Reading done on January 31, 2019
"“Kill Them Wherever You Find Them” - Radicalizing Narratives of the “So-Called” Islamic State Via the Online Magazine Rumiyah"
- Written by Micha Bröckling, Carola Fritsch, Monzer Haider, Tülin Yalman - December 28 2018
- Journal for Deradicalization, No. 17
- accessed on January 31, 2019
This research identifies the radicalization strategies in Rumiyah magazine. It uses a qualitative content analysis of all the issues of the English-language version of Rumiyah to investigate the narratives Rumiyah utilizes in addressing its readers as well as the pathways proposed toward radicalization (page 240)
The authors claim that this research indicates that journeying to the Caliphate is no longer the primary objective of radicalization. They claim that Rumiyah asks young people to relocate the battle to their home countries (page 240).
"[T]he frequent narration of enemy images and clear rules in Rumiyah magazine provides clues as to what action guidelines could be used to counter the radicalization of youth" (page 240).
Bröckling et al. (2018) structure the categories according to the distinction between push and pull factors (page 251). They claim that this structure appears more appropriate to them as it reflects the simultaneous alienation from the original society and the progression into the alternative, terrorist society of the IS (page 252).
Push Factors
ENEMY IMAGES"This category includes assertions about the enemies of the IS. This can be on the level of religious ideology as well as on a specifically military level. In accordance with In-Group/Out-Group mentality as borrowed from Radicalization Theory, all non-supporters of the IS are designated as hostile in this Enemy-Schema in order to legitimize and demand violence against them. The world is divided into a binary system in which only believers and non-believers, brothers-in-arms or enemies, exist. In order to gain a better overview of the different archetypes of “Enemy Images” referenced in Rumiyah and to be able to differentiate between them, this category has been divided into four subcategories" (page 252).
Non-Muslim Religious Groups (False Religious Communities)
"This subcategory contains statements on all groups that, in the opinion of the IS, adhere to a “false” faith" (page 253).
False Interpretations of Islam (False Religious Communities)
"Other interpretations of Islam are classified separately from the subcategory “Non-Muslim Religious Groups” as they are referred to in the journal Rumiyah as a non-Muslim religious community using different terminology. The necessity of militant jihad and the recognition of the Caliphate of the IS are at the core of the distinction between “true” and “false” Muslims. In Kiefer et al. (2016) this category does not exist, in this case “Non-Muslim Religious Groups” and “False Interpretations of Islam” are combined under “False Religious Groups”" (page 253).
West and Its Allies
"This subcategory includes statements about the military and ideological enemies of the IS worldwide as well as the allies of the West among the MENA States. They can either be directly involved in the struggle against the IS on a national level (e.g. USA, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, etc.) or represent an enemy of the IS on an ideological level (e.g. Western Imperialism). Also included are comments on historically important reference points for the IS, such as the Sykes-Picot Agreement of 1916 or the 2003 US invasion of Iraq" (page 253).
Other Jihadist Groups
"This subcategory includes text passages in which the IS distinguishes itself from other jihadist groups and makes an exclusive claim to the legitimate representation of Ummah. Specifically, in conjunction with the proclamation of the caliphate, the IS emphasizes this special status and thereby tries to separate itself from other jihadist groups such as al-Qaida" (page 254).
DIFFERENTIATION FROM MAINSTREAM SOCIETY AND PARENTS' GENERATIONS
"In order to not confuse the separation from both the mainstream society and the parents’ generation with the creation of enemy images, this category includes a stronger focus on the call for ideological and cultural isolation from the surroundings. One should consider the context of the recruit’s surroundings. It is not, as with the set of rules, predominantly about one’s own person, but about protection from the false influences of parents and mainstream society" (page 254).
PERCEIVED DEPRIVATION
"Oriented on the ground floor of Moghaddam’s Theory of Radicalization (2005, 162f.), this category includes statements that seek to convey an image of the discrimination of the recipients within their communities. This perceived role as a victim of the western mainstream society lays the foundation for the individual to be able to differentiate himself
from society and attack it in the next step. In our analysis, we have divided this category according to the division between individual and collective deprivation common in deprivation literature" (page 254).
(Kiefer et al. (2016) classify deprivation without differentiation between collective or individual)" (page 254).
Individual Deprivation
"This subcategory encompasses text passages that speak to the individual in the role as a victim of Western Society. These passages can be, for example, economic factors but can also be individual experiences that have led to a perception of being disrespected by society" (page 255).
Collective Deprivation
"In contrast to “Individual Deprivation”, this subcategory denotes the discrimination of a group within society. In the case of the IS, this category refers to the (perceived) discrimination of Muslim men and women in Western Society (and in other parts of the world) and the resulting lack of opportunities for Muslims to actively participate within this society (Moghaddam: 2005, p. 163: Theine: 2006, p. 20)" (page 255).
