There Is No Single Path: University Students' Perspectives on the Causes of Terrorism in Pakistani Higher Education

Abstract

This study explored how senior undergraduate students at a public sector university in Punjab, Pakistan, perceive the causes of terrorism. Terrorism research has extensively examined the characteristics and motivations of perpetrators, yet comparatively little attention has been paid to how student explain the causes of terrorism. Public perceptions are important because they influence support for counter-terrorism policies, community cooperation with law enforcement, and social environments where radicalization may emerge. An exploratory qualitative research design was employed. Eighteen BS (4 Year) students were purposively selected from six social sciences departments. Data were collected through in-depth interviews using an interview guide developed from the literature and piloted from three students. Thematic analysis was applied to the interview transcripts. Findings indicated that participants rejected single-cause explanations and instead identified multiple interconnected factors. These included individual characteristics, peer influence, distorted religious narratives, educational bad experiences, ethnic marginalization, family dynamics, economic hardship, political manipulation, revenge motives, foreign involvement, and media influence. Peer groups, economic insecurity, family disruption, and political instrumentalization emerged as the most influential factors, while biological determinism and emotional deprivation received limited support. Participants also challenged the association of terrorism with Muslim identity, attributing this perception to international media narratives. The findings support Sutherland's differential association theory and highlight the importance of media literacy, procedural justice, and inclusive campus environments in preventing youth radicalization.