Back
About RSIS
Introduction
Building the Foundations
Welcome Message
Board of Governors
Staff Profiles
Executive Deputy Chairman’s Office
Dean’s Office
Management
Distinguished Fellows
Faculty and Research
Associate Research Fellows, Senior Analysts and Research Analysts
Visiting Fellows
Adjunct Fellows
Administrative Staff
Honours and Awards for RSIS Staff and Students
RSIS Endowment Fund
Endowed Professorships
Career Opportunities
Getting to RSIS
Research
Research Centres
Centre for Multilateralism Studies (CMS)
Centre for Non-Traditional Security Studies (NTS Centre)
Centre of Excellence for National Security
Institute of Defence and Strategic Studies (IDSS)
International Centre for Political Violence and Terrorism Research (ICPVTR)
Research Programmes
National Security Studies Programme (NSSP)
Social Cohesion Research Programme (SCRP)
Studies in Inter-Religious Relations in Plural Societies (SRP) Programme
Other Research
Future Issues and Technology Cluster
Research@RSIS
Science and Technology Studies Programme (STSP) (2017-2020)
Graduate Education
Graduate Programmes Office
Exchange Partners and Programmes
How to Apply
Financial Assistance
Meet the Admissions Team: Information Sessions and other events
RSIS Alumni
Outreach
Global Networks
About Global Networks
RSIS Alumni
Executive Education
About Executive Education
SRP Executive Programme
Terrorism Analyst Training Course (TATC)
International Programmes
About International Programmes
Asia-Pacific Programme for Senior Military Officers (APPSMO)
Asia-Pacific Programme for Senior National Security Officers (APPSNO)
International Conference on Cohesive Societies (ICCS)
International Strategy Forum-Asia (ISF-Asia)
Publications
RSIS Publications
Annual Reviews
Books
Bulletins and Newsletters
RSIS Commentary Series
Counter Terrorist Trends and Analyses
Commemorative / Event Reports
Future Issues
IDSS Papers
Interreligious Relations
Monographs
NTS Insight
Policy Reports
Working Papers
External Publications
Authored Books
Journal Articles
Edited Books
Chapters in Edited Books
Policy Reports
Working Papers
Op-Eds
Glossary of Abbreviations
Policy-relevant Articles Given RSIS Award
RSIS Publications for the Year
External Publications for the Year
Media
Cohesive Societies
Sustainable Security
Other Resource Pages
News Releases
Speeches
Video/Audio Channel
External Podcasts
Events
Contact Us
S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies Think Tank and Graduate School Ponder The Improbable Since 1966
Nanyang Technological University Nanyang Technological University
  • About RSIS
      IntroductionBuilding the FoundationsWelcome MessageBoard of GovernorsHonours and Awards for RSIS Staff and StudentsRSIS Endowment FundEndowed ProfessorshipsCareer OpportunitiesGetting to RSIS
      Staff ProfilesExecutive Deputy Chairman’s OfficeDean’s OfficeManagementDistinguished FellowsFaculty and ResearchAssociate Research Fellows, Senior Analysts and Research AnalystsVisiting FellowsAdjunct FellowsAdministrative Staff
  • Research
      Research CentresCentre for Multilateralism Studies (CMS)Centre for Non-Traditional Security Studies (NTS Centre)Centre of Excellence for National SecurityInstitute of Defence and Strategic Studies (IDSS)International Centre for Political Violence and Terrorism Research (ICPVTR)
      Research ProgrammesNational Security Studies Programme (NSSP)Social Cohesion Research Programme (SCRP)Studies in Inter-Religious Relations in Plural Societies (SRP) Programme
      Other ResearchFuture Issues and Technology ClusterResearch@RSISScience and Technology Studies Programme (STSP) (2017-2020)
  • Graduate Education
      Graduate Programmes OfficeExchange Partners and ProgrammesHow to ApplyFinancial AssistanceMeet the Admissions Team: Information Sessions and other eventsRSIS Alumni
  • Outreach
      Global NetworksAbout Global NetworksRSIS Alumni
      Executive EducationAbout Executive EducationSRP Executive ProgrammeTerrorism Analyst Training Course (TATC)
      International ProgrammesAbout International ProgrammesAsia-Pacific Programme for Senior Military Officers (APPSMO)Asia-Pacific Programme for Senior National Security Officers (APPSNO)International Conference on Cohesive Societies (ICCS)International Strategy Forum-Asia (ISF-Asia)
  • Publications
      RSIS PublicationsAnnual ReviewsBooksBulletins and NewslettersRSIS Commentary SeriesCounter Terrorist Trends and AnalysesCommemorative / Event ReportsFuture IssuesIDSS PapersInterreligious RelationsMonographsNTS InsightPolicy ReportsWorking Papers
      External PublicationsAuthored BooksJournal ArticlesEdited BooksChapters in Edited BooksPolicy ReportsWorking PapersOp-Eds
      Glossary of AbbreviationsPolicy-relevant Articles Given RSIS AwardRSIS Publications for the YearExternal Publications for the Year
  • Media
      Cohesive SocietiesSustainable SecurityOther Resource PagesNews ReleasesSpeechesVideo/Audio ChannelExternal Podcasts
  • Events
  • Contact Us
    • Connect with Us

