The Language of New Terrorism: Differences in Psychological Dimensions of Communication in Dabiq and Inspire

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matteo Vergani ◽  
Ana-Maria Bliuc
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Study ◽  
English Language ◽  
Terrorist Attacks ◽  
Al Qaeda ◽  
Positive Attitudes ◽  
Terrorist Groups ◽  
The Usa ◽  
Psychological Dimensions ◽  
New Terrorism

We investigate differences in the psychological aspects underpinning Western mobilisation of two terrorist groups by analysing their English-language propaganda. Based on a computerized analysis of the language used in two English-language online magazines circulated by ISIS and al-Qaeda (i.e., Dabiq and Inspire), we found significant differences in their language - the ISIS’ language being higher in authoritarianism and its level of religiousness. In a follow-up experimental study, we found that being high in religiousness and authoritarianism predicts more positive attitudes towards the language used by ISIS, but not towards the language used by al-Qaeda. The results suggest that ISIS’ propaganda may be more effective in mobilising individuals who are more authoritarian and more focused on religion than that of al-Qaeda. These findings are consistent with the behaviour observed in recent homegrown terrorist attacks in the USA and Europe.

The Language of New Terrorism: Differences in Psychological Dimensions of Communication in Dabiq and Inspire

2018 ◽  
Vol 37 (5) ◽  
pp. 523-540 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matteo Vergani ◽  
Ana-Maria Bliuc
Keyword(s):  
English Language ◽  
The United States ◽  
Al Qaeda ◽  
Islamic State ◽  
Positive Attitudes ◽  
Terrorist Groups ◽  
Psychological Dimensions ◽  
Computerised Analysis ◽  
New Terrorism

We investigate differences in the psychological aspects underpinning Western mobilisation of two terrorist groups by analysing their English-language propaganda. Based on a computerised analysis of the language used in two English-language online magazines circulated by Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) and al-Qaeda (i.e., Dabiq and Inspire), we found significant differences in their language—the ISIS’ language being higher in authoritarianism and its level of religiousness. In a follow-up experimental study, we found that being high in religiousness and authoritarianism predicts more positive attitudes towards the language used by ISIS, but not towards the language used by al-Qaeda. The results suggest that ISIS’ propaganda may be more effective in mobilising individuals who are more authoritarian and more focused on religion than that of al-Qaeda. These findings are consistent with the behaviour observed in recent homegrown terrorist attacks in the United States and Europe.

scholarly journals Citizenship Deprivation as a Counterterrorism Measure in Europe; Possible Follow-Up Scenarios, Human Rights Infringements and the Effect on Counterterrorism

2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (3) ◽  
pp. 338-365
Author(s):  
Maarten P. Bolhuis ◽  
Joris van Wijk
Keyword(s):  
Human Rights ◽  
The Netherlands ◽  
International Cooperation ◽  
Terrorist Attacks ◽  
Policy Measure ◽  
Terrorist Groups ◽  
Recent Developments ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Foreign Fighters

Abstract The departure of substantial numbers of ‘foreign fighters’ and the occurrence of terrorist attacks on European soil have prompted renewed interest in citizenship deprivation as a policy measure. This article aims to contribute to the debate on its utility as a counterterrorism measure by examining recent developments in citizenship deprivation legislation and its use in Belgium, France, Germany, the Netherlands and the UK; discussing the wide array of possible scenarios that may follow after an individual is deprived of citizenship; and analysing to what extent the various outcomes are instrumental in countering terrorism. It concludes that most of the outcomes are problematic from a human rights perspective, or counterproductive in the fight against terrorism as they may cause further marginalisation and radicalisation and can play into the hands of terrorist groups, may cause people to disappear from the radar, and may undermine crucial international cooperation.

