Youth, Education, and Islamic Radicalism - (Contending Modernities) by Mun'im Sirry (Paperback)

About the Book

Youth, Education, and Islamic Radicalism offers groundbreaking analysis of religious intolerance and radicalization among high school and university students in modern-day Indonesia.

Book Synopsis

Youth, Education, and Islamic Radicalism offers groundbreaking analysis of religious intolerance and radicalization among high school and university students in modern-day Indonesia.

Indonesia is one of the most diverse countries in the world in terms of religion, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status, but also in the complexity of its education system. Youth, Education, and Islamic Radicalism examines the roots of religious intolerance among young Indonesians and explores the various ways in which educated youth navigate radical ideologies amid growing religious conservatism.

The book presents nuanced explanations as to why one person becomes radicalized while another does not, calling into question the common assumption that religious radicalism is directly connected to terrorism. It problematizes the notion that the university is a significant hub, trigger, or birthplace of radicalization by asking: What makes education attractive for extremist recruitment? What shapes students' views? Under what circumstances do radicalization and deradicalization processes of educated youth take place? Youth, Education, and Islamic Radicalism identifies a constellation of factors that shape young people's views of religious diversity in Indonesia, demonstrating the ways in which they become radicalized in the first place, and how, in some cases, they deradicalize themselves.

Review Quotes

"Youth, Education, and Islamic Radicalism addresses a burning question that is on the mind of educators, parents, psychologists, religious leaders, and politicians across the world: How, where, and why do young Muslim adults get radicalized? Focusing on the situation in Indonesia, it provides an in-depth analysis of the complex interactions between a student's background, environment, culture, and education and the influence of peer pressure and teachers." --Pieternella van Doorn-Harder, author of Women Shaping Islam

"Mun'im Sirry offers a rich and detailed analysis of the complex and nuanced relationship between radicalism and education in high schools and university settings in contemporary Indonesia." --Muhamad Ali, author of Islam and Colonialism

About the Author

Mun'im Sirry is an associate professor of theology at the University of Notre Dame and author of several books, including The Qur'an with Cross-References.