RT Article T1 “To My Brothers in the West . . .”: a Thematic Analysis of Videos Produced by the Islamic State’s al-Hayat Media Center JF Journal of contemporary criminal justice VO 33 IS 3 SP 234 OP 253 A1 Macnair, Logan A1 Frank, Richard LA English YR 2017 UL https://krimdok.uni-tuebingen.de/Record/1739012100 AB This study examines videos produced by the al-Hayat Media Center, a branch of the Islamic State’s (IS) larger media campaign aimed more specifically at Western audiences. Using a thematic analysis approach, recurring themes of 10 al-Hayat videos were identified with conclusions made regarding the specificities of the message and the target audience. It was found that al-Hayat videos cater to potential Western recruits and sympathizers by portraying life in the IS as spiritually and existentially fulfilling, while simultaneously decrying the West as secular, immoral, and criminal. By utilizing well-produced propaganda videos that tap into the dissatisfactions of Western Muslims, al-Hayat was shown to deliver a sophisticated and legitimate message that may play a role in the larger radicalization process. K1 Islamic State K1 Al-Hayat Media Center K1 Propaganda K1 Radicalization DO 10.1177/1043986217699313