Online radicalization (completed)

This project studied the coverage of terrorism in mainstream media and extremist groups’ propaganda and use of online media.  

About

The Internet, social media and popular culture are important for religious extremist groups. They are utilized to collect funds, as well as for training, planning, and cyber warfare. Websites and social media are also important arenas where contact can be established with young people vulnerable to radicalization.

In this project, we examined closely the rhetoric used in online jihadist magazines and “jihadi rap”, and their appeal for potential supporters.

Methods

The project was based on a qualitative study of material published online by al-Qaida, the Islamic State and similar groups. Analysis of online magazines, websites and propaganda videos shows the distinctive visual features and basic stories characterizing their rhetoric.

Results

Our studies demonstrated that violent jihadist organizations promote notions of a Muslim utopia and legitimate violence by emphasizing the suffering of Muslims. This rhetoric has a broad appeal within Muslim communities. In parallel, a narrower kind of rhetoric and symbolism appears in sensational “spectacles of violence”. This type of subcultural provocation appeals to a much smaller group of sensation-seeking men who glorify violence. We also investigated cultural expression of “jihadi cool”, the relationship between jihadist and extreme right-wing online propaganda, and the coverage of terrorism in mainstream media.

Publications

Student dissertations

Contact us for papers that are unpublished or behind a paywall.

Published Sep. 21, 2016 11:55 AM - Last modified Nov. 7, 2022 12:55 PM