Dabiq - Campaign Analysis - Literature review Example

CAMPAIGN ANALYSIS Name of Student Institution affiliation CAMPAIGN ANALYSIS REPORT Introduction "Dabiq” is an online magazine that is currently being used by ISIS as a global outreach strategy. The magazine is being published in social media platform where this extremist group targets to get more recruiters. This online magazine can be categorised to be a propaganda discourse. The online magazine is also claimed to focus on bias content which is meant to stir apocalyptic rift between the Islamic two major groups Sunni and Shia. The online publication magazine can further be claimed to be a propaganda discourse due to the content is written in it which is claimed to support jihadist activities. The first edition of these groups’ magazine is claimed to consist of 50 pages of extremist propaganda. Some of the most significant content of "Dabiq” is said to be evident praise of terrorist attacks actions globally. For instance, in the December 2015 edition, the online magazine is claimed to praise the 19 Muslim men who claimed refused to pledge allegiance to the extremist group. This monthly published online magazine is claimed to target new recruits in order to foster the course of the extremist group. The magazine is claimed to provide even contacts to the interested parties which they can use if they want to be recruited. It is also evident that the online magazine consistently publishes disturbing pictures of badly mutilated bodies of innocent Muslims who are victims of a war battles between these extremist groups in an effort to gain sympathy from the Muslim community (Home Office. 2011). With the extremist group being known to target any recruits its online magazine is not limited to a particular audience rather it is claimed that it is widely spread globally to various audience thanks to social media and other communication technological platforms (Friedman, 2007). Literature review Bartlett and Miller reveals that the action of terrorists and extremist group on using the internet in publication of propaganda content meant to steer their course on global terrorism. Bartlett and Miller emphasise that the fist stem of recognising online radicalization is determining whether it leads to violence or not. In this case we reviewed content from a number of terrorism and extremist group websites and how it is manipulated toward praise of death their members in the war with the U.S military in Afghanistan. Bartlett and Miller further claims that more than half of these groups by the year 2004 had established their online presence (Bartlett, J and Carl M, 2012). Christmann emphasises that geography and space in connecting individuals which was a great inhibitor of online radicalisation is now no longer a limiting factor. He claims that this is due to the evolution in technology which has paved way for internet. Sedgwick points out on the internet’s ability to ‘reach’ many individuals(Christmann. K,2O12). This can be claimed to be the reason why Isis is using it to make "Dabiq” accessible globally. This shows that the internet has created the opportunity for these terrorist and extremist groups to radicalise a broader range of people (Sedgwick, M2010). Analysis by Schmidle, (2009) shows that the internet affords these terrorists and extremist groups great anonymity which is a factor that has enhanced their campaigns. He further claims that the internet to their advantage by breaking some physical world barriers which have enabled them to reach more people globally. He highlights the case of female jihadists who he claimed that are prohibited by their culture to either meet in person with extremists who in most cases are. Therefore the internet makes these easy for them to relate with this extremist groups (Schmidle, 2015). Methods to Identify Key filters One filter method that can be used perfectly in distinguishing whether the "Dabiq” contains propaganda is comparing it with other online magazines published by Muslim groups. Comparing this discourse with the Islamique an online magazine published by Muslims. In this case the Islamique focuses on publishing enlightening and upliftingmaterial for the Muslim community. On the other hand the “Dabiq” focuses on Jihadist action rather than being general in its publication (Radicalization in western Europe: Integration, public discourse, and loss of identity among Muslim communities (2015). This online magazine as compared to the Islamique seems quite distinct especially judging by the content and photos published in it. Unlike another online religious magazine which preaches religion the "Dabiq” seems to focus on the stirring more hate on the non-Arabic nation especially the U.S and Britain (The de-radicalization of Jihadists: Transforming armed Islamist movements, 2010). The way the online magazine praises the jihadist actions refutes its innocence in glorifying Muslim religion (“Narrative landmines: Rumors, Islamist extremism, and the struggle for strategic influence,” 2013). On the other hand looking on how the online magazine rhetorically anodes jihadist action against the non-Muslim countries generates more evidence that this written press material contains propaganda. This is backed up by the featured story in every edition of the magazine which focuses on significant