Speaking at a British Council 'Going Global' conference, a number of senior education figures discussed the value and concerns associated with radical and extreme thoughts in universities, amid some suggestions restrictions should be placed on some scholarly activities.
Education is the most powerful anti-dote to radicalization — VC University of St Andrews #GoingGlobal2015
— tonyreilly5 (@tonyreilly5) June 2, 2015
The panel of speakers agreed that radical thought was key to pushing the boundaries of certain fields, which should be allowed and fostered in universities.
"The idea that the world was round was once a radical idea. It's imperative we have a place that ideas can be challenged, and universities are the perfect place for that," professor Louise Richardson, Vice-Chancellor at the University of St Andrews said.
We begin with a discussion on Universities and Radicalisation http://t.co/VDsy2Wd9QK #GoingGlobal2015 pic.twitter.com/ymCbV7rFz9
— Going Global (@HEGoingGlobal) June 2, 2015
Professor Mohammed Farouk, Vice-Chancellor of Federal University in Kashere, Nigeria, agreed with Professor Richardson, arguing that the concept of radicalization has been stigmatized with terrorism in recent times.
"In my experience in Nigeria in the 1970s it was almost a rite of passage for students to become radicalized, to take on issues of social justice. Today, 'radicalization' becomes equated with terrorism, violence. I see radicalization as more of a process that challenges the status quo, rejects the status quo and takes on existing ideas in society. Radicalization needs to be taken away from terrorism."
Education the 'Antidote' to Overcoming Terrorism
The panel also countered accusations that some universities in fact facilitated the radicalization of certain students towards a path of terrorism, with Professor Richardson arguing that education was the most effective tool in combating violent extremist thoughts.
Prof Farouk: We should “take time to carefully study…and investigate the root causes of terrorism and radicalisation” #GoingGlobal2015
— Going Global (@HEGoingGlobal) June 2, 2015
"Any terrorist I have ever met through my academic work had a highly over-simplified view of the world, which they saw in black and white terms. Education robs you of that simplification and certitude."
"Education is the best possible antidote to radicalization."
The experts also discussed the potential reasons for people joining terrorist groups, agreeing that the argument of simply blaming alienation within society as a cause of extremism was insufficient.
Amid calls for restrictions to be placed on universities to combat the perceived threat of radical or extreme thoughts, Professor Marie Breen-Smyth, Chair in International Politics, University of Surrey said that government and defense officials are overstating the risk of terrorism in the UK for their own interests.
"There is an exaggeration of the threat. Road accidents are much more of a threat to society than terrorism will ever be, even in Northern Ireland."
"Threat exaggeration serves a particular interest in society to make money out of counter-terrorism and security. That's not to say there isn't a threat, there is, and we need to be concerned about it, but let's get it into perspective."
