Weaponising words

How Is Constructs Reality Using Nasheed as a Multi-Purpose Propaganda Tool

Bibliographic Data

ID7147889
AuthorsM El-Nashar (0000-0003-0834-0379, Arab Academy for Science, Technology, and Maritime Transport, corresponding author), Heba Nayef (0000-0001-8399-0940, Arab Academy for Science, Technology, and Maritime Transport)
Year2025
Volume17
Issue1
Pages22-43
Publication date2025-01-02
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueBehavioral Sciences of Terrorism and Political Aggression (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1943-4480 • E-ISSN: 1943-4472
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/19434472.2023.2168027
OpenAlexW4319767246
LanguageEN
Citations received2
References cited31

This paper discursively examines Nasheeds as a powerful propaganda tool used by the Islamic State. IS produced Nasheeds as a media stratagem during its territorial victories (boom) and defeats (bust). This paper aims to analyse how IS constructs its own version of reality to gain grounds among its in-group and sympathisers, and demoralise its out-group. This study fills a gap in research as Nasheeds have received limited attention, particularly on the discursive level, compared to other IS’ media products. To the best of our knowledge, this paper is the first to draw a comparison between IS’ boom and bust Nasheeds. Twenty Nasheeds have been selected for a discussion covering the period from 2013 till 2019. Guided by van Dijk’s (2000, 2005, 2008) interdisciplinary socio-cognitive framework and ideological strategies, we propose a Reality Construction Model (RCM) consisting of 13 Reality Construction Strategies (RCSs) as well as 14 Reality Construction Tools (RCTs) deployed by the group to achieve its version of reality. Findings reveal similarities and differences in the usage of RCSs in boom and bust. The analysis revealed that Nasheeds aimed at magnifying and sanctifying its feats, agitating its operatives to take action, and demonising its adversaries.KEYWORDS: Islamic StateNasheedspropagandaCritical Discourse Analysisterrorist discourse Disclosure statementNo potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).Additional informationNotes on contributorsMohamed El-NasharMohamed El-Nashar Associate Professor of Linguistics and Translation, Dean, College of Language and Communication, Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport, Cairo, Egypt. Obtained Master’s degree in Written Translation & Simultaneous Interpretation, and a PhD in Linguistics and Translation from Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt. Reviewer in several local and international journals. My main interests are terrorist discourse, manipulation, critical discourse analysis, pragmatics, semantics, translation, syntax. Some of my published papers are: El-Nashar, M., & Nayef, H. (2022). ‘Cooking the Meal of Terror’ Manipulative Strategies in Terrorist Discourse: A Critical Discourse Analysis of ISIS Statements. Terrorism and Political Violence, 34(1) 155–175; El-Nashar, M. M. M. (2014); Media bias: A critical discourse analysis of the representation of the Egyptian army in The New York Times. International Journal of Arts & Sciences, 7(4), 265; El-Nashar, M. M. M. (2015); Media manipulation: presupposition triggers and lexical choices in the CNN coverage of two presidential elections in Egypt. International Journal of Arts & Sciences, 8(3), 565. Session chairman for three consecutive times at the International Journal of Arts and Sciences conference, held in Harvard University, from 2015 to 2017.Heba NayefHeba Nayef Associate Professor of Linguistics, Vice-dean for Instructional Affairs, College of Language and Communication, Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport, Cairo, Egypt. Obtained Master's degree in Written Translation and Simultaneous Interpretation, and a PhD in Linguistics from Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt. Reviewer in several local journals. My main interests are gender studies, feminist discourse analysis, psycholinguistics, pragmatics, archaeology. Some of my published papers are: El-Nashar, M., & Nayef, H. (2022). ‘Cooking the Meal of Terror’ Manipulative Strategies in Terrorist Discourse: A Critical Discourse Analysis of ISIS Statements. Terrorism and Political Violence, 34(1) 155–175; Nayef, H., & El-Nashar, M. (2015). Who is the culprit: The structure or the culture? Indirect sexism: Linguistic representation of women in Egyptian print media. International Journal of Linguistics and Communication, 3(2), 164–175; Nayef, H. (2014). Abstract Dominance: Linguistic Investigation of Gender Orientation in Vernacular Cairene Arabic. In IGALA 8, conference proceedings (pp. 150–169). Guest speaker at The 3rd International Conference on Gender and Communication, April 7–8, 2016, University of Seville, Spain. Chaired a session at the University of Barcelona, in June 2014

Action (physics · Boom · Bust · Ideology · Islam · Media studies · Political science · Politics · Social science · Sociology · Cybersecurity and Cyber Warfare Studies · Engineering · History · Law · Psychology · Terrorism, Counterterrorism, and Political Violence

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