Date of Award
Fall 2024
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Department
Political Science & Geography
Program/Concentration
Graduate Program in International Studies
Committee Director
Regina Karp
Committee Member
Matthew Dearing
Committee Member
Peter Schulman
Abstract
The rise of social media has transformed the battleground for extremist groups like ISIS and the Taliban, enabling them to reach global audiences with unprecedented ease. This dissertation investigates the social media strategies employed by the Taliban and ISIS. These social media strategies are used to further their strategic objectives in propaganda, recruitment, and operational coordination. Through a comprehensive analysis, the study explores how these extremist groups adapt their digital tactics in response to evolving military and political landscapes. Utilizing case studies from key military engagements and applying theoretical frameworks of rational actor theory, social identity theory, and finite and infinite game theory, this research elucidates the sophisticated use of digital platforms and messaging strategies by these groups. Novel methodological innovations, including advanced textual and temporal analysis powered by Python are employed to uncover patterns and strategies within the vast datasets of social media content. The findings reveal distinct yet overlapping strategies, highlights how these groups construct and disseminate their narratives, the psychological and emotional appeals they employ, and sustain their ideological narratives that underscore the importance of social media in modern insurgency and terrorism. By providing detailed insights, this study aims to contribute to the broader literature on digital extremism and inform counterterrorism strategies.
Rights
In Copyright. URI: http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/ This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s).
DOI
10.25777/gjek-5j21
ISBN
9798302855411
Recommended Citation
Shanks, Daniel P..
"The Digital Battlefield: Extremists on Social Media"
(2024). Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Dissertation, Political Science & Geography, Old Dominion University, DOI: 10.25777/gjek-5j21
https://digitalcommons.odu.edu/gpis_etds/241
