Islam Tweets. Changing Power Structures due to Social Media

Table of Contents

Introduction: Around the world in 3,74 degrees

1 Chapter one

1.1 Structure

1.2 Methodology

2 Chapter two

2.1 One Community of Believers—One Islam?

2.2 One Source, many Meanings - who is right?

2.3 A Game of Revelations

3 Chapter three

3.1 The Advent of a New Society

3.2 Entering the Network Society

3.3 Virtual Islam 2.0

3.4 Re-thinking the Network Society?

4 Chapter four

4.1 Salafism [+] Wahhabism [=] ISIS?

4.2 A Movement of the many Faces

4.3 Lesser or Greater?

4.4 An Ephemeral Movement?

4.5 Jihad, quo vadis?

5 Chapter five

5.1 Looking behind the Wall—Manual Twitter Content Analysis

5.2 Categorization of Tweets

5.3 Approaching a first Content Analysis

5.4 Applied Tools?

5.5 How engagement is avoided

6 Chapter six

6.1 Visualization of a Network Analysis

7 Conclusion & Final Remarks

8 Future Work

Research Objectives & Topics

This thesis examines the role of social media in shaping religious discourse, specifically focusing on how Muslim preachers and radical groups like ISIS utilize Twitter to influence their followers and engage with modern digital networks. The central research question investigates whether the usage of these platforms by various actors represents a continuation of 21st-century jihadi doctrines or alternative forms of engagement.

• Analysis of the impact of the Network Society on religious communities.
• Juxtaposition of ISIS's social media strategy with that of contemporary Muslim scholars.
• Exploration of how digital tools, such as hashtags and cross-platform linking, facilitate religious identity formation.
• Investigation into the effectiveness of "jihad by tongue" as a form of non-combative online engagement.

Excerpt from the Book

Summary of Chapters

Introduction: Around the world in 3,74 degrees: This chapter introduces the state of global hyper-connectivity through social media and frames the thesis within the context of the modern "Network Society."

1 Chapter one: This chapter outlines the structural approach of the thesis and details the methodological framework, specifically discourse analysis and the study of Internet-based religious content.

2 Chapter two: This chapter examines the historical and theological foundations of Muslim authority, focusing on the sectarian divisions and the role of jurist-theologians in interpreting Islamic law.

3 Chapter three: This chapter applies Manuel Castells' theory of the "Network Society" to religious groups, arguing that religious communities are no longer static but are actively shaping digital spaces.

4 Chapter four: This chapter explores the ideology of Salafism and its diverse branches, specifically focusing on how groups like ISIS reinterpret the concept of "jihad."

5 Chapter five: This chapter provides a manual content analysis of the Twitter activity of three selected Muslim scholars, categorizing their engagement and use of digital tools.

6 Chapter six: This chapter presents a visualization of network analyses for the selected preachers, mapping their hashtags and interaction patterns to illustrate their influence.

7 Conclusion & Final Remarks: This chapter synthesizes the research findings, highlighting the shift from traditional authority to digital "jihad by tongue."

8 Future Work: This chapter proposes potential paths for future research, including larger datasets and cross-linguistic analysis of religious online discourse.

Keywords

Social Media, Twitter, Network Society, Islam, Jihad, Salafism, ISIS, Digital Religion, Content Analysis, Online Authority, Network Analysis, Religious Communication, Hashtags, Religious Identity, Information Flow

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the core focus of this research?

The work focuses on how social media platforms, specifically Twitter, are used by Muslim scholars and radical groups to exert influence, disseminate information, and form virtual religious communities.

What are the primary themes discussed?

The primary themes include the intersection of religion and technology, the evolution of religious authority in a networked society, the ideology of Salafism, and the different interpretations of "jihad" in the digital age.

What is the main objective of the thesis?

The objective is to understand how social media usage by Muslim preachers and ISIS challenges or continues traditional religious doctrines, particularly regarding their methods of engaging with a global, online audience.

Which scientific methodologies are employed?

The thesis utilizes discourse analysis, manual content analysis of Twitter feeds, social network analysis (SNA), and the study of the "social shaping of technology" (SST) as established by scholars like Heidi Campbell.

What is covered in the main body of the work?

The main body covers the theoretical background of the Network Society, a deep dive into Salafi ideology, a manual categorization of tweets from three specific preachers, and a visualization of their Twitter networks.

Which keywords define this work?

Key terms include Social Media, Network Society, Jihad, Salafism, ISIS, Digital Religion, and Religious Authority.

How does the author characterize "jihad by tongue"?

The author uses this term to describe the non-combative, missionary use of social media by preachers, contrasting it with the "jihad by sword" advocated by radical militant groups.

How does the author view the exclusion of religion from Castells' Network Society theory?

The author considers this exclusion a fallacy, arguing that religious communities are deeply embedded in digital networks and that technology, by nature, is not secular but adapted by religious actors to fit their own goals.