      rsis.ntu
      rsis_ntu
      rsisntu
      rsisvideocast
      school/rsis-ntu
      rsis.sg
      rsissg
      RSIS
      RSS
      Subscribe to RSIS Publications
      Subscribe to RSIS Events

      Getting to RSIS

      Nanyang Technological University
      Block S4, Level B3,
      50 Nanyang Avenue,
      Singapore 639798

      Click here for direction to RSIS

      Get in Touch

    Connect
    Search
    • RSIS
    • Publication
    • RSIS Publications
    • Counter Terrorist Trends and Analyses (CTTA) – Volume 10, Issue 08
    • Annual Reviews
    • Books
    • Bulletins and Newsletters
    • RSIS Commentary Series
    • Counter Terrorist Trends and Analyses
    • Commemorative / Event Reports
    • Future Issues
    • IDSS Papers
    • Interreligious Relations
    • Monographs
    • NTS Insight
    • Policy Reports
    • Working Papers

    Counter Terrorist Trends and Analyses (CTTA) – Volume 10, Issue 08
    Rohan Gunaratna, Amresh Lavan Gunasingham, Ricardo F. De Leon, Marlon V. Rufo , Mark Davis M. Pablo

    14 August 2018

    download pdf

    Religiously Motivated Terrorism & Preventing Violent Extremism

    This issue focuses on two key themes in research on terrorism and violent extremism: non-Islamist religious-political terrorism and strategies for preventing violent extremism (PVE). First, the issue observes Aum Shinrikyo in Japan and Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) in Sri Lanka, both Buddhist groups that have drawn on extremist misinterpretations of the religion. While Aum Shinrikyo and BBS challenged the state’s political ideology, BBS has engaged in attacks against minorities and disseminated violent and extremist propaganda. This issue showcases the diversity of terrorist groups in terms of ideological and religious influences, rooted in the domestic context, that could also motivate hate speech and attacks against Muslims (a religious minority in the case of Sri Lanka).

    Second, the issue focuses on PVE strategies in Southeast Asia, with the Philippines as the key case study. The article discusses the importance of moving beyond countering violent extremism (CVE) to PVE as long-term efforts to prevent terrorist groups from recruiting and gaining traction. To this end, it is proposed that communal harmony and peacebuilding measures incorporating the local communities should lie at the core of all PVE strategies.

    Rohan Gunaratna’s contribution looks at the Japanese terrorist group, Aum Shinrikyo, which perpetrated the 1995 Tokyo Subway Sarin attack. The article analyses the group’s ideology and looks at its revival through various splinter organisations, specifically Aleph, which is focusing on recruitment through social media. It also looks at the historical development of Aum Shinrikyo, in particular, the leadership of Shoko Asahara (ideological and personal ambitions), international networks (Russia, United States and Australia) and attempts to acquire Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) technologies.

    Amresh Gunasingham focuses on religious extremism in Sri Lanka against the backdrop of Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara, a hardline cleric’s arrest in June 2018. The article discusses the role of Buddhist extremist Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) group that has exploited ethnic and religious divisions, often targeting the minority Muslim community. Despite the rise of right-wing Buddhist extremists, the peaceful majority has staged demonstrations against targeting the Muslims. The article also notes the inability of authorities to take action against members of the right-wing Buddhist clergy that has incited ethno-religious violence and highlights a need for long-term policies to counter religious extremism.

    Ricardo F. De Leon, Marlon V. Rufo and Mark Davis M. Pablo discuss the twin threats of the terrorist group Islamic State (IS) and the insurgent group New People’s Army (NPA) to the Philippines, while proposing a need for robust grassroots initiatives that incorporate the barangays (local villages). The piece highlights a need for holistic PVE approaches while discussing the work of the Integrated Community Action against Radicalisation and Extremism (i CARE) & Whole-of-Community Approach (WOCA) in the aftermath of IS’ attempted takeover of Marawi. It highlights the idea that empowering the barangays as the bulwark against violent extremism, will make the local communities more resilient against terrorist groups. Lastly, it proposes that a stronger homeland security infrastructure with the barangays as the first line of defense will strengthen preemptive responses to violent extremism by the IS and NPA.

