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Mapping the thematic landscape of Dabiq

magazine
Julian Droogan & Shane Peattie
To cite this article: Julian Droogan & Shane Peattie (2017) Mapping the thematic
landscape of Dabiq magazine, Australian Journal of International Affairs, 71:6, 591-620, DOI:
10.1080/10357718.2017.1303443
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AUSTRALIAN JOURNAL OF INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS, 2017
VOL. 71, NO. 6, 591620
https://doi.org/10.1080/10357718.2017.1303443
Mapping the thematic landscape of Dabiq magazine

Julian Droogan and Shane Peattie
Department of Security Studies and Criminology, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia
ABSTRACT KEYWORDS
This article presents a thematic network analysis of Dabiqa Dabiq; Islamic State; jihadism;
prominent English-language e-magazine produced by the Islamic terrorist propaganda; violent
State. Through formal qualitative analysis, the article examines the extremism
e-magazines first 13 issues in order to better understand its
structure, evolution and intended audiences. In terms of structure,
thematic network analysis provides a comprehensive and holistic
Downloaded by [88.87.219.235] at 04:26 10 October 2017
understanding of Dabiqs themes, identifying a range of concerns

that are broader and more complex than is often supposed by
academic and professional commentators. In terms of evolution,
this analysis reveals a thematic landscape that has demonstrated
considerable dynamism over four distinct phases throughout the
magazines publication. In terms of understanding audiences, it is
argued that Dabiq has been particularly engaged with the
manipulation of group-level identities in an apparent attempt to
garner support from global audiences. Themes related to
allegiance, the groups strengths and victories, and territorial
expansion all feature consistently and prominently. They seek to
create an in-group identity centred on victory, and to frame the
Islamic States expansion and successes as a group achievement
on behalf of Islam itself. Additionally, Dabiq provides the Islamic
State with an opportunity to justify its actions and its religious
authenticity to a broader Muslim audience, and thus provide the
Islamic State with legitimacy beyond its borders. Recognising
these thematic dynamics will be important for those engaged in
counter-messaging and the development of counternarratives.
Introduction
Since 2010, jihadist groups such as al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula and the self-pro-
claimed Islamic State have experimented in the production of English-language e-maga-
zines ostensibly aimed at disseminating propaganda and encouraging individuals to join
their cause, including engaging in acts of violent extremism at home and abroad. In
addition to attracting significant strategic analysis from security analysts and policy-
makers (Fink and Sugg 2015; Winter 2015a), these magazines have been interpreted
in a variety of ways within the academic literature. This includes through the lens of
political myth (Kirke 2015), behaviouralism (Lemieux et al. 2014), hermeneutics
(Colas 2016), and in-group, other, crisis and solution constructs (Ingram 2015a,
2016a). Largely missing from these debates have been rigorous and comprehensive
CONTACT Julian Droogan julian.droogan@mq.edu.au

2017 Australian Institute of International Affairs
592 J. DROOGAN AND S. PEATTIE
analyses of the narrative themes present in individual issues or across the publication
history of whole titles (Droogan and Peattie 2016). This article attempts to reduce
this gap in the literature by conducting a comprehensive thematic analysis of Dabiq,
an e-magazine produced by the Islamic State that is often regarded as playing a
central role in disseminating the groups propaganda to the West.
In early June 2014, the Islamic State began the production of its first experimental
e-magazine, Islamic State News, later renamed Islamic State Report. Production values
were high, with content mainly focusing on battlefield victories and early initiatives in
local governance. Although the magazine was published in English, it mostly consisted
of images and graphics with very little text. One month later, the al-Hayat (Life)
Media Centrepart of the Islamic States then growing media apparatuspublished
the first issue of Dabiq as a response, it was claimed, to the positive feedback received
about the groups earlier publications (Milton 2015, 53). The name Dabiq was taken
from a small town in northern Syria identified in some Hadith texts as the eventual site
of an apocalyptic battle between victorious Islamic armies and the forces of Rome,
thus aligning the Islamic States military strategy with an eschatological interpretation
of end-time prophesy. Since 2014, 15 issues of the magazine have been produced and dis-
tributed online in PDF formatthe most recent at the time of writing being in July 2016.