Offensive Information Warfare Revisited

2016 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 1-26
Author(s):  
Eli Rohn ◽  
Connie M. White ◽  
Guy Leshem
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Terrorist Attacks ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Voluntary Participation ◽  
Information Warfare ◽  
Network Attacks ◽  
Basic Principles ◽  
Terrorist Groups ◽  
Long Time ◽  
The Usa

Socio-technical forecasts that materialized are of particular interest, as they are based on basic principles that must hold true for a long time, and thus worthy of special attention. The exploitation of the Internet as a vehicle for psychological and physical battle has been anticipated ever since the Internet became a world-wide phenomenon. Its potential for abuse by terrorist groups motivated Valeri & Knights to compile a list of key predictions, without the benefit of the hindsight afforded by the post-millennial terrorist attacks on the USA & Europe, and before social media was conceived. This paper evaluates some of their predictions in light of the massive social media and network attacks that occurred in Israel and Syria. Additionally, the paper examines how attacked governments and nations respond. The authors find that some of the key predictions advanced by Valeri and Knights have proven accurate. Offensive information warfare attacks have and will continue to influence policies, budgets and civic voluntary participation to counter such attacks.

The Long Twentieth Century

2019 ◽  
pp. 114-130
Author(s):  
John Bew ◽  
Alexander Meleagrou-Hitchens ◽  
Martyn Frampton
Keyword(s):  
Nineteenth Century ◽  
Twentieth Century ◽  
Terrorist Attacks ◽  
Al Qaeda ◽  
Family Tree ◽  
The Core ◽  
Terrorist Groups ◽  
Qualitative Nature ◽  
Terrorist Violence

This chapter considers the evolution of terrorist violence across the twentieth century, from the nationalist and anarchist groups that emerged at the end of the nineteenth century through to the September 2001 Al Qaeda terrorist attacks in America. It does not attempt to establish a definition for terrorism—a Sisyphean undertaking. But it does identify commonalities between different terrorist groups over the century and a process of historical learning. It argues that it is possible to draw something of a terrorist “family tree,” which links groups with otherwise very different ideologies and motivations, and which appeared in markedly different settings. The chapter acknowledges the strategic rationale that has been at the core of most terrorist campaigns, but also suggests that a recurrent feature of terrorist violence has been the symbiosis between instrumentalism and fanaticism. The qualitative nature of terrorist violence marks it out as more than the expression of rational political goals. Equally, though, it is impossible to ignore the fact that terrorism has been about power: principally, the struggle for it, waged against those who have it, by those who do not.

Offensive Information Warfare Revisited

2019 ◽  
pp. 1470-1497
Author(s):  
Eli Rohn ◽  
Connie M. White ◽  
Guy Leshem
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
World Wide ◽  
Terrorist Attacks ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Information Warfare ◽  
Network Attacks ◽  
Basic Principles ◽  
Terrorist Groups ◽  
Long Time ◽  
The Usa

Socio-technical forecasts that materialized are of particular interest, as they are based on basic principles that must hold true for a long time, and thus worthy of special attention. The exploitation of the Internet as a vehicle for psychological and physical battle has been anticipated ever since the Internet became a world-wide phenomenon. Its potential for abuse by terrorist groups motivated Valeri & Knights to compile a list of key predictions, without the benefit of the hindsight afforded by the post-millennial terrorist attacks on the USA & Europe, and before social media was conceived. This paper evaluates some of their predictions in light of the massive social media and network attacks that occurred in Israel and Syria. Additionally, the paper examines how attacked governments and nations respond. The authors find that some of the key predictions advanced by Valeri and Knights have proven accurate. Offensive information warfare attacks have and will continue to influence policies, budgets and civic voluntary participation to counter such attacks.

The Afghan “Fog of War”

2020 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 28-32
Author(s):  
Laviniu Bojor ◽  
Ionuț Alin Cîrdei
Keyword(s):  
Political Power ◽  
Terrorist Attacks ◽  
Al Qaeda ◽  
Development Effort ◽  
Eastern European ◽  
Military Operations ◽  
Military Conflicts ◽  
The Usa ◽  
The Military ◽  
Immediate Response

AbstractThe terrorist attacks of 9/11 took the USA and NATO by surprise, as they are still under the euphoric effect of celebrating the fall of the Eastern European ideological walls and the collapse of the communist bloc. The immediate response of the military operations led to the neutralization of the Taliban forces or more precisely to their removed from political power and denial the influence of Al Qaeda. The purely military approach dominated the initial kinetic clashes and conquered the physical terrain but failed to dominate the society marked by perennial conflicts, widespread corruption, poverty and multiple ethnic and tribal fragmentations. The Afghan insurgency that formed seems to have managed to slow down and finally block the reconstruction and development effort made by the strong NATO-centred coalitions. The article examines the causes of the Afghan “fog of war” that led to this great failure and makes recommendations that must be taken into account in future military conflicts.