REPRIMANDS OF THE MUJAHIDDIN
"This category was added by us inductively starting with Issue 11. In this issue it is indicated that a great many Mujahiddin begin to weaken in the struggle or in following the rules of the IS and to doubt their way. This behavior is condemned, and readers are likewise admonished not to turn their backs on jihad. For this purpose, accounts from the Sunnah are also used as inspiration" (page 255).
Pull Factors
SUPERIORITY OF THE IS"This category contains statements concerning the material, and especially the military power, of the IS in relation to other conflict parties in the Syrian civil war as well as its perceived enemies in an international context. The economic strength of the caliphate can also be included" (page 256). IS AS AVANT-GARDE
"This category includes statements that represent the IS as the only authority legitimized by Allah and emphasizes its religious and spiritual superiority over other interpretations of Islam and other Islamic institutions. In contrast to the category “Glorification of the Fighters”, only the religiousness and privileged status of the “true Muslim” prevails here and not worldly, individual character traits" (page 256).
ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE IS
"The category of “Achievements of the IS” includes statements proclaiming the successes of the organization in diverse contexts. Statements about territorial advancements, attacks committed, as well as an increase in followers can be classified under this section. In contrast to the category “Military/Material”, the superiority of IS in this category refers to specific events rather than general statements about the strength and superiority of the organization" (page 257).
Achievements of the IS Outside the Controlled Territories
To find out whether the IS really relies more on transnational terrorism, the authors add another subcategory. "All successful attacks, hostilities, and conquests that are explicitly reported as outside the territory of the IS are listed under this subcategory. As an indicator, we consider whether the magazine speaks of attacks outside the wilayat of the IS" (page 257).
SOCIAL ENSURANCES
"This category refers to all the indications by the IS to ensure the financial and social security of its followers. On one hand, there is the mentioning of prestige, acknowledgement, and equality within the community and, on the other hand, there is the mentioning of solid financial security for the organization members (Goertz: 2018, p. 44 ff.; Said: 2016, p. 161ff.)" (page 257).
CLEAR RULES AND REGULATIONS
"This category refers to explicit rules for conflict and everyday life, which are partly based on the interpretation of the Koran and the Sunnah by the IS, or are stand-alone instructions intended to strengthen and replicate the structures of the IS. Indiscretions and rule violations are severely punished" (page 258). The authors claim that they "consider this category important because its function is to replace previous legal and social regulations that are discarded during the radicalization process. The rules provide the radicalizing person stability in a time of great change and suggest a feeling of security. They also serve to divide the perceived surroundings and one’s own behavior into “right” and “wrong”" (page 258).
SUPPOSEDLY NOBLE GOALS
"All passages that speak of the “holy, God-given” goals of the IS are assigned to this category. In the forefront are the long-term goals, which would mean the end of the struggle for the IS. This includes, for example, the conversion of all “unbelievers”, the successful campaign for territories all over the world dedicated to the Caliphate of the IS, God’s punishment upon unbelievers, or else the protection of the ideals of the IS to the point of their own martyrdom. Even the naming of the magazine, Rumiyah, refers to these future goals, since it is based on not resting until Rome is subjugated" (page 258).
"ADVENTURE & EXCITEMENT
This category includes reports about the allegedly exciting and diverse life as a warrior of the IS, which is often cited as the reason for participation in militant jihad (Sageman, 2008, 116 f.). A brief description of this psychological phenomenon can be found in Silke (008, 116 f.): All text passages that present the struggle of the IS as a challenge and entice with fascinating experiences, excitement, and danger can be classified here" (page 259).
CALL FOR CHANGE AND DRIVE FOR ACTION
"Here, the request to readers to become active themselves and to support the work of the IS are to be classified. The category can be found in the work of Benford and Snow (1988) as “motivational framing”. This type of framing usually takes place after a specific foundational work for the process of radicalization has been accomplished (Theine: 2016, p. 21). This category includes practical proposals for action on one hand and general calls for jihad on the other. In any case, the followers of the IS as well as the readers of the magazine must be motivated to become active themselves by being directly invited to do so or by receiving instructions on acts of violence" (page 259).
Call for Change and Drive for Action "Outside the Controlled Territories
This subcategory expands the “Call for Change and Drive for Action” category. It includes the specific call for action abroad. All appeals and speeches that are explicitly reported as outside the territory of the IS are classified under this category" (page 259).
GLORIFICATION OF THE FIGHTERS
"This category was inductively developed by us and is not to be found in Kiefer et al. (2016). Within this category we classify statements that idealize individual fighters or the entire ensemble of IS fighters and associate them with heroic secular traits and attributes. As role models in active combat, they offer guidelines and personal reference points for people in the radicalization process. The glorification of the fighters that died in jihad against the enemy and who were martyred is especially significant and venerated here" (page 260).