demise that has occurred in these no-Muslim nations Edwars & Gribbon, 2013) This online magazine is translated to English, Germany Arabic and French language with the goal of it to convince more individuals to support and join the course for this extremist group. The other media used in publication of these online magazine know to contain propaganda is the ISIS website and the Clarion’s project website in the U.S. I analysed this media by reviewing their previous works and assessing the goals for its action in these works. In this case through analysing the ISIS and Clarion’s project website I noted there was biasness in publication of materiel. I noted that the article published in this website tainted the non-Muslims as atheist who does not deserve to live. These publications urge the Muslims to take up arms and get rid of the non-Muslims. The content in this magazines justify these actions by manipulating the religious doctrines (“Narrative landmines: Rumors, Islamist extremism, and the struggle for strategic influence,” 2013). Findings and how effective they are The discourse in this case is an online magazine which is targeted to the general society since judging by the current growth in global terrorism more individuals not necessarily from the Muslim community are joining these terrorist groups. This analogy was drawn due to the fact that the magazine was freely been published in various social media platform in order for it to get cover a wide range of audience which might lead to more individual joining the group. Therefore this makes the target group for this discourse the society as a whole (Lance B and Alexandra S,2012). The aim of the propaganda evident in the discourse is to brainwash more individuals by making them join these extremist group and participate in its jihadist activity globally. The techniques used in furthering propaganda in these discourse include seeking of petty sympathy from the society as a whole by publishing gruelling photos of innocent Muslim children killed in the war in Iraq between the America and terrorist groups. The other technique used in this discourse is publication of manipulated Muslim religious doctrines which the extremist use as justification of its actions. For instance the extremist group published that taking part Jihadist action is obeying their religious call to guard their religion which in reality is not what the Muslim region preaches (Pearson, E. 2015). The content of the magazine is claimed to be a key filter to distinguish whether this online publication qualifies to be categorised as a media item containing propaganda. The online magazine clearly proclaims its disgust on those against their activities and beliefs. Through the extremist Muslims quotes that advocate for jihadist are clearly published in the online magazine. This is a major qualification of this online magazine as propaganda was written press material that publishes issues that are against the law and societal norms (Vidino & Brandon, 2012). The assumption made in the magazine is that the fight against is Jihadi which has the blessing of God this has led to the perception that participating in this terrorism act would give on full blessing and honour due to their call to Gods work. The magazine spreads this propaganda with help of evidence of killed Islamic children who are victims of the on-going war on terrorism. The magazine creates the picture that this war is targeted on the Muslim and not terrorist as a strategy of seeking sympathy from the neutrals. This is evident in the 50th edition on the article named ‘redemption”. The magazine supports these arguments with logic that is built on propaganda in order to sound more convincing (Bartlett, J and Carl,M. 2012). With clear evidence that the content and pictures in these online magazine being generated with the main aim of causing more hatred towards these non- Muslim nation it is now clear that this magazine can be categorised as a written press material that contains propaganda. The magazine seems to focus on deaths of these non-Muslim individual on the basis of being a religious written press material (“The de-radicalization of Jihadists: Transforming armed Islamist movements,” 2010). The other fact that the magazine is being used as a channel to recruit more individual into this extremist group gives more evidence on claims that he magazine is one that stirs propaganda. The manipulation of Muslim religious doctrines in the magazine in effort to further the extremist group’s Jihadist course also qualifies it as a propaganda written press material (Neumann, P. 2013). Discussion was there propaganda or persuasion The discourse in this case is an online magazine by the name "Dabiq” which is used by ISIS in spreading propaganda material manipulated to further their global jihadist course. The stage of this online magazine which contains propaganda is the internet where it is published online to allow easy and general access to the extremist group target groups (al-Atawneh, 2014). This discourse uses various media for it publication this includes; Face book, Twitter, Instagram, its website and other internet –portal in general.The online magazines context is to praise the terrorism act by these extremist as they try to win the heart of individuals globally (Levi, 2012). The magazine