Digital development has made the efficiency of extremist networks possible. Internet and social media have been developed and started to be used as "human web-networks" for the recruitment of like-minded people with the same ideological hopes. For DAESH, this is something positive. The purpose is to give a deeper understanding of why young men join the DAESH. The empirical basis therefore consists of interviews conducted with DAESH warriors who are detained in place in northern Iraq. The opportunity to gain access to these respondents for both the study and the empirical basis is unique. The method used is of a qualitative nature. Furthermore, the profit part represents the empirical basis. Authors have transcribed the interviews, and then conducted a thematidation of collected data. With direct quotes from the material, authors argue that there are recurring patterns in it as respondents. The study concludes that young men join the DAESH because of social disorganization and the lack of strong social ties.

Les premiers signes de la radicalisation salafo-djihadiste contemporaine remontent au début des années 80, dans le sillage de l'intervention Soviétique en Afghanistan et de l'instauration de la république islamique d'Iran. Courant minoritaire, totalitaire et ultraconservateur de l’islam, il se considère comme le fédérateur de l'Oumma (communauté des croyants) et l'incarnation de l'islam authentique des origines. Ce mouvement plus proche d’une idéologie révolutionnaire que d’un message religieux, a pris une ampleur internationale, dans le sillage des révoltes du Printemps Arabe fin 2010. Une organisation particulièrement habile dans l'utilisation des moyens modernes de communications et dans la diffusion de la propagande a su créer une dynamique efficace suscitant l'adhésion de jeunes gens et des moins jeunes, depuis tous les continents. Cette organisation terroriste dénommée Daesh ou Etat islamique a réussi à s'imposer là où ses prédécesseurs ont échoué. Comment y est-elle parvenue ? Qui sont les volontaires prêts à mourir pour cette cause ? Quelles sont leurs motivations ? Comment répondre à cette nouvelle forme de menace d’une extraordinaire complexité ? Quelles sont les solutions et les évolutions de ce phénomène d’ampleur ? C’est à toutes ces questions que la présente recherche tente de répondre, sans prétendre à l’exhaustivité, avant de conclure sur quelques perspectives et voies d’exploration, de nature à contrecarrer davantage l’influence et les effets d’une idéologie meurtrière qui marquera durablement le 21ème siècle. / The first signs of the contemporary salafo-Jihadism radicalization date back to the early 1980s, following the Soviet intervention in Afghanistan and the establishment of the Islamic Republic of Iran. As a minority, totalitarian and ultraconservative Muslim, he considers himself to be the federation of the Ummah (community of believers) and the embodiment of authentic Islam from its origins.This movement closer to the revolutionary ideology than the religious message has taken on an international dimension in the wake of the Arab Spring revolts at the end of 2010. An organization particularly skilled in the use of modern means of communication and in disseminating Propaganda has created an effective dynamic, attracting young people and young people from all continents. This terrorist organization called Daesh or Islamic state managed to impose itself where its predecessors failed. How did she get there? Who are the volunteers ready to die for this cause? What are their motivations? How to respond to this strong new threat? What are the solutions and evolutions of this phenomenon of magnitude? This is to those questions that this research attempts to answer, without claiming to be exhaustive, before concluding on a few prospects and ways of exploration, such as to thwart more influence and the effects of ideology a murderer who will permanently mark the 21st century.

This study aims to examine how Daesh constructs the enemy images of their opponents and who the opponents are.  The study adopted enemy image theories as for the theoretical base to understand how Daesh constructs and propagates these enemy images. This study is carried out on qualitative abductive desk study with discourse analysis as the method and relied on Dabiq as the primary data.  Daesh employs enemy images to effectively paint a negative image of the opponent while calling for a variety of actions from their followers. The primary data shows some concepts and themes that are used in enemy image construction being present in Dabiq. The results of of the analysis show that Daesh uses the delimitation between them and us,  a set of values that separate the two groups. This is what has been described as "our" and "their" essence and the final aim which is legitimized war or violence is very clear in Dabiq. This thesis also suggests other ways of looking at the concept of enemy images suggesting further research areas where deemed necessary.

La aparición de Daesh y el establecimiento de su califato yihadista supuso el inicio de un nuevo paradigma dentro del fenómeno yihadista global. Su rápida expansión a escala planetaria a través de distintos mecanismos le permitieron que sus siglas tuviesen presencia en numerosos territorios de distintas áreas geográficas en muy pocos meses. El Sudeste Asiático y Bangladés se presentan como dos de los mejores escenarios sobre los que estudiar la influencia que ha ejercido Daesh sobre el movimiento yihadista regional, permitiendo así conocer la forma por la cual ha logrado establecer vínculos con los grupos locales.

This thesis examines the applicability of culminations theory in a guerrilla context. In battle, a crucial factor is to assess who has superior strength. Culmination theory is a central concept in conventional warfare, could the same theory support the analysis of guerrilla warfare?Previous research tends to focus on the results of guerrilla wars. By using the concept of culmination this research attempts to determine, by assessing the battle, whether the guerrilla reached the point of culmination and by that evaluate the applicability of culmination theory in guerrilla warfare.The research design consists of a two-case study to analyse the LTTE and Daesh and thereby highlight culmination theory’s applicability on guerrillas. Written documents are used as sources of empirical data for the two-case study. The result of the survey shows that LTTE and Daesh reached their defensive point of culmination and that culmination theory is generalizable in a similar guerrilla context.