Throughout the course of its publication, Dabiq has evolved in terms of its thematic
content, layout and style. Despite this evolution, it has successfully adopted a unique
and coherent brand identity. Issues have typically run to about 4080 pages, consisting
of articles, transcribed speeches, and the republishing in one place of political, religious
and social commentary produced by Islamic State affiliates and supporters (Novenario
2016). The magazine presents the Islamic State as a divinely inspired state-building
project, with an emphasis on legitimising this project in political and religious
terms, calling supporters to arms, and maligning and denigrating perceived enemies.
There has been some confusion regarding whether Dabiq represents a direct and honest
insight into the strategic aims of the Islamic States leadership, and whether its reading
may therefore assist in attempts at defeating the group. For example, some scholars
have suggested that the Islamic State is comfortable using Dabiq to broadcast its
genuine strategic aims to increase the reach, legitimacy and adoption of these aims
even if doing so may compromise operational security (Winter 2015a). However, although
some early commentators did appear to read the magazine as a direct insight into the stra-
tegic aims of the Islamic States leadership (see Gambhir 2014), it is more common to
interpret the magazine as but one element in a much larger information-operations and
propaganda campaign (Ingram 2016a).
Although clearly influential, Dabiq should not be read as the sole, or even the major,
propaganda tool in the Islamic States communications tool kit. The al-Hayat Media
Centre, which produces content aimed at non-Arabic-speaking Western audiences,
has also distributed numerous popular videos and short films, articles, speeches,
news reports and translations of jihadi materials (Milton 2015) to spread its message
and garner recruits. Dabiq, while highly visible and implicated in several terrorist
plots, is but one part of this larger strategy (Gambhir 2014; Ryan 2014). While it is
dangerous to overemphasise Dabiqs strategic value over its propaganda value, or its
unique stand-alone importance, the magazine does represent a significant vehicle for
the spread of Islamic State ideas, including attempts at legitimisation and a call to
AUSTRALIAN JOURNAL OF INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS 593
arms. Accordingly, a lucid understanding of its contents will prove important to those
attempting to counter the influence of Islamic State propaganda.
Research aims
To date, most public analysis and academic commentary on Dabiq has been overly fixated
on its status as a novel means of communicationparticularly its high production values
and slick formattingwhile avoiding the sort of close examination needed to ascertain
the content and meaning of its text (Ingram 2015b). This has prevented the establishment
of a clear understanding of the magazines dynamic thematic focus, its functions and audi-
ence. At present, the literature only includes a limited number of disciplined and systema-
tic studies of Dabiq. Existing studies generally provide partial overviews of single issues
(Gambhir 2014; Kibble 2016) or incomplete content analyses that focus on a small
number of themes relevant to the precise research interests of individual authors (Nove-
nario 2016). Other, more comprehensive analyses of Dabiq (Colas 2016; Ingram 2016b)
have attempted to provide a broader overview of its messaging using formal qualitative
analysis frameworks, but they have generally skipped over a rigorous and nuanced under-
standing of the magazines narrative themes in favour of examining its practical purpose
(such as the magazines intended audience or how it may contribute to the radicalisation of
individual extremists). Accordingly, the literature currently lacks any comprehensive
analysis of Dabiq that focuses primarily on identifying the magazines narrative themes
and assessing how these have shifted over time. In order to fill this gap in the literature,
this article presents a thematic network analysis of the first 13 issues of Dabiq. The
purpose of such an analysis is not only to identify narrative themes contained within
the magazine, but also to visualise these themes and assess how they have changed
across issues.
At the time of writing, the Islamic State is increasingly facing a series of significant chal-
lenges to its state-building project, not least the rapid loss of territory in both Syria and
Iraq. These losses have been reflected through shifts in the groups communications strat-
egy. For instance, in mid-2016, the Islamic State produced two issues of a new e-magazine,
Rumiyah, which appears to withdraw emphasis on local issues in favour of a more explicit
focus on anti-Western propaganda. Additionally, the October 2016 loss of the township of
Dabiq to Turkish-backed forces presented a symbolic blow to the Islamic States concep-
tualisation of itself as an agent of divine prophesy, which may mean a discontinuation or
rebranding of the Dabiq title. While this may be the case, Dabiq still represents a popular
and easily accessible element of the Islamic States global communications output, making
a thorough and methodologically rigorous assessment of its content necessary. Through
providing such an assessment, this research contributes directly to our understanding
of Islamic State information operations, which also has significance for the wider field
of terrorism studies for three reasons.