uses Facebook by using manipulatively posts pictures of dead Muslims children who often are casualties of the on-going war against terrorism. In this case they do not post the photos of innocent Muslims who are against their course. For instance the online magazine was keen to exclude the information on it action to behead 19 young male Muslims who refused to pledge their loyalty to ISIS. The second media, Twitter is also manipulatively used by these publishers by speeding the notion of Jihadist through Twitter hash tags. Instagram is the other media used to the advantage of these groups in their awareness creation course of extremism. In this case gruesome photos of killed British or U. S soldiers are poster in their instagram account in praise of their Jihadist course. On the extremist group website content, pictures and featured stories are posted to praise their course for Jihadist while on the other hand calling out for more recruits to join this course. Google through the Google search ranking has also been used by this extremist group by publishing extremist article and featured stories on the Google search engine platform. This has enabled this content to be easily accessed by many people globally making them exposed to extremism (Precht, C. 2008). Evidently revealed this online magazine shows clear indication that this is written press material contains a lot of propaganda (Weaver, J. 2015). A Look at the magazines contents especially its context and pictures are enough proof for this claim. Conclusion Propaganda in this online material can be claimed to indirectly contribute toward the increment of the issue on global terrorism. This is because it can be argued that there are people who fall for the false information published in the magazine and without their knowledge end up participating in terrorism acts. The findings will also help in the fight against these extremist groups since it reveals important information about it. APPENDIX References Al-Atawneh, M. (2014). Islamist Radicalisation in Europe and the Middle East: Reassessing the Causes of Terrorism, by George Joffé. IS, 5(1), 148-150. http://dx.doi.org/10.12730/13091719.2014.51.106 Bartlett, J and Carl M (2012). "The Edge of Violence: Towards Telling the Difference Between Violent and Non-Violent Radicalization." Terrorism and Political Violence 24, no. 1 (2012): 1-21. Christmann, K(2012). "Preventing Religious Radicalisation and Violent Extremism A Systematic:Review of the Research Evidence." Youth Justice Board for England and Wales. Accessed February 26, 2016. https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/39603 0/preventing-violent-extremism-systematic-review Home Office. (2011, June 7). Prevent strategy 2011. Retrieved May 10, 2016, from http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/publications/counter-terrorism/prevent/prevent-strategy/ Narrative landmines: Rumors, Islamist extremism, and the struggle for strategic influence (2013). Choice Reviews Online, 50(06), 50–3514–50–3514. doi:10.5860/choice.50-3514 Neumann, P. (2013). Options and Strategies for Countering Online Radicalization in the United States. Edwards, C &Gribbon, L. (2013).Pathways to Violent Extremism in the Digital Era. The RUSI Journal, 158(5), 40-47. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/03071847.2013.847714 Lance Bennett and Alexandra Segerberg (2012) “The Logic of Connective Action. Digital media and the personalization of contentious politics”. Information, Communication & Society 15(5): 739-768. Lili Levi (2012) “Social media and the press.” North Carolina Law Review 90(5): 1531-1596. Pearson, E. (2015). The case of Roshonara Choudhry: Implications for theory on online Radicalization, ISIS Women, and the Gendered jihad. Policy & Internet. doi:10.1002/poi3.101 Precht, C. (2008). Home grown terrorism and Islamist radi- calisation in Europe. [Blog] International Centre for the Study of Radi calisation and Political Violence. Available at: http://www.justitsministeriet.dk/sites/default/files/media/Arbejdsomraader/Forskning/Forskningspuljen/2011/2007/Home_grown_terrorism_and_Islamist_radicalisation_in_Europe_-_an_assessment_of_influencing_factors__2_.pdf [Accessed 22 Apr. 2016]. Radicalization in western Europe: Integration, public discourse, and loss of identity among Muslim communities (2015). Choice Reviews Online, 52(11), 52–6114–52–6114. doi:10.5860/choice.190411 Schmidle, Robert E., ‘Positioning Theory and Terrorist Networks’. Journal for the Theory of Social Behaviour, Vol. 40, No. 1, 2009, pp.65–78. The de-radicalization of Jihadists: Transforming armed Islamist movements (2010). Choice Reviews Online, 47(09), 47–5282–47–5282. doi:10.5860/choice.47-5282 Vidino, L., & Brandon, J. (2012). Europe’s experience in countering radicalisation: Approaches and challenges. Journal of Policing, Intelligence and Counter Terrorism, 7(2), 163–179. doi:10.1080/18335330.2012.719097 Weaver, J. (2015). The Perils of a Piecemeal Approach to Fighting ISIS in Iraq.Public Administration Review, 75(2), 192-193. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/puar.12351 Wojcieszak, M. (2010). “Don’t talk to me”: Effects of ideologically homogeneous online groups and politically dissimilar offline ties on extremism. New Media & Society, 12(4), 637–655. doi:10.1177/1461444809342775 Read More