This paper explains how the Islamic State grew rapidly, answering a question of "what is" the Islamic State? A review of existing literature on simulation modeling of insurgencies identifies several gaps, as existing theories of non-state actors and insurgencies are inadequate to explain ISIS's performance. Additionally, there are few mathematical simulation models of insurgent behavior that can reproduce ISIS results. Finally, what models exist are not detailed enough either to conduct detailed experiments testing proposed explanations of ISIS, or evaluate policy responses aimed at containing or mitigating ISIS. The paper offers several contributions. First it proposes a dynamic hypothesis that the Islamic State (ISIS) is an emerging-state actor, a new form of actor that differs from traditional non- state actors and insurgencies. Propositions are constructed and presented as an overall theory of emerging-state actor behavior. These propositions are then simulated as experiments within a detailed model parameterized with conditions very similar to what ISIS faced in Iraq and Syria 2013. The model is then run from 2013-2020, and experiment results confirm evidence of emerging- state actor behavior and allow refinement of model boundary assumptions. Second, an initial set of intervention policies are tested in a variety of conditions: best case, operationally constrained, isolated, combined, and at different timing intervals. Analysis of the results yields key dynamic insights. These insights aid policy makers in understanding the challenges posed by emerging state actors. Finally, the detailed simulation model used to test the propositions and policy analysis, including a novel approach to combat simulation with endogenous geospatial feedback, is provided in full detail in two Appendices. Appendix A provides a sector-by-sector view of model structure and equations. Appendix B provides more discussion, analysis and sources used to develop model structure, establish parameter values and determine equations for the simulation. Due to length and other considerations, Appendix B is available only upon request. The detailed simulation model can be used to refine non-state actor theories (configured for insurgencies, emerging-state actors, or other scenarios). The model can be loaded with other scenarios to simulate other actors in other geospatial terrain: ISIS in Libya, Boko Haram in Nigeria, the returning Taliban in Afghanistan, etc. Keywords: ISIS, ISIL, DAESH, insurgency, conflict, security, stability, non-state actor, emerging- state actor, combat simulator, geospatial, national security.

This paper explains how the Islamic State grew rapidly, answering a question of "what is" the Islamic State? A review of existing literature on simulation modeling of insurgencies identifies several gaps, as existing theories of non-state actors and insurgencies are inadequate to explain ISIS's performance. Additionally, there are few mathematical simulation models of insurgent behavior that can reproduce ISIS results. Finally, what models exist are not detailed enough either to conduct detailed experiments testing proposed explanations of ISIS, or evaluate policy responses aimed at containing or mitigating ISIS. The paper offers several contributions. First it proposes a dynamic hypothesis that the Islamic State (ISIS) is an emerging-state actor, a new form of actor that differs from traditional non- state actors and insurgencies. Propositions are constructed and presented as an overall theory of emerging-state actor behavior. These propositions are then simulated as experiments within a detailed model parameterized with conditions very similar to what ISIS faced in Iraq and Syria 2013. The model is then run from 2013-2020, and experiment results confirm evidence of emerging- state actor behavior and allow refinement of model boundary assumptions. Second, an initial set of intervention policies are tested in a variety of conditions: best case, operationally constrained, isolated, combined, and at different timing intervals. Analysis of the results yields key dynamic insights. These insights aid policy makers in understanding the challenges posed by emerging state actors. Finally, the detailed simulation model used to test the propositions and policy analysis, including a novel approach to combat simulation with endogenous geospatial feedback, is provided in full detail in two Appendices. Appendix A provides a sector-by-sector view of model structure and equations. Appendix B provides more discussion, analysis and sources used to develop model structure, establish parameter values and determine equations for the simulation. Due to length and other considerations, Appendix B is available only upon request. The detailed simulation model can be used to refine non-state actor theories (configured for insurgencies, emerging-state actors, or other scenarios). The model can be loaded with other scenarios to simulate other actors in other geospatial terrain: ISIS in Libya, Boko Haram in Nigeria, the returning Taliban in Afghanistan, etc. Keywords: ISIS, ISIL, DAESH, insurgency, conflict, security, stability, non-state actor, emerging- state actor, combat simulator, geospatial, national security.

No description available.

The aim of this study is to map out the gendered constructions of terrorism and terrorists within the Swedish political discourse. The starting point of the research are the recent terror attacks in Paris 2015 and in Brussels 2016, a time at which the Swedish government presented a number of new and more aggressive counterterrorism strategies for combating terrorism and Daesh. Seeking to understand how these strategies are justified and legitimized to the Swedish people, the study seeks to contribute to the literature of gender and terrorism, with a specific focus on gendered nationalism and masculinity. Based in the belief that everything in the social world is structured in gendered hierarchies of masculinities and femininities, a discourse theoretic analysis is carried out on Swedish government minister’s speeches and statements. Empirical findings indicate several gendered constructions; a hegemonic masculinization of Sweden and the EU and a subordinate masculinization and feminization of Daesh.

Barack Obama’s personality is studied to understand how the personality of a leader can contribute to the decision-making process in foreign policy. The study connects literature from foreign policy analysis as well as psychology to contribute with an example of how these two fields of study can be used simultaneously. Barack Obama is examined through the Five-Level Model of personality in order to understand his characteristics and his behavior. Each level of Obama’s personality is analyzed in regard to the decision to use air strikes towards the terrorist organization Daesh in Syria. The findings show that Obama prefer softer and more peaceful tactics, but also that he has a strong determination to fulfill his goals and to use force when America is faced with a direct threat.