Beyond Ideology - The Complex Determinants Of Terrorism In Contemporary Pakistan

Sep 22, 2026

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Terrorism in Pakistan is a complex phenomenon that cannot be explained by ideology alone. The study argues that terrorism emerges from a convergence of socioeconomic grievances, political repression, regional power dynamics, historical frictions, and institutional weaknesses. Using Relative Deprivation and Political Opportunity Structure theories, it explains how perceived deprivation fosters radicalization and how terrorist groups exploit ethnic and sectarian divisions. It also analyzes state policy inconsistencies, political instability, governance deficits, and limits of counterterrorism efforts, including corruption and poor agency coordination, while considering digital financing risks.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages23

Reading Time58 min

AccessFree to download

Abstract

Introduction

Theoretical framework and research focus

Internal drivers: socioeconomic grievances and governance gaps

Political instability, institutional weaknesses, and regional geopolitics

Digital transformation and contemporary challenges

ISSN (E): 2959-0272 ISSN (P): 2710-0502 Volume 6 Issue 2 Year 2025 DOI: [https://doi.org/10.59111/JPD.006.002.0146](https://doi.org/10.59111/JPD.006.002.0146) Beyond Ideology: The Complex Determinants Of Terrorism In Contemporary Pakistan Safi Ur Rehman School of Politics and IR, Quaid-i-Azam University. [srehman@ir.qau.edu.pk](srehman@ir.qau.edu.pk) Shaher Bano Visiting Faculty Lahore Garrison University. [shaherbanoctn@gmail.com](shaherbanoctn@gmail.com) Nimra Fatima MPhil IR Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad. Corresponding author e-mail: *[srehman@ir.qau.edu.pk](srehman@ir.qau.edu.pk) 49 Abstract Terrorism in Pakistan is a complex and multifaceted phenomenon that cannot be attributed to ideological factors alone. In today's Pakistan, terrorism stems from a confluence of socioeconomic concerns, political repressions, regional power dynamics, historical frictions, as well as institutional weaknesses. By employing Relative deprivation and Political Opportunity structure theories, this study aims to explore how perceived relative social, economic, and political deprivation breeds fertile ground for radicalization, which terrorist organizations further exploit through ethnic and sectarian divisions. The research paper examines the role of the State’sinconsistent policies, political instability, and governance deficits in exacerbating the situation. Along with potential root causes, the socioeconomic and psychological impacts are also analyzed. This study also evaluates Pakistan's counterterrorism measures and the hindrances such as corruption, lack of coordination among the agencies, and the need for a holistic approach to address the broader issues. Pakistan’s challenging geographical terrain, as well as its historical entanglement in regional conflicts, pose additional challenges in its efforts to combat terrorism. The contemporary digital modes of terrorist financing are adding to the complexity. A qualitative research methodology presents a holistic picture of the complex determinants in modern Pakistan. Overall, the objectives of this study are twofold. The first is to provide a detailed analysis of the diverse factors contributing to terrorism in Pakistan, and the second is to decode the emerging modes of terrorist financing. Keywords :Terrorism, Relative Deprivation, Radicalization, Counterterrorism Introduction According to the Global Terrorism Index, Pakistan ranked second among 163 states.1. Fora couple of decades, Pakistan has been at the “epicenter of terrorism”. It has been suggested that ideological extremism is responsible for the problem, which is a narrower approach to understanding this complex phenomenon. Therefore, this research postulates that the phenomenon of terrorism in Pakistan cannot be attributed to one or another factor but is a multifaceted issue that is rooted in socio-economic grievances, governance crises, lack of political opportunities, as well as psychological factors. Theoretically, this study is grounded on the Relative deprivation theory, which identifies the perceived sense of deprivation as the significant cause of grievances and frustration, a breeding ground for radicalization. While discussing socioeconomic and political deprivations, this theory also highlights the significance of psychological perceptions. Along with it, the political opportunity structure theory has also been employed, highlighting the importance of political contexts in understanding the phenomenon of terrorism. It highlights how structural opportunities are created for social movements. Since the initial years, Pakistan has been struggling with terrorism in one form or another, including ethnic and sectarian divisions, militant jihadism, and separatist tendencies. There is a confluence of internal and external factors in examining this intricate phenomenon in Pakistan; however, this study focuses on the subjects of the abovementioned theories. Internally, Pakistan’s major

FAQs

What does the study argue about the causes of terrorism in contemporary Pakistan?

It argues terrorism is shaped by interacting socioeconomic, political, historical, and institutional factors rather than ideology alone. Perceived relative deprivation and political opportunity contexts help explain radicalization and recruitment.

How do Relative Deprivation and Political Opportunity Structure theories guide the analysis?

Relative Deprivation highlights how grievances and frustration from perceived disadvantage can breed radicalization, including psychological perceptions. Political Opportunity Structure emphasizes how political contexts and structural opportunities shape collective action and related mobilization.

What obstacles does the paper identify for effective counterterrorism in Pakistan?

The paper points to inconsistent state policies, political instability, governance deficits, corruption, and lack of coordination among security agencies. It also notes broader geographic and regional conflict entanglements that complicate counterterrorism efforts.

Sep 22, 2026

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