The psychology of detachment and hyperreality Analyzing ISIL`s propaganda Jamil Walli Supervision: Göran Palm Linnaeus University Sweden. Växjö June.30.2015 I Acknowledgment My sincere gratefulness to Sweden; the nation of mercy and “my haven” And thanks to: Jonathan Schalk, Gustaf Cars, Wenche Gros, Göran Palm and Eva Lundberg. II Contents Abstract ........................................................................................................................................................ 1 1. Background .............................................................................................................................................. 3 ____________________________________________________________________________________ 2. Methodologies and materials .................................................................................................................. 5 2.1. Methods ................................................................................................................................................ 5 2.1.1. Semiotic analysis ................................................................................................................... 5 2.1.2. Critical discourse analysis (CDA).......................................................................................... 6 2.2. Materials ............................................................................................................................................... 8 2.3. Notes ..................................................................................................................................................... 9 ____________________________________________________________________________________ 3. Theories .................................................................................................................................................. 10 3.1. Propaganda ......................................................................................................................................... 10 3.2. Terrorism ............................................................................................................................................ 11 3.3. Globalization ...................................................................................................................................... 13 ____________________________________________________________________________________ 4. Analysis ................................................................................................................................................... 16 4.1. Religious codes ................................................................................................................................... 16 4.1.1. Provoking jihad .............................................................................................................................. 17 4.1.2. Elevating morale ............................................................................................................................ 21 4.1.3. Sacred pledging ............................................................................................................................. 23 4.1.4. Jihadists` piety ............................................................................................................................... 25 A. Invocation ...................................................................................................................................... 25 B. Vice prevention .............................................................................................................................. 27 4.1.5. Inevitability of adversarial ............................................................................................................. 29 4.1.6. Legitimizing polytheist manifestations` annihilation .................................................................... 32 4.1.7. Legitimizing scenic punishments................................................................................................... 34 4.1.8. Inevitability of the Caliphate ......................................................................................................... 36 4.1.9. Global expansion ........................................................................................................................... 39 Brief .................................................................................................................................................... 41 _____________________________________________ III 4.2. Perceptible codes ................................................................................................................................ 42 4.2.1. Antagonism .................................................................................................................................... 43 A. Definite adversary .......................................................................................................................... 43 B. Antagonists` alliance ...................................................................................................................... 44 C. Antagonism with Assad regime (Alawites) ................................................................................... 46 D. Antagonists` blasphemy ................................................................................................................. 48 E. Antagonists` hostility ..................................................................................................................... 49 F. Antagonists` failure ........................................................................................................................ 51 4.2.2. Apostate treachery/falsehood ......................................................................................................... 53 4.2.3. Historical narrative ........................................................................................................................ 56 4.2.4. Martial might ................................................................................................................................. 58 4.2.5. Monitor .......................................................................................................................................... 60 4.2.6. Unification ..................................................................................................................................... 62 4.2.7. Leadership...................................................................................................................................... 64 4.2.8. Lively state..................................................................................................................................... 66 Brief .................................................................................................................................................... 68 _____________________________________________ 4.3. Psychological affect/mechanisms ...................................................................................................... 70 4.3.1. Projection & Alienation ................................................................................................................. 71 4.3.2. Shock value .................................................................................................................................... 77 4.3.3. Aura or possessed remnants ........................................................................................................... 82 Brief .................................................................................................................................................... 85 ____________________________________________________________________________________ 5. Findings .................................................................................................................................................. 87 ____________________________________________________________________________________ 6. Conclusion/ Dialectic ............................................................................................................................. 96 ____________________________________________________________________________________ Bibliography .............................................................................................................................................. 99 Appendices ............................................................................................................................................... 102 IV Abstract The emergence of “the Islamic state of Iraq and the Levant” was surprising not only because of its rapid expansion geographically across Syria and Iraq, but also because of its global influence. That is represented in its magnetic power through gravitating large numbers of Muslim youth, from almost all around the world. Interestingly, ISIL is having the global influence that has never been witnessed in any radical group we have come to know before. And the increased affiliation is not only confined to the bodily entrance and the migration of Islamic youth to ISIL`s landscape, but also through pledging other groups the allegiance to ISIL globally, such as the most recent Boko Haram affiliation and others in the Arab world. Thus, ISIL as a glocal “group” is exerting an international activity that functions within the processes of globalization and not the opposite.