Social Media and Articulation of Radical Narratives in Afghanistan
Kabul: Afghan Institute for Strategic Studies (2015), 70 pp.
"This research paper explores the role of social media as a medium of articulation of religiously-inspired radical ideologies and narratives in Afghanistan. The term ‘radicalization’ is used here to refer to processes of emergence and evolution of ideological and behavioral tendencies that are characterized by a shift towards intolerance and varying levels of predispositions towards violence. As a process, radicalization occurs at three levels: it begins with pendar (a shift in opinion), may continue with goftar (expression and propagation of intolerant and violent views) and might lead to kerdar (violent action). This study examines the role of social media at the goftar level of the process. The study is qualitative in its approach and uses the following methods: 1) Monitoring and analysis of online contents of official social media profiles of religiously inspired militant groups as well as peaceful activist groups. This analysis is aimed to identify the main narratives and ideological trends that are spread by various Islamic activists and militant groups, and individuals. 2) Outline and analysis of a selected number of Taliban hymns used as mobile phone ringtones by the general public. These ringtones are analyzed as a form of social media with a previously unexplored potential role in radicalization. 3) Seventy-two semi-structured interviews with active social media users from the four cities – Kabul, Jalalabad, Herat and Mazar-e Sharif of Afghanistan. These interviews complement the analysis of online contents by providing detailed and geographically specific understanding of the way social media users approach and experience online extremist contents. These interviews aided researchers to extract clear narratives propagated by both extremist and more peaceful groups in Afghanistan." (Executive Summary)
1. INTRODUCTION, 13
2. CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK: Social Media and Radicalization, 14
2.1.Radicalization as a relational process, 15
2.2.Social media as an instantaneous, interactive and personalized means of communication, 19
3. RESEARCH APPROACH AND METHODOLOGY, 21
4. STUDY FINDINGS, 23
4.1. Radical groups’ objectives and tactics in social media identified, ..................................................................... 23
4.2. Main narratives articulated through social media in Afghanistan ..................................................................... 25
4.2.1. Legitimacy and credibility of the Afghan government .............................................................................. 27
4.2.2. Foreign intervention and the bilateral security agreement (BSA) with the US .......................................... 29
4.2.3. Socio-cultural concerns .............................................................................................................................. 31
4.2.4. Strategies for social and political action and views on jihad and mujahideen .......................................... 35
4.2.5. Islamic Ummah affairs ................................................................................................................................ 39
4.3.The role of Taliban hymns and songs in the radicalization processes in Afghanistan ....................................... 41
4.3.1. Preaching people to embrace religion ...................................................................................................... 42
4.3.2. Promoting messages of war against the government ............................................................................... 43
4.3.3. Conscription of the youth .......................................................................................................................... 43
4.3.4. Infiltration of the security forces ................................................................................................................ 45
4.3.5. Increasing visibility and the international community ................................................................................ 46
4.3.6. Remembering and glorifying their dead members ................................................................................... 47
4.4. People’s perceptions about the radical narratives in social media ................................................................... 48
4.4.1. Use of social media in Afghanistan ............................................................................................................ 48
4.4.2. Use of social media by radical elements ................................................................................................... 49
4.4.3. Respondents’ exposure to radical narratives in social media .................................................................... 50
4.4.4. Public and civil society response to radical messages in social media ...................................................... 52
4.4.5. Government response to radical narratives and counter radicalization approach .................................... 56
4.4.6. Respondents’ views about government policies for counter radicalization .............................................. 58
5. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS ......................................................................................................... 59
2. CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK: Social Media and Radicalization, 14
2.1.Radicalization as a relational process, 15
2.2.Social media as an instantaneous, interactive and personalized means of communication, 19
3. RESEARCH APPROACH AND METHODOLOGY, 21
4. STUDY FINDINGS, 23
4.1. Radical groups’ objectives and tactics in social media identified, ..................................................................... 23
4.2. Main narratives articulated through social media in Afghanistan ..................................................................... 25
4.2.1. Legitimacy and credibility of the Afghan government .............................................................................. 27
4.2.2. Foreign intervention and the bilateral security agreement (BSA) with the US .......................................... 29
4.2.3. Socio-cultural concerns .............................................................................................................................. 31
4.2.4. Strategies for social and political action and views on jihad and mujahideen .......................................... 35
4.2.5. Islamic Ummah affairs ................................................................................................................................ 39
4.3.The role of Taliban hymns and songs in the radicalization processes in Afghanistan ....................................... 41
4.3.1. Preaching people to embrace religion ...................................................................................................... 42
4.3.2. Promoting messages of war against the government ............................................................................... 43
4.3.3. Conscription of the youth .......................................................................................................................... 43
4.3.4. Infiltration of the security forces ................................................................................................................ 45
4.3.5. Increasing visibility and the international community ................................................................................ 46
4.3.6. Remembering and glorifying their dead members ................................................................................... 47
4.4. People’s perceptions about the radical narratives in social media ................................................................... 48
4.4.1. Use of social media in Afghanistan ............................................................................................................ 48
4.4.2. Use of social media by radical elements ................................................................................................... 49
4.4.3. Respondents’ exposure to radical narratives in social media .................................................................... 50
4.4.4. Public and civil society response to radical messages in social media ...................................................... 52
4.4.5. Government response to radical narratives and counter radicalization approach .................................... 56
4.4.6. Respondents’ views about government policies for counter radicalization .............................................. 58
5. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS ......................................................................................................... 59
