Character Development and Nationalism as an Islamic Education Strategy for Preventing Radicalism, Terrorism, Corruption, and Drug Abuse among University Students

Abstract

Students are agents of change who play a strategic role in maintaining national values, social morality, and the sustainability of national development. However, globalization, the rapid development of digital information, identity crises, and social pressures may increase students’ vulnerability to radicalism, terrorism, corruption, and drug abuse. This article aims to analyze the role of character building and nationalism as educational strategies for preventing these threats among university students. This study employs a literature review with a normative and conceptual approach. Data were obtained from relevant scientific books, journal articles, previous research, government documents, and publications from related institutions. The data were analyzed using descriptive-analytical content analysis through the stages of data reduction, thematic categorization, interpretation, and synthesis. The findings indicate that character building contributes to strengthening students’ moral resilience through the development of honesty, responsibility, self-control, discipline, critical thinking, and integrity. Meanwhile, nationalism strengthens ideological and social resilience through the cultivation of national awareness, tolerance, commitment to Pancasila, respect for diversity, and responsibility toward the nation. The integration of character building and nationalism can therefore serve as an educational and preventive framework for strengthening students’ resilience against radicalism, terrorism, corruption, and drug abuse. The implementation of this approach requires integration into learning, academic culture, student activities, educator role modeling, digital literacy, and institutional policies.