Tweeting the Jihad: Social Media Networks of Western Foreign Fighters in Syria and Iraq

• Published in: Studies in conflict and terrorism Vol. 38; no. 1; pp. 1 - 22
• Main Author: Klausen, Jytte
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington Routledge 02.01.2015; Taylor & Francis LLC
• Subjects: Cellular Phones; Cellular telephones; Communication; Europe; Evaluation; Influence; Insurgency; Iraq; Jihad; Mass Media; Mass Media Effects; Mobile phones; Network Analysis; Organizations; Preachers; Radical groups; Rebellions; Research methodology; Social aspects; Social media; Social Networks; Syria; Terrorism; Terrorist organizations; Text messaging; Twitter; United Kingdom; Western Society; IRAQ; SYRIA; Syria; Iraq

Social media have played an essential role in the jihadists' operational strategy in Syria and Iraq, and beyond. Twitter in particular has been used to drive communications over other social media platforms. Twitter streams from the insurgency may give the illusion of authenticity, as a spontan...