journal article

High-tech performative narratives of ISIS ideology

Golubev K.A.; Pantserev K.A.

Publication year: 2020
Source / journal: terrorism and advanced technologies in psychological warfare new risks new opportunities to counter the terrorist threat
Country of origin: Russia
Language: English
Authors’ affiliations: Department of European Studies, St. Petersburg State University, Russian Federation, Department of Theory and History of International Relations, St. Petersburg State University, Russian Federation
Import source: Scopus export

Abstract

This chapter intends to explore what may be the most important factor behind the sweeping rise of the now defunct Islamic State, yet what consequently survived the physical extinction of the latter, namely its ideology presented in a performative high-tech manner. Specifically we are interested in just how ISIS narrated their own medieval version of Islam through vivid stories and communicated those successfully to target audiences around the globe. With the help of those performative narratives ISIS was able to construct a coherent discursive realm in which individuals acted in accordance with or contrary to the commandments of Allah, receiving either reward or punishment. Their source of legitimacy was a textually rigorous reading of select excerpts of the Quran served on an attractive high-tech platform of various social media, glossy online magazines, digital videos, and computer games. Their counterparts attempted unconvincingly to debunk those narratives by mocking and insisting that ISIS lacked humanity. Rather, they should have chosen to counter-attack with own performative narratives that would have shown ISIS fighters retreat, suffer defeat, etc. Then they would have stood a better chance of disrupting the coherence of the discursive realm constructed by the Islamic State. Clearly, lessons should be drawn for it is only a matter of time before the likes of ISIS emerge on the horizon. © 2020 Nova Science Publishers, Inc..

Author keywords

high-tech performative narratives, isis ideology, islamist propaganda, psychological warfare