamic texts and have seen their founding values repeatedly challenged by extremists. Therefore, it can be said that religious influences have a strong influence on radicalization and thus nations must engage with religion and spread the importance of separation of state policy from religious dogma and protect their citizens against such dogmatic ideas.
Thus, it should be affirmed that radicalism is closely associated with religious dogma and therefore it is necessary that nations embrace and promote modernity and actively reject dogmatic tenets of religion. It must be understood that religious ideals cannot supersede individual rights, and nations must form a universal consensus regarding the same. The duty to protect human beings from theocratic regimes and authoritarian regimes using religion to suppress their citizens should be understood as a key goal for all states to curb the appeal of international radicalism. Nations must come together and understand the major appeal of radicalism lies in that it gets support from theocratic and authoritarian regimes and therefore the key to a less radical world is perhaps a more democratic and liberal world. The efforts of the United States in this regard are truly exemplary. US officials post 9/11 understood the need to curb the global appeal of radicalism by promoting liberal democracy. Although this article does not intend to endorse all aspects of American policy in this regard, it gives credit where it’s due.
Thus, it is necessary for nations to promote international cooperation for a more democratic, just and liberal world where individual rights are not suppressed by theocratic and authoritarian regimes and where the clarion call of democracy silences the malicious appeals of radicalism.
Conclusion
As the FlyDubai terror attack shows, the global appeal to radicalism still exists, and nations must do more to unite against it. However, the method of combating radicalistic ideals is not easy, and more must be done in this regard to silence such cruel and violent voices. However, the alternative presented to radicalistic terror must be kind, just humane. Nations must ensure that the ideals of democracy and liberty triumph over extremism, and citizens can pursue their life, liberty and happiness without falling prey to violent ideologies. The road ahead is not easy but it is something that must be done. The path of freedom should always triumph over darkness as that is the true nature of humanity.
