Understanding Media Jihad

Introduction 1. The concept and origins of media jihad 1.1. Understanding online radicalisation 1.2. Why do Salafi-jihadi violent extremists use the internet? 1.3. Between theology and propaganda: exploring the concept of media jihad 1.4. A brief history of media jihad 1.4.1. The experimental phase: since the 1990s to the onset of the War on Terror 1.4.2. Global expansion: from the War on Terror to the Arab Spring 1.4.3. From apex to crisis: the evolution of the Islamic State’s media machine 2. The nature of the Salafi-jihadi strategic communication on the internet 2.1. Exploring classic formats of media jihad 2.2. How do the media mujahideen influence the target audiences? 2.3. Measuring the Salafi-jihadi terrorist propaganda output in the post-pandemic period 2.3.1. What do we know about the past Salafi-jihadi propaganda production? 2.3.2. Methodological considerations 2.3.3. Measuring the Salafi-jihadi terrorist propaganda output in 2023 and 2024 2.3.4. Technical features and thematic landscape of the Salafi-jihadi propaganda (2023–2024) 2.4. Organisation of the Salafi-jihadi media apparatus 2.5. The impact of generative artificial intelligence on the Salafi-jihadi propaganda production 3. Mapping the structure and evolution of the Salafi-jihadi information ecosystem 3.1. Identifying the core layers of the Salafi-jihadi propaganda distribution networks 3.1.1. The surface web 3.1.2. The deep web 3.1.3. The dark web 3.1.4. Messaging apps 3.2. The Salafi-jihadi information ecosystem in 2023-2024: a social network analysis 3.2.1. Methodology 3.2.2. Structure and evolution of the Salafi-jihadi information ecosystem (2023–2024) 3.2.2.1. Quantitative findings 3.2.2.2. Identifying essential features of the Salafi-jihadi information ecosystem (2023–2024) 3.3. Learning and adapting: media mujahideen responses to online preventing and countering violent extremism efforts Conclusions