RT Article
T1 Reading jihad: mapping the shifting themes of Inspire magazine
JF Terrorism and political violence
VO 30
IS 4
SP 684
OP 717
A1 Droogan, Julian
A1 Peattie, Shane
A2 Peattie, Shane
LA English
YR 2018
UL https://krimdok.uni-tuebingen.de/Record/187052778X
AB Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula’s Inspire magazine has received attention within Western academia and media for its role in inspiring and instructing a series of homegrown terrorist attacks. Reporting on the magazine often characterises it as a Western-centric instrument of jihadi discourse. This characterisation, while broadly accurate, is in need of refinement. Using a modified version of Jennifer Attride-Stirling’s method of thematic network analysis, this research visualises and analyses the narrative themes contained within fourteen issues of Inspire magazine. It demonstrates that the magazine’s narrative extends well beyond the Western world. In reality, Inspire’s themes centre not only on the West and its Muslim populations, but on local politics and broader religious issues. The magazine’s thematic focus has also shifted over time—particularly in response to (a) political volatility in the Middle East and North Africa, (b) the killing of prominent jihadists, and (c) the execution of successful individual jihad operations. Throughout these periods of change, Inspire struggled to maintain focus on its anti-Western narrative and proved easily distracted by local issues and the “martyrdom” of Al Qaeda leaders. Understanding Inspire’s thematic landscape and its shifting character prove important in understanding and responding effectively to its jihadi discourse.
NO Gesehen am 17.11.2023
NO Published online: 30 Aug 2016
K1 Al Qaeda
K1 Jihadism
K1 Inspire magazine
K1 terrorist propaganda
K1 Violent Extremism
DO 10.1080/09546553.2016.1211527