A Cultural Political Economy of Insurgent Strategic Communication: Islamic States’ Construction of Jīhādi Imaginaries Through Digital Recruitment

As the threat from extremist groups, such as Daesh (Islamic State), further evolves, we must identify the digital insurgent strategic communication that they use to recruit and subsequently radicalize individuals into the group by focusing on the impact of their strategic and tactical insurgency propaganda in relation to the formulation of a jīhādi identity. Although Daesh has metamorphosed since the loss of its Caliphate, its enduring digital influence and ideology remain prominent as it continues to inspire terrorist attacks. This research employs a cultural political economy framework to investigate the strategic communication of digital insurgents in Daesh’s Dabiq magazine to understand its role in creating jīhadi imaginaries (new worldviews). We do this by analyzing the role of digital insurgent strategic communication in the process and the methods Daesh members employ to encourage recruitment. While the conclusions drawn regarding creating jīhadi imaginaries are derived from one magazine, they can be applied to other instances of digital insurgent strategic communication used to promote violence and extremism. As a tool of strategic and tactical insurgency propaganda, digital insurgent strategic communication can reshape a potential recruit’s worldview, persuading readers by establishing credibility through the construction of imaginaries. Radicalization is not limited by location, religion, or cause, and this paper illustrates the role of digital insurgent strategic communication in constructing jīhadi identity and jīhadi imaginaries, ultimately to recruit.