Attitudes toward the use of TELL tools in English language learning among Vietnamese Tertiary English majors

2019 ◽  
Vol 5 (5) ◽  
pp. 581-596
Keyword(s):  
Language Learning ◽  
Language Proficiency ◽  
English Language ◽  
English Language Learning ◽  
Guided Learning ◽  
Positive Attitudes ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
English Majors ◽  
Very High ◽  
Different Levels

Technology plays a crucial role in the self-guided learning of a second language in general and English in particular. Nevertheless, many students in different contexts still ignore the application of technology-enhanced language learning (TELL) tools in enhancing their foreign language proficiency. Therefore, this study is conducted to investigate the attitudes towards the use of TELL tools in English-language learning (ELL) among English majors at one university in Vietnam. To collect data, 197 English majors participated in finishing the questionnaire, and 20 students were invited to join the interviews. The findings are that the majority of students have positive attitudes towards the use of TELL tools and the frequency of using these tools is very high. In addition, the results also reveal that there is no significant difference in attitudes towards and frequency of using TELL tools in learning English in terms of the year of study. However, students of different levels of academic achievements have different attitudes towards using TELL tools and use TELL tools to learn English differently. Received 2nd May 2019; Revised 16th July 2019, Accepted 20th October 2019

The effectiveness of positive training on happiness, aggression and hope in adolescents with leukemia in Ahvaz

2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (01) ◽  
Author(s):  
Marzieh . Shamkhani ◽  
Ali . Khalafi
Keyword(s):  
Sampling Method ◽  
Analysis Of Covariance ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Positive Attitudes ◽  
Measurement Tools ◽  
Post Test ◽  
Aggression Questionnaire ◽  
Experimental Group ◽  
Period Measurement

The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of positive learning on happiness, Aggression and hope for adolescents with leukemia in Ahvaz. The sample consisted of 30 people who were selected by available sampling method. 15 subjects in the experimental group and 15 in the control group were randomly assigned. The experimental design was a pre-test-post-test type with control group and follow-up period. Measurement tools included Oxford Happiness Inventory (Argyle, 1989); Ahwaz's Aggression Questionnaire (Zahedifar, Najarian, and Shokrkon, 2000); Hope Scale (Schneider, 1991). To run, at first, the pre-test was taken from both groups. Then, the experimental group was trained in 14 sessions of 90 minutes, and after each group, they were subjected to post-test. And one month later, the follow-up process was completed. Data analysis was performed using multivariate covariance analysis (MANCOVA) and one-way analysis of covariance (ANCOVA). The results showed that positive attitudes toward happiness, aggressiveness and hopefulness of adolescents with leukemia in Ahvaz were effective.

External Investigators' Follow-Up Intentions When Whistleblowers Report Healthcare Fraud: The Effects of Report Anonymity and Previous Confrontation

2020 ◽  
Vol 32 (2) ◽  
pp. 91-101
Author(s):  
Steven E. Kaplan ◽  
Danny Lanier ◽  
Kelly R. Pope ◽  
Janet A. Samuels
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Study ◽  
Early Detection ◽  
Data Availability ◽  
Medical Provider ◽  
Perceived Credibility ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Critical Investigation

ABSTRACT Whistleblowing reports, if properly investigated, facilitate the early detection of fraud. Although critical, investigation-related decisions represent a relatively underexplored component of the whistleblowing process. Investigators are responsible for initially deciding whether to follow-up on reports alleging fraud. We report the results of an experimental study examining the follow-up intentions of highly experienced healthcare investigators. Participants, in the role of an insurance investigator, are asked to review a whistleblowing report alleging billing fraud occurring at a medical provider. Thus, participants are serving as external investigators. In a between-participant design, we manipulate the report type and whether the caller previously confronted the wrongdoer. We find that compared to an anonymous report, a non-anonymous report is perceived as more credible and follow-up intentions stronger. We also find that perceived credibility fully mediates the relationship between report type and follow-up intentions. Previous confrontation is not significantly associated with either perceived credibility or follow-up intentions. Data Availability: Data are available upon request.

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