Rizwan is conducting an in-depth study on counterterrorism in Pakistan. He is investigating the effectiveness of short-term, security-centred approaches in the hopes of offering governments more long-term, community-oriented solutions to avoid radicalisation in vulnerable communities. “The people who are at risk of joining these terrorist groups are still humans,” he says.
“I’m not saying that a security approach is wrong, but there are other ways we can deal with these human beings.”
Rizwan’s project examines how alternative policies can strengthen the underlying sociopolitical circumstances that may contribute to individuals’ resistance to radicalisation. “They [the government] need to establish communities as partners in peace rather than merely recipients of government policies,” he says. “Rather than importing new policies, efforts should concentrate on strengthening existing local mechanisms that have demonstrated their effectiveness in preventing violent extremism from within the community.”
Rizwan remembers discussing politics with his teachers back in his school days, and how this sparked his long-held interest. As a child in Pakistan, he saw US/Western forces in Afghanistan following the 9/11 attacks in the US. “Every day, in the media, people were killed,” he recalls. “It had a kind of psychological impact. It made me think, we have to do something to make this world peaceful for humanity. I have to do something.”
Undertaking this project has presented complex challenges – there are risks that come with examining state policies and militant groups. “It’s a double-edged sword,” Rizwan says, “either way you are at risk. You do your work, but you have to adjust things accordingly. You have to think about personal security and the security of your family.” He explains that it helps to be part of the community and know the local social context that the research takes place in – this helps build trust and rapport.
Rizwan is pleased to see that people are starting to look towards the future rather than just the short term. Increasingly, there is recognition of the need for long-term policies beyond security-centred approaches, and Rizwan is excited to be part of this change.
“If I can make a contribution – even if it is just a very slight contribution – to making this world peaceful for humanity, I am proud of that.”
Rizwan encourages aspiring PhD candidates to consider their research in the broader context of their life. “It’s an exhausting journey, because it’s not only about the PhD – there is usually a lot, other than the PhD, that is happening in your life. Your family, your friends, your job, your social circle… the PhD itself is a full-time job.” He says candidates should be careful when they are deciding to undertake a PhD, but it’s highly worthwhile “if you are motivated and if you are interested in what you are doing and have a passion for what you are doing.”
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