Michael Krona

@CaskeyOlivia @SouthCoastDTP Congratulations Olivia! Really great and interesting project, that can impact the field!

New book on 'Salafi-jihadism and digital media' arrived, edited by @MagnusRanstorp @LindaAhlerup & @filipahlin. My chapter on Swedish individuals in Islamic State media during caliphate years, and supporters now promoting IS online from #Sweden.

Current messaging from #AQ and #IS to new foreign recruits: AQ: join to liberate local/regional populations from corrupt governing (ideological/religious motivations). IS: join to re-establish the caliphate (most likely in Central Asia/#Afghanistan) (opportunistic motivations).

#IS and #AQ are growing in the shadows of #UkraineRussianWar and #Taliban recent takeover. IS currently refers to 11-13 administrative provinces throughout #Africa #Asia & #MiddleEast. AQ exhibits financial growth (mainly #AlShabaab) & #Zawahiri central leadership appear solid.

Just like researchers analysing extremist cultures have to spend time in physical environments, same goes for researchers working on online communities. Valid results can only come from having spent significant time on platforms, learning infrastructure, interaction, dynamics etc

Been silent here for some time while focusing on other things in life. But will hopefully soon attempt to share some insights and brief analysis again on things I am working on, with focus on digital cultures and communities around terrorism - a field that continues to evolve.

If US operation in #Syria yesterday targeted #IS leader Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Qurayshi (which is indicated) the impact on IS is severe, yet difficult to assess. Its branches have become more autonomous than between 2014-2019 (lex #ISKP) but regardless significant. Let's see.

Major western media outlets during this week published several pieces on how #IS is a threat, how they are transforming and expanding again. Articles now shared widely among IS supporters on #Telegram as boosters of confidence, and discussions focus on hopes for new attacks.

Swedish: Intervju med SVT idag ang kvinnors roll inom IS. Försöker betona att det är mer komplext än att bara betrakta dem som mer passiva än män, både då och nu. svt.se/nyheter/lokalt… via @svtnyheter

The propaganda following Islamic State raids and attacks again prisons in #Syria will for sure empower supporters and facilitate recruitment. Messaging is massive and resonates with local/regional target groups - could have impact in IS rebuilding network structure in NE Syria.

#IS media campaigns supplementing the prison raids in #Syria are a) designed in advance from official IS media outlets and b) elaborated upon/enhanced by supporters. IS has history of large operations planned together with media office to ensure exposure and coherent messaging.

The tragic shooting in #Heidelberg is accompanied by people on Twitter spreading pictures of random men, holding a gun, each claiming 'this' is the perpetrator. Fears, xenophobia, racism and ignorance escalate in crisis and makes as much societal damage as the actual attacks.

#IS conducted prison raids in 2012-2013 to set stage for the caliphate. Does not mean history repeats itself in #Syria currently. Troubling development, but geopolitical circumstances different. IS propaganda is optimistic by nature - should be considered but not guide analysis.

With massive intelligence and security focus now on #Russia and #Ukraine, the current situation could grant jihadist groups some level of opportunity to mobilize under the radar. History has showed when western spotlight is somewhere else, IS and other groups thrive in the dark.

New media groups promoting various branches of militant jihadism pop up online on a weekly basis. They form a digital infrastructure generating a mediatization of Salafi-jihadism. Supporters online enhance it & ideology is amplified further also in physical radical environments.

9/In sum, using past & current references to history is important to instill supporters with a frame of mind/worldview, and provide legitimacy to IS and authority of the producer of the propaganda. More important than even for IS as they now seek to 'educate' next generation. End

8/Fourth, when IS videos now are mainly dependent on supporters, is the use of current events/news footage of ongoing creation of history. Images of fx US withdrawal in Afghanistan, Russia/Ukraine crisis, flashbacks of ‘crimes’ against IS, are integrated in larger narratives.

1/ IS, both previously and now, seek to uphold authority and legitimacy in the jihadosphere. A strategy to do so is to create narratives on history through its media products. Here is a short thread on #IS use of 'history' in visual propaganda: