%0 Journal Article
%T The Language of New Terrorism: Differences in Psychological Dimensions of Communication in Dabiq and Inspire
%A Ana-Maria Bliuc
%A Matteo Vergani
%J Journal of Language and Social Psychology
%@ 1552-6526
%D 2018
%R 10.1177/0261927X17751011
%X We investigate differences in the psychological aspects underpinning Western mobilisation of two terrorist groups by analysing their English-language propaganda. Based on a computerised analysis of the language used in two English-language online magazines circulated by Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) and al-Qaeda (i.e., Dabiq and Inspire), we found significant differences in their language¡ªthe ISIS¡¯ language being higher in authoritarianism and its level of religiousness. In a follow-up experimental study, we found that being high in religiousness and authoritarianism predicts more positive attitudes towards the language used by ISIS, but not towards the language used by al-Qaeda. The results suggest that ISIS¡¯ propaganda may be more effective in mobilising individuals who are more authoritarian and more focused on religion than that of al-Qaeda. These findings are consistent with the behaviour observed in recent homegrown terrorist attacks in the United States and Europe
%K computerised linguistic analysis
%K LIWC
%K violent propaganda
%K terrorism
%K al-Qaeda
%K ISIS
%K ISIL
%K authoritarianism
%K homegrown
%K terrorist
%K recruitment
%K propaganda
%K Inspire
%K Dabiq
%U https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/0261927X17751011