First, this research publishes the deepest and most methodologically rich examination
of Dabiqs narrative themes to date. It is the only formal and comprehensive study of
the magazine that is primarily concerned with the contents of the magazines narrative,
instead of how it may be received or what it says about the Islamic State as an organ-
isation. This thematic mapping of Dabiqs narratives provides insight into how the
magazines themes may differ from the expectations of commentators. It also
demonstrates how the magazine has undergone significant thematic shifts across its first
13 issues, thereby contributing to a more nuanced understanding of how Islamic State
propaganda has changed thematically over time. Second, it constructs and tests a novel
method that may prove useful to those who seek to extract rich thematic data from
extremist literature produced elsewherefor instance, Jabhat al-Nusras Al Risalah or
the Islamic States Rumiyah. This method has previously been used to identify and
examine the thematic networks of al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsulas Inspire e-maga-
zine, resulting in a more nuanced understanding of its intended functions (Droogan and
Peattie 2016). Third, mapping this thematic landscape is essential in devising more
robust, dynamic and nuanced counternarratives that address the published concerns
of this and other related jihadist groups. If our understanding of extremist narratives
and themes rests on incomplete analysis or assumption instead of rigorous, systematic
analyses, we risk misunderstanding the dynamic nature of these narratives and we may
misdirect our attempts to counter their appeal.
Method
A detailed and rigorous thematic analysis of Dabiqs first 13 issues was conducted in order
to identify prevalent themes and assess their evolution over time. To that end, Droogan
and Peatties (2016) method of thematic network analysis was employed. This method
represents a robust approach to the thematic analysis of extremist literature.
In order to establish the data set, copies of Dabiqs first 13 issues were obtained
from public sources without payment, without subscription and in a manner that
ensured the anonymity of the authors. Within each issue, all paragraphs and blocks
of text containing identifiable narrative themes were read and analysed. This included
(but was not limited to) the magazines essays, opinion pieces, battlefield reports and
interviews. Segments of the magazine that contained no narrative themes or no text at
all, such as lists of recent video releases and images, were not analysed. A qualitative
analysis method based on Attride-Stirlings (2001) thematic network analysis technique
was then adopted. This method consists of a six-step analytic process designed to facili-
tate the identification and presentation of themes within textual data. Thematic
network analysis ultimately allows for the presentation and analysis of textual
themes as visual thematic networks, or web-like illustrations that summarize the
main themes constituting a piece of text (Attride-Stirling 2001, 385). Figure 1 outlines
this process.
The software NVivo 11 was used in all cycles of coding. During this coding process,
two coding frameworks were employed in order to generate codes (for a full descrip-
tion of these frameworks and coding cycles, see Droogan and Peattie 2016). This
included a combination of a priori codes sourced from a literature review (see
below) and a grounded theory coding framework that identified previously unidentified
themes from the magazine itself. Regarding the former, a list of a priori codes was
compiled through a literature review of academic and professional discourse on jihadist
communications (particularly the Islamic States). This ensured that the analysis of
Dabiq was informed by already agreed on professional definitions found in literature
reviews (Ryan and Bernard 2003, 88) and not solely by the authors own subjective
reading of the texts. In addition to the a priori codes, a grounded theory coding
Figure 1. Attride-Stirlings (2001, 391) method of thematic network analysis.
framework was employed to the text of all issues. As an approach to coding wherein
explanations or theories are derived from the dataset itself rather than from a
researchers prior theoretical viewpoint (Barbour 2001, 1116), the use of grounded
theory provided a useful addition to and check on the a priori coding framework.
This framework was particularly necessary because it allowed for the discovery of
themes previously unidentified through the literature reviewan outcome not possible
through a priori coding alone (Ryan and Bernard 2003, 88). Through coding Dabiq in
this manner, a series of 82 unique themes was produced on the first cycle of coding.
