Social media has played a central role in the digital era for almost a century, influencing almost all aspects of life. The use of social media in warfare is threatening not only one country but the whole global community, is a recent development. The famous speech by Abu Muhammad al-Adnani on social media inspired the bloody month of Ramadan in 2016 and showed the deadly power of social media inspired attacks and what the Islamic State is capable of achieving. Although the terrorist group has lost territory over the last few weeks of combat both in Syria and Iraq, and is on the edge of losing their main capital Mosul, IS still remains a hybrid threat. Consisting of military powers and an unmatched affinity of using social media as a cyber-war weapon, IS will continue to be a severe danger to the global community.
This book aims to foster a deeper understanding of the use of social media for recruiting efforts by the so-called Islamic State (IS), and to analyse its propaganda methods in order to develop possible countermeasures. A special focus will be put on the method of recruitment of young Western foreign fighters. These individuals are the easiest to recruit for ISIS and pose the greatest risk to the global community, especially in regards to home grown terrorism and so-called lone wolf attacks. Since this area of research is very new and quickly evolving, the field still needs extensive research.
It is difficult to analyse the use of social media content by the Islamic State due to limited information access and flow (encryption, propaganda, verification and inconsistency). The Islamic State is a military threat on the battleground as well as a potential cyber threat for the international community. Despite these challenging circumstances, this book will provide a new theoretical model based on the marketing model of a customer journey in connection with the main principles of storytelling. Ultimately, this research work will try to provide experts with a new and modern approach of analysis as a base for possible counter measures to weaken and combat the current threat posed by the Islamic State.
From the text:
- Islamic State;
- Terrorism;
- Social Media;
- Propaganda Institutions;
- Radicalisation
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Abstract: English
- Abstract: Deutsch
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This master's thesis, "Marketing of Terrorism: An Analysis of the Use of Social Media by IS," aims to enhance understanding of the Islamic State's (IS) social media recruitment strategies and propaganda techniques to develop countermeasures. A key focus is the recruitment of young Western foreign fighters, who pose a significant risk due to their potential for homegrown terrorism and lone-wolf attacks. The research is limited by the rapidly evolving nature of social media and terrorism, and the restricted access to information.
- Social Media Recruitment Strategies of ISIS
- Propaganda Methods and Countermeasures
- Target Audience Analysis (Generation Y)
- Challenges in Analyzing ISIS's Social Media Content
- Development of a New Theoretical Model for Analysis
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
Abstract: English: This abstract provides a concise overview of the thesis, highlighting its aim to understand ISIS's use of social media for recruitment, analyze their propaganda methods, and propose countermeasures. It emphasizes the focus on young Western foreign fighters and acknowledges the limitations of the research due to the dynamic nature of the subject and information access. The thesis utilizes secondary literature and analyzes key aspects of ISIS's social media strategy: management structure, ideology, goals, target group, and content management. Generation Y is identified as the primary target group, and the challenges of analyzing ISIS's content due to limited access and encryption are acknowledged. A new theoretical model based on the customer journey and storytelling principles is proposed to assist in developing countermeasures.
Abstract: Deutsch: This abstract summarizes the thesis's objective to understand ISIS's social media recruitment methods and propaganda strategies to develop countermeasures. It highlights the focus on recruiting young Western foreign fighters and the risks associated with homegrown terrorism and lone-wolf attacks. The fast-paced nature of social media and terrorism limits the scope of the research. The thesis employs secondary literature research to analyze core components of ISIS's social media strategy, including management structure, ideology, goals, target audience, and content management. Generation Y is identified as the primary target group, and the challenges in analyzing ISIS's social media content due to limited access and inconsistencies are discussed. A novel theoretical model based on storytelling and the customer journey is proposed to aid in developing effective countermeasures.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
Islamic State (ISIS), social media, terrorism, recruitment, propaganda, countermeasures, Generation Y, foreign fighters, homegrown terrorism, lone-wolf attacks, social media strategy, content management, customer journey, storytelling, theoretical model.
Frequently Asked Questions: Marketing of Terrorism: An Analysis of the Use of Social Media by IS
What is the main focus of this master's thesis?
This master's thesis analyzes the Islamic State's (IS) social media recruitment strategies and propaganda techniques to develop effective countermeasures. A key focus is on understanding how IS recruits young Western foreign fighters, who pose a significant risk due to their potential for homegrown terrorism and lone-wolf attacks.
What are the key themes explored in the thesis?
The thesis explores several key themes, including: IS's social media recruitment strategies; their propaganda methods and the development of countermeasures; analysis of their target audience (Generation Y); the challenges in analyzing IS's social media content; and the development of a new theoretical model for analyzing IS's online activities.
What are the limitations of the research?
The research is limited by the rapidly evolving nature of social media and terrorism, as well as restricted access to information. The dynamic nature of the subject matter and inconsistent information present significant challenges.
What methodologies are used in this thesis?
The thesis utilizes secondary literature research to analyze key aspects of ISIS's social media strategy, including management structure, ideology, goals, target audience, and content management. A new theoretical model, based on the customer journey and storytelling principles, is proposed to assist in developing countermeasures.
Who is the primary target audience of ISIS's recruitment efforts?
Generation Y is identified as the primary target group for ISIS's recruitment efforts.
What challenges are encountered in analyzing ISIS's social media content?
Challenges include limited access to information, encryption, and the inconsistencies inherent in the rapidly changing online landscape.
What is the proposed solution or contribution of this thesis?
The thesis proposes a novel theoretical model based on the customer journey and storytelling principles to help develop more effective countermeasures against ISIS's online recruitment strategies.
What are the key words associated with this thesis?
Key words include: Islamic State (ISIS), social media, terrorism, recruitment, propaganda, countermeasures, Generation Y, foreign fighters, homegrown terrorism, lone-wolf attacks, social media strategy, content management, customer journey, storytelling, theoretical model.
Where can I find the full text of the thesis?
The provided text is a preview and does not contain the full thesis. The location of the complete thesis would need to be obtained through the original publishing company or academic institution where it was submitted.
- Quote paper
- Lisa Wiechert (Author), 2016, The Marketing of Terrorism. Analysing the Use of Social Media by ISIS, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/356498
