Radicalism and Extremism in Central Asia

Central Asia faces a compounding threat from radicalism and violent extremism rooted in political repression, socioeconomic marginalization, identity fragmentation, and digital propaganda ecosystems. The Taliban resurgence in Afghanistan has reconfigured regional security architectures, intensifying recruitment vectors and cross-border militant flows across Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Kazakhstan. This chapter analyses the structural drivers of radicalization, the evolving organizational landscape of extremist movements, and the efficacy of existing counter-violent extremism frameworks adopted by Central Asian states and multilateral bodies. Drawing on recent scholarship, geopolitical developments, and institutional responses, the analysis reveals persistent tensions between hard security approaches and preventive, community-rooted strategies. It argues that durable counter-extremism requires integrated governance reforms, digital literacy programs, and regionally coordinated reintegration policies.