Abstract:
This thesis examines how the Islamic State popularly known as the Islamic State of
Iraq and Sham (ISIS) construct their identity in an online magazine called Dabiq. The
study employs the qualitative approach. A purposive sampling technique was used to
sample the 14th edition of the magazine. Drawing on social identity theory (SIT) and
the concept of clusivity, I analyze ISIS’s group dynamics and their use of linguistic
and lexical elements to construct their identity in Dabiq. I further probe into the
expressive value of selected clusivity markers ISIS use to associate with favorable
audience and dissociate from unfavorable audience. This was subtly constructed with
the use of indexicals. Through cyber-ethnography and anchored on SIT, clusivity and
the globalization theory, the study reveals that ISIS construct their identity as jihadists
and paladins of Sharia as opposed to secular democracy. The study further indicates
that ISIS propagated a call aimed at persuading Muslims to migrate to Iraq and Syria
as a safe haven for salvation called Hijra or emigration. Furthermore, the study shows
that ISIS use political communications as an online strategy in constructing their
identity. The study concludes that the major aim of ISIS through their identity
construction in the Dabiq magazine is to ensure a global sharia juridical state.
Description:
A THESIS IN THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNICATION AND MEDIA
STUDIES, FACULTY OF LANGUAGES EDUCATION AND
COMMUNICATION SUBMITTED TO THE SCHOOL OF GRADUATE
STUDIES, UNIVERSITY OF EDUCATION, WINNEBA, IN PARTIAL
FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR AWARD OF THE MASTER
OF PHILOSOPHY DEGEREE IN (COMMUNICATION SKILLS) DEGREE.
