A Critical Review of Radical Pathways: Understanding Muslim Radicalization in Indonesia
Vivek Thakkar
Professor Nancy Florida
ASIAN 464 – Islam in SE Asia
4 April 2013
A Critical Review of Radical Pathways: Understanding Muslim Radicalization in Indonesia
Abstract
As the Associate Professor and Head of the Centre of Excellence for National Security at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore, Kumar Ramakrishna has been a frequent speaker on counterterrorism for local and international audiences as well as a regular media commentator on the issue. In Radical Pathways, Ramakrishna applies his research in exploration of why certain Indonesian Muslims turn to violent jihad. Specifically, he explores the Bali night club bombings of 2002 executed by Jamaah Islamiyah (JI), a segment of the Darul Islam movement, and the continuing danger posed by radical Islamists in the country. Ramakrishna defiantly argues that radicalization occurs when individuals suffer from intense Existential Identity Anxiety (EIA), which develops when identity and culture interact with geopolitical factors, historical forces and an ideology to create a fear of group extinction. This paper will serve as a critical review and analysis of Radical Pathways and Ramakrishna’s argument, taking into account his biases and sources. Furthermore, it will serve to delve into JI, its emergence as a radical movement, and its success in consistent recruitment.
Preface and Prologue: The Bloodbath in Bali
Ramakrishna sets the scene by describing the Bali attacks of October 12, 2002 and how they demonstrated the determination of JI to wreak havoc against the West and their Southeast Asian allies. He describes the stories of the three JI members, Ali Imron, Arnasan, and Feri, who carried out the attack, which was planned in Bangkok that February by Hambali, JI’s chief strategist. Together with Ali Imron’s older brother, Mukhlas, the two pointed to soft targets in Indonesia, such as the Bali nightspots. The nightclub attacks consisted of 202 deaths, most of whom
Professor Nancy Florida
ASIAN 464 – Islam in SE Asia
4 April 2013
A Critical Review of Radical Pathways: Understanding Muslim Radicalization in Indonesia
Abstract
As the Associate Professor and Head of the Centre of Excellence for National Security at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore, Kumar Ramakrishna has been a frequent speaker on counterterrorism for local and international audiences as well as a regular media commentator on the issue. In Radical Pathways, Ramakrishna applies his research in exploration of why certain Indonesian Muslims turn to violent jihad. Specifically, he explores the Bali night club bombings of 2002 executed by Jamaah Islamiyah (JI), a segment of the Darul Islam movement, and the continuing danger posed by radical Islamists in the country. Ramakrishna defiantly argues that radicalization occurs when individuals suffer from intense Existential Identity Anxiety (EIA), which develops when identity and culture interact with geopolitical factors, historical forces and an ideology to create a fear of group extinction. This paper will serve as a critical review and analysis of Radical Pathways and Ramakrishna’s argument, taking into account his biases and sources. Furthermore, it will serve to delve into JI, its emergence as a radical movement, and its success in consistent recruitment.
Preface and Prologue: The Bloodbath in Bali
Ramakrishna sets the scene by describing the Bali attacks of October 12, 2002 and how they demonstrated the determination of JI to wreak havoc against the West and their Southeast Asian allies. He describes the stories of the three JI members, Ali Imron, Arnasan, and Feri, who carried out the attack, which was planned in Bangkok that February by Hambali, JI’s chief strategist. Together with Ali Imron’s older brother, Mukhlas, the two pointed to soft targets in Indonesia, such as the Bali nightspots. The nightclub attacks consisted of 202 deaths, most of whom
Cited: Ramakrishna, Kumar. Radical Pathways: Understanding Muslim Radicalization in Indonesia. Westport: Praeger Security International, 2009. Print. Appendix A.