These themes are reproduced in Figure 2.
With this theme list developed, each issue of Dabiq was then recoded on a paragraph-
by-paragraph basis using the 82 identified themes. If a paragraph or block of text con-
tained at least one narrative theme, it was coded to indicate precisely which theme(s) it
contained. This second coding cycle produced two quantitative calculations. First, the
total number of paragraphs containing any narrative theme and, second, the total
number of paragraphs containing each specific theme. By dividing the latter by the
Figure 2. Themes derived from the literature review and grounded theory coding.
former for each theme, a third quantitative measurement was providedthe percentage of
an issues paragraphs containing each individual theme. This third measurement shows
how pervasive or present each theme is within each issue of Dabiq.
Figure 2. Continued
Following their identification and tallying, these themes were then used to construct
thematic networks. This process involved grouping the previously mentioned array of
82 themes into basic themes, organising themes and global themes. Organising
Figure 2. Continued
themes were developed by grouping together basic themes centred on shared issues. In
this sense, organising themes summarise the principal assumptions of a group of basic
themes (Attride-Stirling 2001, 389) to generate a more abstract level of analysis.
Figure 2. Continued
Similarly, global themes arose from commonality amongst organising themes. Figure 3
demonstrates an example of a thematic network.
Arrows linking themes in the network indicate the relationships between basic
themes, organising themes and global themes; they do not indicate relationships
between basic themes themselves. Grey-scale colour-coding was then applied to these
thematic networks to indicate the pervasiveness of each basic theme. Using colour-
coding in this way allows the reader to visualise the thematic focus of each Dabiq
issue. White basic themes are present in <10 percent of an issues theme-containing
paragraphs and are considered minimally pervasive. Light-grey basic themes are
present in 10.019.9 percent of theme-containing paragraphs and are considered mod-
erately pervasive. Dark-grey basic themes are present in 20.029.9 percent of theme-
containing paragraphs and are considered highly pervasive. Finally, black basic
themes are present in 30 percent + of an issues theme-containing paragraphs and
are considered critically pervasive.
Figure 3. Example thematic network.
Where basic themes could reasonably fit multiple organising themes within the same
issue, they are attached to whichever organising theme best captures the basic themes
primary use in each particular issue of the magazine. Insignificant themes (those appear-
ing in <2.5 percent of an issues theme-containing paragraphs) were removed from the
thematic network to reduce the visualisations complexity.
Literature review
Much of the journalistic, policy-oriented and academic literature pertaining to the Islamic
State focuses on the groups origins, history and evolution (Kilcullen 2016; Stern and
Berger 2015), including its organisational structure, methods of arms procurement and
financing (Weiss and Hassan 2015). This reporting is saturated with recommendations
on how the West and regional actors should defeat the group. Similarly, articles evaluating
the Islamic States military strategy are ubiquitous within the professional literature and
mainstream reporting (Al-Ubaydi et al. 2014).
Studies and reports examining the groups ideology (Bunzel 2015) and information
operations are less common but are certainly present (for a review, see Ingram 2015a),
including examinations of the groups evolving media apparatus and strategy (Farwell
2014; Williams 2016; Winter 2015a). However, examinations of the Islamic States
media narrative typically focus on the quality of the media through which it disseminates
information and its use of extreme brutality (Hall 2015; Shamieh and Szenes 2015), or the
groups novel and sophisticated adoption of various new media platforms, including
social media and e-magazines (Farwell 2014; Stern and Berger 2015).
This has meant that most commentary on the groups information operations focuses
on how it delivers its narratives rather than providing a comprehensive or detailed exam-
ination of what these narratives contain. This has led to numerous partial thematic studies
of Dabiq, or references to the magazine as a part of broader discussions. These studies and
discussions focus on a limited number of themes, which are often represented as being
indicative of the magazines overall aims, without any rigorous content analysis provided
as evidence. Themes repeatedly elevated as being of particular importance include a focus
on the Islamic State as a state-building project (Gambhir 2014; Schmid 2015); the recruit-
ment of foreign fighters and travelling to fight (Barrett 2014; Berger and Morgan 2015;
Gambhir 2014; Karmon 2015; Styszynski 2015); attempts at encouraging self-empowered,
lone-wolf, violent extremist actors abroad (Siboni, Cohen, and Koren 2015; Styszynski
2014); the glorification of violence; and the groups unique and dramatic apocalyptic nar-
rative (Barrett 2014; Berger and Morgan 2015; Celso 2015a, 2015b; McCants 2015). As this
research will show, each of these themes, while present, reveals only a partial portion of
Dabiqs thematic narrative, and their emphasis obscures a much more complex and unex-
pected thematic richness.

