In-group and out-group identity construction in extremist discourse
A Critical Multimodal Approach
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 6416454 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Sahar Rasoulikolamaki (0000-0003-2893-1838, University of Malaya, corresponding author), Sukhmani Kaur (0000-0001-9497-8277, University of Malaya), Alena Zhdanava (0000-0003-0175-0316, National Academy of Governance), Noor Aqsa Nabila Mat Isa (0000-0001-9837-0226, University of Malaya) |
| Year | 2023 |
| Volume | 17 |
| Issue | 4 |
| Pages | 377-395 |
| Publication date | 2023-08-30 |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Behavioral Sciences of Terrorism and Political Aggression (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 1943-4480 • E-ISSN: 1943-4472 |
| Publisher | Routledge (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1080/19434472.2023.2245011 |
| OpenAlex | W4386274831 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 2 |
| References cited | 19 |
ISIS has seemingly been successful in mobilizing advocates from heterogenous backgrounds. Such diversity is symptomatic of the organization’s heavy investment in strategic messaging and identity construction to gain legitimacy. This study examined the multimodal discursive properties of ISIS’s narrative in its communique, Dabiq. It undertook a Multimodal Critical Discourse Analysis of the representation of in-group and out-group actors implementing Van Leeuwen’s socio-semantic inventory. The results showed that the in-group members are deliberately specified, hence foregrounded, and at the same time, the diversity among them is highlighted as an inseparable hallmark of ISIS’s movement. Therefore, no racial, geographical, or cultural line was drawn apropos its participants to ensure more inclusion. Conversely, the perceived enemies are framed as diverse yet homogeneous entities textually through generic references and addressing them collectively regardless of their potential dissimilarities and visually by categorizing them through religiously, culturally, or nationally distinguishable features. It acts as a legitimation tactic by which striking against one enemy justifies striking against others. The combination of these strategic multimodal framing tasks serves as a propaganda tool for ISIS to intensify polarisation, enhance in-group participation, and ultimately facilitate mobilization
Adversary · Collective identity · Computer security · Critical discourse analysis · Diversity (politics · Framing (construction · Ideology · Legitimacy · Legitimation · Linguistics · Narrative · Political science · Politics · Public relations · Sensemaking · Sociology · Terrorism · Computer Science · Engineering · Law · Middle East and Rwanda Conflicts · Psychology · Social Psychology · Terrorism, Counterterrorism, and Political Violence
Discourse and Practice
Human groups and social categories
How Isis represented enemies as ineffectual in Dabiq
Mediated Public Diplomacy of the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria
Nexus of Global Jihad
Social Identifications
Caliphate, Hijrah and Martyrdom as Performative Narrative in Isis Dabiq Magazine
Images, visions and narrative identity formation of Isis
Theology, heroism, justice, and fear
Actor descriptions, action attributions, and argumentation
Tweeting the Jihad
The Media Strategy of Isis
Assessing the Future Threat
Violence in the name of god? A framing processes approach to the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria
The Representational Strategies of Lionization and Victimization in Isis's Online Magazine, Dabiq
Cyber-Extremism
| Citations per year | 2 |
|---|---|
| Citation span | 2025 - 2025 (1) |
| Highly cited | No |