    Categories: / Conflict and Stability / Country and Region Studies / Terrorism Studies / South Asia / Southeast Asia and ASEAN

    Religiously Motivated Terrorism & Preventing Violent Extremism

    This issue focuses on two key themes in research on terrorism and violent extremism: non-Islamist religious-political terrorism and strategies for preventing violent extremism (PVE). First, the issue observes Aum Shinrikyo in Japan and Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) in Sri Lanka, both Buddhist groups that have drawn on extremist misinterpretations of the religion. While Aum Shinrikyo and BBS challenged the state’s political ideology, BBS has engaged in attacks against minorities and disseminated violent and extremist propaganda. This issue showcases the diversity of terrorist groups in terms of ideological and religious influences, rooted in the domestic context, that could also motivate hate speech and attacks against Muslims (a religious minority in the case of Sri Lanka).

    Second, the issue focuses on PVE strategies in Southeast Asia, with the Philippines as the key case study. The article discusses the importance of moving beyond countering violent extremism (CVE) to PVE as long-term efforts to prevent terrorist groups from recruiting and gaining traction. To this end, it is proposed that communal harmony and peacebuilding measures incorporating the local communities should lie at the core of all PVE strategies.

    Rohan Gunaratna’s contribution looks at the Japanese terrorist group, Aum Shinrikyo, which perpetrated the 1995 Tokyo Subway Sarin attack. The article analyses the group’s ideology and looks at its revival through various splinter organisations, specifically Aleph, which is focusing on recruitment through social media. It also looks at the historical development of Aum Shinrikyo, in particular, the leadership of Shoko Asahara (ideological and personal ambitions), international networks (Russia, United States and Australia) and attempts to acquire Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) technologies.

    Amresh Gunasingham focuses on religious extremism in Sri Lanka against the backdrop of Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara, a hardline cleric’s arrest in June 2018. The article discusses the role of Buddhist extremist Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) group that has exploited ethnic and religious divisions, often targeting the minority Muslim community. Despite the rise of right-wing Buddhist extremists, the peaceful majority has staged demonstrations against targeting the Muslims. The article also notes the inability of authorities to take action against members of the right-wing Buddhist clergy that has incited ethno-religious violence and highlights a need for long-term policies to counter religious extremism.

    Ricardo F. De Leon, Marlon V. Rufo and Mark Davis M. Pablo discuss the twin threats of the terrorist group Islamic State (IS) and the insurgent group New People’s Army (NPA) to the Philippines, while proposing a need for robust grassroots initiatives that incorporate the barangays (local villages). The piece highlights a need for holistic PVE approaches while discussing the work of the Integrated Community Action against Radicalisation and Extremism (i CARE) & Whole-of-Community Approach (WOCA) in the aftermath of IS’ attempted takeover of Marawi. It highlights the idea that empowering the barangays as the bulwark against violent extremism, will make the local communities more resilient against terrorist groups. Lastly, it proposes that a stronger homeland security infrastructure with the barangays as the first line of defense will strengthen preemptive responses to violent extremism by the IS and NPA.

    Categories: Conflict and Stability / Country and Region Studies / Terrorism Studies

    Popular Links

    About RSISResearch ProgrammesGraduate EducationPublicationsEventsAdmissionsCareersVideo/Audio ChannelRSIS Intranet

    Connect with Us

    rsis.ntu
    rsis_ntu
    rsisntu
    rsisvideocast
    school/rsis-ntu
    rsis.sg
    rsissg
    RSIS
    RSS
    Subscribe to RSIS Publications
    Subscribe to RSIS Events

    Getting to RSIS

    Nanyang Technological University
    Block S4, Level B3,
    50 Nanyang Avenue,
    Singapore 639798

    Click here for direction to RSIS

    Get in Touch

      Copyright © S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies. All rights reserved.
      Privacy Statement / Terms of Use
      Help us improve

        Rate your experience with this website
        123456
        Not satisfiedVery satisfied
        What did you like?
        0/255 characters
        What can be improved?
        0/255 characters
        Your email
        Please enter a valid email.
        Thank you for your feedback.
        This site uses cookies to offer you a better browsing experience. By continuing, you are agreeing to the use of cookies on your device as described in our privacy policy. Learn more
        OK
        Latest Book
        more info