This research programme will advance theoretical understanding of how religious beliefs get radicalised and whether state law enforcements agencies can counter these processes through use of military force. The working of religious beliefs and the processes of radicalisation will be studied through focus on the birth and dramatic rise of female madrasas (Islamic schools) in Pakistan and close study of Jamia Hafza, a female madrasa, which staged an armed resistance against the state to defend its call for imposition of Shariah Law. These madrasas, which impart conservative religious values and orthodox conceptions of women's roles, have spread rapidly at a time when the state and development agencies have made concerted efforts at advancing liberal gender norms. The research programme consists of three distinct but interrelated research studies: the first study will focus on twenty-five leading female madrasas across the four provinces of Pakistan to develop the socio-economic profile of the madrasa students and understand their motives for joining madrasas; the second study would focus on understanding the motives of students in Jamia Hafza to stage the resistance; and, the final study will examine the impact of military operations against such groups on the morale of the officers engaged.

Survey; self-administered questionnaires