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Author Biography

M.W. Zackie Masoud, MPhil (Cantab), is a research affiliate with the Psychology and Religion Research Group at the University of Cambridge.

DOI

http://dx.doi.org/10.5038/1944-0472.6.1.1

Subject Area Keywords

Al-Qaida, Armed groups, Conflict studies, Counterterrorism, Fundamentalism, Identity, Ideology, International security, Psychology, Radicalization, Religious violence, Taliban, Terrorism / counterterrorism, Violent extremism

Abstract

This article is a contribution to the study of religious radicalization, in particular, religious radicalization that promotes violence. The term “radicalization” will be used here to refer to the process through which individuals adopt or promote an “extremist belief system for the purpose of facilitating ideologically-based violence to advance political, religious, or social change.”[1] This study applies discourse analysis[2] to a prominent radical Islamic text published after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 (9/11): Mustafa bin Abd al-Qadir Setmariam Nasar’s Call to Global Islamic Resistance (2004) – hereafter referred to as GIR (Global Islamic Resistance). As will be detailed in the sections to come, this study analyses the beliefs and worldview evident in GIR, and seeks to elucidate its persuasiveness.

[1] Rogers, L., Big Brother: House passes the “Violent Radicalization and Homegrown Terrorism Prevention Act,” 2007, available at: http://www.nogw.com/download/_07_thought_crime_bill.pdf.

[2] In particular, the frame and narrative (thematic) analysis aspects of discourse analysis will be utilized.

Table 1_Superiority.pdf (337 kB)
Table 1_Superiority

Table 2_Injustice.pdf (273 kB)
Table 2_Injustice

Table 3_Vulnerability.pdf (81 kB)
Table 3_Vulnerability

Table 4_Distrust.pdf (251 kB)
Table 4_Distrust

Table 5_Helplessness.pdf (42 kB)
Table 5_Helplessness

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