ABSTRACT
Left Wing Extremism (LWE) is an insurrection aiming to replace the existing socio-political order through extra/unconstitutional methods motivated by the combined political philosophies of Marx-Lenin-Mao. The paper explores the perspective and perceptions of locals participating in the insurrection with particular reference to Adivasi youth. Dominant theories argue that two important reasons for the youth resorting to extreme political acts are (i) underdevelopment and (ii) unemployment. The fieldwork has been conducted in the Sukma district using process tracing methodology supplemented with other qualitative techniques. It infers that although unemployment and underdevelopment issues are relevant in general. However, they are not the sole and critical factors for the local youth to participate in the insurrection. Everyday experiences with the State apparatus, bureaucratic exploitation, legacy of ‘insurrectionary culture,’ and role of political ideology significantly draw youth into extremist activities.
