The representation of youth in the Islamic State's propaganda magazine Dabiq

Abstract

The propaganda magazine of the terrorist group Islamic State (IS), entitled Dabiq, displays IS' utilization of different representations of youth to convert a new generation of jihadi fighters. This study analyzes why IS uses youth in its propaganda and what functions of discourse these representations serve. This article is a qualitative content analysis of the Dabiq magazines with direct reference to Henry Giroux's theory of the myth of childhood innocence, which portrays youths as passive victims. The evolution of representations of youth in Dabiq aligns with this myth, as the publications tend to give active and violent roles to youth in order to foster new social paradigms.