Digital Jihad: Online Communication and Violent Extremism

In our age the internet offers tremendous opportunities for violent extremists across the ideological spectrum and at a global level. In addition to propaganda, digital technologies have transformed the dynamics of radical mobilisation, recruitment and participation. At least in the West, few cases of jihadist radicalisation completely lack a web component, including occasional viewing of extremist propaganda. Against this background, this volume aims to investigate the current landscape of jihadist online communication, including original empirical analysis. In doing so, it does not interpret the internet as a shapeless monolith but tries to highlight the opportunities and limitations of different digital platforms. The book also explores the current Italian-language jihadist scenario, thus filling a gap in the analysis of this phenomenon. Specific attention is also placed on potential measures and initiatives to address the threat of online violent extremism.