Discourses of terrorism: The role of Internet technologies (social media and online propaganda) on Islamic radicalisation, extremism and recruitment post 9/11

Author

Robyn Torok, Edith Cowan UniversityFollow

Date of Award

2016

Document Type

Thesis

Publisher

Edith Cowan University

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy

School

School of Science

First Supervisor

Professor Craig Valli

Second Supervisor

Dr Eyal Gringart

Abstract

The threat of Islamic terrorism has become the biggest threat to Australian National Security. Since 9/11 and the subsequent war on terror, the threat of terrorism has not subsided. Significant parts of this threat are the online discourses of radicalisation perpetuated throughout social media. Literature reviewed included main discursive influences as well as a number of useful theoretical frameworks for later analysis. This thesis used a longitudinal online ethnographic approach coupled with Grounded Theory to examine the discourses and processes involved in radicalisation. The global context for this study was significant and hence has been outlined. Three overarching meta narratives were found: Narratives of grievance, narratives of jihad and narratives of martyrdom. Another important finding was that these narratives were complemented by a significant number of visual images that embedded and conveyed slightly different, yet complementary discourses. In addition, several case studies were also undertaken looking at the discourses and process of recruitment. A case study on the researcher’s insights was also included covering recruiting strategies of the newly formed Islamic State terrorist group. A number of analytical frameworks were applied to the data with the most notable being the Psychiatric Power and the notion of an online institution in which power structures are embedded. A number of radicalisation models are examined in relation to the data and a new model is developed termed: Institutionalised Moral Reframing, which is built on the foundational notions of Psychiatric Power. Finally, implications for counter radicalisation policies are discussed with the need to broaden the focus to better deal with the threats posed by online social media.

Related Publications

Torok, R. (2011). The 9/11 Commission Report and the reframing of the ‘war on terror’ as a new type of warfare. Journal of Policing, Intelligence and Counter Terrorism (JPICT), 6(2). doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/18335330.2011.605215

Torok, R. (2012, 3rd-5th December, 2012). Al-Jihad Fi Sabilillah: in the Heart of Green Birds. Paper presented at the 3rd Australian Counter Terrorism Conference Novotel Langley Hotel, Perth, Western Australia. Article available at http://ro.ecu.edu.au/act/21/

Torok, R. (2013). Developing an explanatory model for the process of online radicalisation and terrorism. Security Informatics, 2(6). Link to article available at here.

Facebook jihad: A case study of recruitment discourses and strategies targeting a Western female. Paper presented at the 2nd International Cyber Resilience Conference (August 1-2), Perth, Western Australia. Article available at http://ro.ecu.edu.au/icr/26/

Torok, R. (2015). Formation of the radical self: Constructs of change in western youth to acts of terrorism on home soil. Paper presented at the 8th Australian Security and Intelligence Conference, Perth, Australia. Article available here.

Torok, R. (2009). Governmentality of US-Chile Relations from 1973 to the Present: Successes and Discontents analysed through Regimes of Truth and Technologies of the Self. Paper presented at the 21st World Congress of Political Science (July 12 – 16), Santiago, Chile. Article available at http://paperroom.ipsa.org/papers/paper_2356.pdf

Torok, R. (2015). Institutionalised moral reframing: A research based model on Islamic radicalisation on social media. Paper presented at the 8th Australian Security and Intelligence Conference, Perth, Australia. Article available here.

Torok, R. (2010). “Make A Bomb In Your Mums Kitchen”: Cyber Recruiting And Socialisation of ‘White Moors’ and Home Grown Jihadists. Paper presented at the 2nd Australian Counter Terrorism Conference (Nov. 30 - Dec 3), Perth, Western Australia. Article available at http://ro.ecu.edu.au/act/6/

Torok, R. (2012). Managing the Mapuche: Security and Identity collisions in Chile. In A. M. Bissessar. (Ed.), Problems in the implementation of government policies in the West Indies : essays on the challenges created by cross-border jurisdictions. Lewiston, N.Y. : Edwin Mellen Press

Torok, R. (2011). The Online Institution: Psychiatric Power as an explanatory model for the normalisation of radicalisation and terrorism. Paper presented at the European Intelligence and Security Informatics Conference (EISIC) (September 12-14), Athens, Greece. doi: 10.1109/EISIC.2011.43

Torok, R. (2016). The role of women from a social media jihad perspective: Wife or Warrior? In R. English and R. Johns (Eds.) Gender Considerations in Online Consumption Behavior and Internet Use (pp. 161-184). IGI Global, Hershey, PA. doi: 10.4018/978-1-5225-0010-0.ch011

Torok, R. (2011). Schooling in the name of God: Teachers’ Perspectives. Saarbruken, Germany: Lambert Academic Publishers.

Torok, R. (2016). Social media and the use of discursive markers of online extremism and recruitment, In Majeed Khader et al. (Eds.). Combating Violent Extremism and Radicalization in the Digital Era (pp. 39-69) IGI Global, Hershey, PA. doi: 10.4018/978-1-5225-0156-5.ch003 , https://ro.ecu.edu.au/ecuworkspost2013/2425/

Torok, R. (2015). Symbiotic radicalisation strategies: Propaganda tools and neuro-linguistic programming. Paper presented at the 8th Australian Security and Intelligence Conference, Perth, Australia. Article available at http://ro.ecu.edu.au/asi/45/

Torok, R. (2014). Using a Visual Method of Ethno-Symbology to Elucidate Participant Voice. In W. Midgley, A. Davies, M. E. Oliver & P. A. Danaher (Eds.), Echoes: Ethics and Issues of Voice in Education Research (pp. 211-225). Netherlands: Sense Publishers. Link to chapter here.

Torok, R. (2009). Using the concept of governmentality as a framework for examining pedagogical context. Paper presented at the 14th Biennial conference of International Study Association on teachers and teaching (June 29 – July 4), University of Lapland, Rovaniemi, Finland.

Access Note

Access to this thesis is not available.

Recommended Citation

Torok, R. (2016). Discourses of terrorism: The role of Internet technologies (social media and online propaganda) on Islamic radicalisation, extremism and recruitment post 9/11. Edith Cowan University. Retrieved from https://ro.ecu.edu.au/theses/1938