Christmann emphasises that geography and space in connecting individuals which was a great inhibitor of online radicalisation is now no longer a limiting factor. He claims that this is due to the evolution in technology which has paved way for internet. Sedgwick points out on the internet’s ability to ‘reach’ many individuals(Christmann. K,2O12). This can be claimed to be the reason why Isis is using it to make "Dabiq” accessible globally. This shows that the internet has created the opportunity for these terrorist and extremist groups to radicalise a broader range of people (Sedgwick, M2010).

Analysis by Schmidle, (2009) shows that the internet affords these terrorists and extremist groups great anonymity which is a factor that has enhanced their campaigns. He further claims that the internet to their advantage by breaking some physical world barriers which have enabled them to reach more people globally. He highlights the case of female jihadists who he claimed that are prohibited by their culture to either meet in person with extremists who in most cases are. Therefore the internet makes these easy for them to relate with this extremist groups (Schmidle, 2015).

Methods to Identify Key filters One filter method that can be used perfectly in distinguishing whether the "Dabiq” contains propaganda is comparing it with other online magazines published by Muslim groups. Comparing this discourse with the Islamique an online magazine published by Muslims. In this case the Islamique focuses on publishing enlightening and upliftingmaterial for the Muslim community. On the other hand the “Dabiq” focuses on Jihadist action rather than being general in its publication (Radicalization in western Europe: Integration, public discourse, and loss of identity among Muslim communities (2015).

This online magazine as compared to the Islamique seems quite distinct especially judging by the content and photos published in it. Unlike another online religious magazine which preaches religion the "Dabiq” seems to focus on the stirring more hate on the non-Arabic nation especially the U.S and Britain (The de-radicalization of Jihadists: Transforming armed Islamist movements, 2010). The way the online magazine praises the jihadist actions refutes its innocence in glorifying Muslim religion (“Narrative landmines: Rumors, Islamist extremism, and the struggle for strategic influence,” 2013).

On the other hand looking on how the online magazine rhetorically anodes jihadist action against the non-Muslim countries generates more evidence that this written press material contains propaganda. This is backed up by the featured story in every edition of the magazine which focuses on significant demise that has occurred in these no-Muslim nations Edwars & Gribbon, 2013) This online magazine is translated to English, Germany Arabic and French language with the goal of it to convince more individuals to support and join the course for this extremist group.

The other media used in publication of these online magazine know to contain propaganda is the ISIS website and the Clarion’s project website in the U.S. I analysed this media by reviewing their previous works and assessing the goals for its action in these works. In this case through analysing the ISIS and Clarion’s project website I noted there was biasness in publication of materiel. I noted that the article published in this website tainted the non-Muslims as atheist who does not deserve to live.

These publications urge the Muslims to take up arms and get rid of the non-Muslims. The content in this magazines justify these actions by manipulating the religious doctrines (“Narrative landmines: Rumors, Islamist extremism, and the struggle for strategic influence,” 2013). Findings and how effective they are The discourse in this case is an online magazine which is targeted to the general society since judging by the current growth in global terrorism more individuals not necessarily from the Muslim community are joining these terrorist groups.

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