VisionIAS - Video Classroom Lecture

Security Class

DISCUSSION OF SYLLABUS AND SOURCES OF INTERNAL SECURITY (01:27 PM)

Linkages between development and spread of extremism.
Role of non-state actors in creating challenges to internal security.
Linkages between organised crime and Terrorism.
Money laundering and its prevention.
Basics of cyber security.
Role of media and social media.
Various security agencies and their mandate.
Terrorism.
Border management and related security challenges.
Role of external state actors in creating challenges to internal security.
The weightage of internal security is 50 marks in the CSE GS mains exam (estimated by looking at the previous years)
Sources
Value-added material.
Previous year questions from 2013 onwards.
Newspaper.
Monthly current affairs magazine.
Reports:
D K Bandhopadhyaya committee report related to Naxalism
2nd ARC report: Conflict resolution, Insurgency in North East
Annual Report of MHoA.
Website to refer- IDSA, ORF.

LINKAGES BETWEEN DEVELOPMENT AND SPREAD OF EXTREMISM (01:50 PM)

Development is a dynamic concept that can mean different things to different people but in a general sense, it refers to improvement in living conditions in the society.
It has multiple dimensions including social, economic and political.
Even though it is generally perceived as a positive term, a flawed process of development may have unintended consequences as well.
For e.g., if development is not inclusive it may have unintended consequences which may be disastrous for the marginalised sections of the society.
Extremism refers to a situation wherein an individual or a group possesses extreme views and thoughts without the scope of entertaining the views and opinions of others.
Individuals with an extremist ideology do not refrain from taking extreme actions including resorting to violence to achieve their objectives.
Extremism manifests itself in various forms including LWE, religious fundamentalism, terrorism, insurgency, Nazism etc.

HOW EXTREMISM LEADS TO UNDERDEVELOPMENT (02:14 PM)

Extremism results in:-
Destruction of physical infrastructure.
Destruction of Social capital affects demographic dividends adversely.
It adversely affects trade, the economy, business sentiment, tourism etc.
Also affects Human rights.
It creates a threat to various people responsible for bringing development. For e.g. NGO workers and Civil servants may not want to serve in those areas where extremism thrives.
Diversion of funds towards defence expenditure from the social sector.
The state uses force to overcome extremism, often resulting in collateral damage and therefore resulting in a vicious cycle of violence in these areas.

HOW UNDERDEVELOPMENT LEADS TO EXTREMISM (02:33 PM)

Violation of basic human rights results in disaffection towards the state, therefore, leading to people supporting extremist means.
Denial of social justice to the marginalised sections of society has also resulted in anger towards the state.
Denial of recognition of identity for various ethnic groups has resulted in rebellion and violence.
Unemployment and lack of constructive engagement for the youth have resulted in dissatisfaction and as a result, many of them have been attacked towards extremist means.
In conclusion, one may say that there is a school of thought which believes that the only way to break this vicious cycle of violence is to tackle extremism with the use of force and development would naturally follow.
On the other hand, a set of people believe that without addressing underdevelopment in society, it would be impossible to challenge extremism.
In India, therefore the government has adopted a two-pronged strategy for addressing developmental concerns as well as extremism through a law and order approach.

LEFT-WING EXTREMISM (LWE) / NAXALISM/ MAOISM (03:06 PM)

The poor peasants and tribals in Naxalbari suffered at the hands of rich landlords, money lenders and govt officials.
This discontent was channelised by the communist-led revolutionaries under the leadership of Charu Majumdar.
They were inspired by the ideas of Maoism and had given a clarion call for a communist revolution in India.
In the summer of 1967, a violent movement began against the so-called 'class enemies'.
The locals used all the possible forms of violence against money lenders, Zamindars etc.
It led to a cycle of violence, retaliation by the state and re-retaliation by the extremists.
This marked the beginning of the extremist movement in India.
According to Mao, it was a 'spring thunder' that crashed over the land of India.
Even though the situation in Naxalbari was brought under control in a matter of a few weeks, it ignited the hopes and imagination of several other groups in different parts of India.
Naxalism is an extremist movement that started in one district in 1967 and gradually expanded to cover more than 180 districts of India by 2009.
The region affected due to Naxal violence is often termed 'The Red Corridor'.
It is inspired by the left-wing ideology and philosophy of Mao.
The ideology of Naxalites
Naxalites believe in the idea of overthrowing the state and replacing it with a communist regime along the lines of Mao's China.
They profess the use of extreme means of violence inspired by the ideas of 'revolution through the barrel of a gun'.
Status of Naxalism in India
As per reports by MHA, Naxalism has claimed the lives of more than 13,000 people in the last two decades alone including civilians and security personnel.
The former rural development minister has mentioned that the Red Corridor extends from Tirupati to Pashupati (Andhra Pradesh to Nepal).
Initially, the movement was based on agrarian and caste issues.
It was initially based on Agrarian and caste issues but it soon took up various other issues existing in the Indian society.
In the initial phases, the movement was restricted primarily to the rural areas in the states of West Bengal and Odisha but gradually expanded to underdeveloped rural and urban areas of other states.
Despite its rural base, the movement has got constant support from the urban intellectual class as well.
Evolution
Naxalism has evolved in India through various phases from 1967 to the present day.
The 4 broad phases of the Naxal movement are:-
Phase 1: 1967 - 1971
Phase 2: 1980- 2004
Phase 3: 2004- 2010
Phase 4: 2010- Present

THE TOPIC OF THE NEXT CLASS- DISCUSSION ON LWE (TO CONTINUE)