Fink and Sugg (2015) and Gambhir (2014), for example, contrast the narrative of al-
Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsulas Inspire magazinewhich is violent, punitive and reta-
liatorywith Dabiqs more positive focus on state-building, taking and holding territory,
and imposing governance. Certainly, a focus on both the legitimisation of the so-called
Islamic State as a sovereign religio-political entity and its supposedly exemplary programs
of governance and administration has been present throughout the pages of Dabiq since its
inception. However, references to state-building and legitimisation are often blended with
wider considerations of religious justification, scriptural exegesis, apocalyptic speculation,
and the denigration of enemies on moral or religious grounds.
Much commentary on Dabiqincluding academic (Gambhir 2014) and think-tank
analysis (Schmid 2015), and journalistic commentary (McCoy 2014)has focused on
the magazines apparent central function as a recruiting device for foreign fighters
called upon to travel to Islamic State-controlled territory to join the fight. For example,
Winter (2015b) argues that all material produced by the al-Hayat Media Centre, including
Dabiq, consciously emphasises positive qualities of friendship, security, and a sense of
identity and belonging, thus providing an intoxicating message that resonates with
certain angry and marginalised youth (see also Kfir 2015). It is worth noting that this
emphasis on recruitment, while broadly correct, may potentially give an erroneous
sense that the e-magazine is primarily and consciously designed as a recruiting device
(Colas 2016). Subsequent thematic analysis will show that this is not necessarily the
case for Dabiq.
There is even less evidence to suggest that Dabiq is primarily designed to incite individ-
uals to engage in lone-wolf-style attacks at home. The danger of Dabiq acting as a source
of self-radicalisation was reinforced by the 2015 San Bernardino shooting. A two-page tes-
tament to the husband-and-wife killers was subsequently published by the magazine, cel-
ebrating their commitment to the cause, even in the face of their death and abandonment
of their baby daughter (Islamic State 2016). Certainly, the adoption of Dabiq and other
forms of propaganda in cyberspace has been interpreted as selling the concept of propa-
ganda of the deed, and thus facilitating the rise of a series of spontaneous home-grown or
supposedly lone-wolf terrorist attacks (Siboni, Cohen, and Koren 2015). Yet aside from it
being highly debatable whether the magazine itself is sufficient to radicalise individuals or
merely acts as a catalyst in a more complex process (Winter 2015c), there is minimal
emphasis in Dabiq on cultivating, inspiring or empowering home-grown violent extremist
actors.
Perhaps the most common lens through which Dabiq has been analysed is its unique
and disturbing use of violence. Usually this argument focuses on the use of extreme and
explicit violence, savagery, cruelty and brutality, in both imagery and text, as part of a pro-
paganda campaign to gratify and excite potential supporters and outrage enemy audiences
abroad (Siboni, Cohen, and Koren 2015; Stern and Berger 2015; Winter 2015c). However
againa singular focus on the use of violence and brutality as themes obscures a more
complex reality. For example, the focus on brutality and apparent revelling in savagery
(Fink and Sugg 2015) is balanced in Dabiq, and in wider Islamic State propaganda,
with a corresponding emphasis on utopianism (McCants 2015; Winter 2015a) and also
its opposite quality, mercy (Winter 2015b). Indeed, themes of brutality and utopianism
form two halves of a complex and alluring message, both fanatical and sectarian (Celso
2015), of apocalyptic utopianism that offers both a path of action and a promised
reward to potential Islamic State recruits and supporters.
