Suchergebnisse

"Explaining the means utilized by the editors of the Islamic State's online magazines to win the "hearts and minds" of their audiences, this book is a result of a multidimensional content analysis of two flagship periodicals of the IS - Dabiq and Rumiyah. Drawing from a number of theoretical concepts in propaganda studies, the research uses comparative analysis to understand the evolution of the modus operandi employed by the editorial staff. The volume evaluates the types of arguments used in these magazines, as well as the emotions and behaviour that these triggered in readers. This book concentrates on the formats and thematic composition of a variety of the Islamic State's e-periodicals, including Dabiq, Rumiyah, Dar al-Islam or Konstantiniyye, from the viewpoint of the constantly changing strategic situation and priorities of the "Caliphate." The e-magazines of the post-territorial phase of the Islamic State, e.g. From Dabiq to Rome and Youth of the Caliphate, were also taken into consideration. Overall, this book does not only offer new insights into the propaganda methods of the Islamic State's periodicals, but it also summarizes their rise and fall between 2014 and 2019. The volume is dedicated mostly to academics and postgraduate students specialized in terrorism studies, political violence and security studies"--

This article explores key ethical and security challenges related to exploitation of open-source intelligence (OSINT) in research on online terrorist propaganda. In order to reach this objective, the most common approaches to OSINT-based projects are analysed through the lens of some of the most recognized ethical guidelines in science, which allowed several core dilemmas to be identified. First of all, this study discusses how personal data protection rules are applicable to investigations of potentially dangerous subjects, such as members and followers of Violent Extremist Organizations (VEOs). In addition, the author examines potential threats to the safety of researchers and the scientific infrastructure used in OSINT-based projects. He also discusses the risks of incidental findings and malevolent use of research results. Finally, drawing from existing legal regulations and good practices in other fields, as well as the author's previous experience in OSINT-based analyses of online terrorist activities, this article explores basic means of tackling these dilemmas.

This paper analyzes the war in Ukraine as an outcome of multilayered rivalry combined with unintentional mistakes committed by all possible sides. The first layer of competition concerns domestic differences visible between the Western and Eastern part of Ukraine. The second layer covers the regional rivalry between Poland and Russia, which has significantly contributed to the instability of Eastern Europe for several centuries. Finally, the third layer concerns the geopolitical game for influence between the West, led by the United States, and Russia along with several satellite states. Ukraine proved to be just another object of this competition, composed of such events as the Kosovo intervention, the Orange Revolution, the Caucasus war in 2008 and the Syrian chemical crisis.

This paper aims to provide an answer to the question how Poland adapted its foreign policy to the new and changing geopolitical situation since 1989, in order to secure its basic national interests and support democratic transformation. It also overviews its most important vectors, goals, tendencies and problems throughout the last 27 years. It argues that the Polish external activity since the end of the Cold War has been largely focused on the events which occurred in Europe and the transatlantic area. This strictly regional fixation has been caused mostly by the specific geopolitical position of Poland, as well as by its limited resources in comparison to the Western European powers. Therefore, its foreign policy usually expressed limited interest in the extra-European affairs, with the exception of the military interventions in Iraq and Afghanistan at the beginning of the 21st century.