Cultivating Collective Identity Online: An Analysis of Pro-Islamic State Discourse on Twitter by Britt Rina Tuckey B.A., University of British Columbia, 2011 Thesis Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Arts in the School for International Studies Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences Britt Rina Tuckey 2016 SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY Spring 2016 Approval Name: Britt Rina Tuckey Degree: Master of Arts Title: Cultivating Collective Identity Online: An Analysis of Pro-Islamic State Discourse on Twitter Examining Committee: Chair: Christopher Gibson Assistant Professor Tamir Moustafa Senior Supervisor Associate Professor Jeffrey Checkel Supervisor Professor Garth Davies External Examiner Associate Professor Criminology Simon Fraser University Date Defended/Approved: February 15, 2016 ii Abstract Social movements around the world have begun to harness new tools in the repertoire of political contention: social media. Social scientists have begun to investigate the relationship between social media and mobilization, yet the majority of the literature is focused on how these tools are used to co-ordinate protest activities in the physical world. Despite increasing acknowledgement of collective identity as a mobilizing force, social movement theorists have mostly emphasized social media’s informational and organizational functions. This thesis focuses on the ideational function of social media by examining mechanisms of collective identity cultivation therein, and posits that social media not only affect mobilization in the physical world, but constitute a space for mobilization itself. I present an analysis of the pro-Islamic State (IS) discourse on Twitter, highlighting three particular socio-linguistic identity-building mechanisms: indexicality, positioning, and intertextuality. I show that hashtags and hyperlinks are elements of a new digital toolbox which can be used to bolster collective identity creation and movement solidarity. Keywords: Collective identity; Islamic State; social movement theory; social media; Twitter iii Dedication This thesis is dedicated to Shane Tuckey and Marianela Pita, for their unending support. iv Acknowledgements This thesis was made possible by the support of many people. I am grateful to the Dean of Graduate Studies for supporting this research by awarding funds in the form of a Graduate Fellowship. I also thank each of the faculty members at Simon Fraser University who contributed to an enriching and rewarding educational experience, especially my senior supervisor Tamir Moustafa. I am deeply grateful to my family and friends for their support. In particular I thank Stephanie Perrin, for her camaraderie and perspective throughout the research and writing process. v Table of Contents Approval .............................................................................................................................ii Abstract ............................................................................................................................. iii Dedication .........................................................................................................................iv Acknowledgements ........................................................................................................... v Table of Contents ..............................................................................................................vi List of Tables ................................................................................................................... viii List of Figures....................................................................................................................ix List of Acronyms ................................................................................................................xi Glossary ........................................................................................................................... xii Screen Capture of Pro-IS Tweet ..................................................................................... xiii Chapter 1. Introduction ............................................................................................... 1 Social Media and Contentious Collective Action ............................................................... 1 A Brief History of IS ........................................................................................................... 4 IS on Social Media ............................................................................................................ 7 The Online Pro-IS Social Movement ................................................................................. 8 Limitations ....................................................................................................................... 11 Outline of Thesis ............................................................................................................. 11 Chapter 2. Literature Review .................................................................................... 15 Framing and Collective Identity Theory ........................................................................... 15 New Social Movement Theory ........................................................................................ 16 Social Media and Mobilization ......................................................................................... 17 Social Media and Identity ................................................................................................ 19 Synthesizing Approaches ................................................................................................ 22 Four Characteristics of Social Movements ...................................................................... 23 Collective Challenge............................................................................................... 24 Common Purpose .................................................................................................. 25 Social Solidarity & Identity ...................................................................................... 26 Sustained Interaction.............................................................................................. 28 Conclusion ...................................................................................................................... 28 Chapter 3. Methodology ............................................................................................ 30 Establishing the Source .................................................................................................. 30 Building the Corpus of Data ............................................................................................ 33 Doing Discourse Analysis ............................................................................................... 39 Chapter 4. Analysis of Pro-IS Identity on Twitter ................................................... 44 Section A – Introduction to the Baqiyah Family Identity .................................................. 44 Mobilizing for Islam................................................................................................. 48 Shared Values ........................................................................................................ 51 Constructing the “Other” ......................................................................................... 52 Section B – Analysis of Twitter Features ........................................................................ 54 vi Usernames and Account Names ............................................................................ 55 Gendered Naming Conventions ............................................................................. 57 Visual Elements of the Discourse ........................................................................... 58 The Flag of IS ......................................................................................................... 59 IS versus Nationalism ............................................................................................ 60 Profile and Background Pictures ............................................................................ 62 Gender Differences.......................................................................................... 62 Visual Trends Among Pro-IS Males ................................................................ 63 Visual Trends Among Pro-IS Females ............................................................ 66 Feminist Jihad .................................................................................................. 69 Emoticons .............................................................................................................. 73 Images of Violence................................................................................................. 75 Location .................................................................................................................. 76 Biography ............................................................................................................... 79 Conclusion ...................................................................................................................... 82 Chapter 5. Securitization, Suspension and Injustice Framing .............................. 83 Securitization Theory .....................................................................................................