Teach schoolkids Mid East politics: ASPI

Australian students should learn more about Middle Eastern politics to prevent radicalisation, a think tank says.

The idea is contained in the Australian Strategic Policy Institute's latest release `Gen Y jihadists: preventing radicalisation in Australia', which also recommends more creative and respectful ways to work with the Muslim community.

"Even if that meant an hour less on Australian history and Gallipoli for example, I think it would be a good thing if we could have moderated and balanced discussion about Middle East politics in the curriculum," one of its authors Peter Jennings told ABC radio on Tuesday.

More should be done, including in schools, to combat radicalisation, government whip Andrew Nikolic said.

A national community service and youth engagement scheme should be considered to attack what he called the "achilles heel", for many young men in particular, which is a lack of purposeful activity and self-esteem.

"I think the ASPI paper is something which should generate more discussion in this area," he told ABC radio.