THE ROLE OF ENTERTAINMENT-EDUCATION IN COUNTERING RADICALIZATION: A DISCOURSE ANALYSIS OF DARWAZA AND THE THEME OF RELIGIOUS IDENTITY IN BALOCHISTAN

Abstract

Media has historically served as a potent instrument for molding public opinion and presenting counter-narratives to socio-political crises. Entertainment -Education , Social cognition strategies are the techniques that have been used by the media to penetrate in society and take hold of society and its perception. It stimulates the reasoning of society and makes them able to reform their behavior by presenting them modal behavior. Prior research has found media as a tool of de-radicalization and presenting counter narratives . Radicalization in highly significant Balochistan should be addressed. In this research the researcher has attempted to analyze how drama serial Darwaza address the issue of radicalization and endorse de-radicalization in Balochistan.In this qualitative research (deductive approach) by thematic discourse analysis of drama "Darwaza", the researcher has identified the role of media over de-radicalization in Balochistan. Based on the thematic discourse analysis, the researcher has found that the drama serial Darwaza has used the education-entertainment strategy of the media to explain and elaborate the situation and causes of radicalization in Balochistan. It clarifies the misconceptions and insecurities of Baloch society regarding development by presenting a counter narrative of Pakistan.  The study identifies how religious and cultural identities are leveraged both by radical elements to incite aggression and by the state to promote a unified, pro-social narrative. The researcher has suggested that functions and strategies of media like surveillance and entertainment - education can be used for the purpose of de-radicalization in Balochistan.

Keywords: Entertainment-Education,  Countering Radicalization, A Discourse Analysis of Darwaza, Religious Identity &  Balochistan