Abstract

Given the sheer amount of terrorist propaganda material circulating the internet as well as the increasingly global nature of terrorist attacks, it seems impossible to deny the impact that a sophisticated communication strategy can have on an individual’s decision to participate in terrorist activities. Previous research, exploring the relationship between terrorist propaganda material and recruitment, concludes that exposure to powerful messaging structure can successfully increases terrorist mobilization for a specific cause. However, terrorist communication strategies, and their increasingly high levels of sophistication, have yet to be definitively quantified as a form of warfare, and thus, the means of addressing these threats remain inadequate. This study, therefore, examines the effectiveness of a new form of information warfare - the use of cognitive warfare by violent non-state actors on the level of terrorist mobilization. Focusing on two elements of cognitive warfare, tactical communication and deception, this study conducted a qualitative content analysis using computerized text analysis software, on official propaganda material released by Al Qaeda and the Islamic State to assess the impact that the narratives propagated have on levels of terrorist mobilization. Results demonstrated that a high use of cognitive warfare, rooted in Salafi Jihadist ideology had a greater positive impact of levels of terrorist mobilization than the employment of lower levels of cognitive warfare.

Advisor

Lantis, Jeffrey

Department

Global and International Studies

Disciplines

Political Science

Publication Date

2018

Degree Granted

Bachelor of Arts

Document Type

Senior Independent Study Thesis

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© Copyright 2018 Anushka Mishra