Radicalization in the Age of COVID-19: An Analysis of IS Propaganda

Abstract

This research project sought to explore the utilization of propaganda by the Islamic State and its affiliate organizations during the COVID-19 pandemic. Propaganda has been a medium through which the Islamic State, as well as other terrorist organizations, have been utilizing to effectively recruit new members and retain current ones around the world. By analyzing recent Islamic State propaganda and past research on the Islamic State’s propaganda machine, this project develops upon existing research to establish what the known tactics of the Islamic State are at this current day and age, in addition to analyzing theories on the matter. Furthermore, this project seeks to understand and explain the current efforts by governments and non-governmental organizations to combat the Islamic State’s propaganda machine during the COVID-19 pandemic. The goal of this paper is to analyze and indicate current trends in both propaganda and the counter measures to propaganda stemming from the Islamic State.