Dabiq as a thematic network

Issue 1, July 2014
Fitting its titleThe Return of the Khilafahthis issue exhibits a strong showing of
themes within the magazines Building the Caliphate organising theme. It focuses
strongly on a critically pervasive Strengths and Victories theme, wherein the groups suc-
cesses are repeatedly identified and emphasised. The Exemplary and Legitimate Leader-
ship theme appears in a highly pervasive fashion, underscoring the groups early attempts
to assert the legitimacy of its caliphate project. Also of importance to this issue are the
magazines religious themes. The Support from Quran and Sunnah theme is highly per-
vasive, and seven moderately pervasive themes are also present within this organising
theme. The magazines first issue does identify an array of enemies, although this
Enemies organising theme is only supported by minimally pervasive themes. This
issues Call to Arms organising theme contains only a small array of minimally pervasive
themes, indicating a minimal focus on this area of the magazines thematic landscape.
Overall, this issue is best characterised as one with an emphasis on state-building, expan-
sion, legitimate leadership and religion (Figure 4).
Issue 2, July 2014

The second issue of Dabiq is titled The Flood, which is a reflection of the issues particu-
larly dense theological narrative. To that end, issue 2 invokes the mythology of Noah and
his ark quite extensively, comparing salvation from the flood to the salvation supposedly
provided by the Islamic State. It issues a frank, early warning of the consequence of devi-
ation and opposition to the groups proclamations of religious truths (Dawah of Nuh
2014, 6). The issue also includes articles on the religious permissibility of cursing
enemies (particularly the leaders of Jabhat al-Nusra), which also contributes to a heavy
Figure 4. Thematic network of Dabiq, issue 1.
presence of themes within the magazines religious organising theme. Within this issues
religious narrative, Dabiq refers to the example of past Islamic figures and the asserted
superiority of the religion and God in a critically pervasive manner. The magazines
Support from Quran and Sunnah theme also features in a highly pervasive manner,
alongside the Obedience to God theme. Three moderately pervasive themes and three
minimally pervasive themes are also present within this organising theme. Within the
Building the Caliphate organising theme, the magazines Strengths and Victories
theme maintains a highly pervasive presence, with several minimally pervasive themes
also present. The Enemies organising theme also maintains relevance in this issue,
with the rejection of other jihadi groups featuring in a moderately pervasive capacity.
Similar to issue 1, the magazines Call to Arms themes are only minimally pervasive
within this issue, with such themes relating to emigration, martyrdom, the spoils of
war, benevolence and the virtues of humility. Taken together, this issue is best character-
ised as a densely theological text with a deep reliance on religious narratives (albeit used in
an extreme manner unacceptable to the majority of Muslims). The magazine discusses
theology for its own sake in some areas, and in others it employs these religious themes
to assert legitimacy over other groups and embolden its state-building efforts (Figure 5).
Issue 3, September 2014

Dabiqs third issue is titled A Call to Hijrah. Once again, the magazines religious themes
are ubiquitous within this issue. The critically pervasive Superiority of Islam and God
theme is the most pervasive of these themes, with four other highly pervasive themes
and three moderately pervasive themes also supporting this organising theme. Highly
pervasive themes relate to the example of historical Islamic figures, Gods will, obedience
to God, and support from the Quran and Sunnah. The magazines Enemies organising
theme is also quite prominent within this issue. Here, the Western Malevolence theme
exhibits its first highly pervasive appearance in Dabiq. The magazines Building the Cali-
phate organising theme contains a wide array of eight minimally pervasive themes and the
moderately pervasive Strengths and Victories theme. Issue 3s Call to Arms organising
theme contains 12 themes, most of which are minimally pervasive. The Emigration
theme, however, is moderately (though almost highly) pervasive, as are the Legitimacy
of Killing and Terrorising Civilians and Jihad Is Obligatory themes. Overall, the thematic
network shows that Dabiqs third issue is once again densely theological. In this issue,
however, the magazines narrative changes course towards an anti-Western focus. It
spends a great deal of effort on justifying the killing of civilians and hostages through reli-
gious argumentation, and on convincing the magazines readers that emigrating to the
caliphate is both religiously pious and obligatory (Figure 6).
Issue 4, October 2014

The title of Dabiqs fourth issueThe Failed Crusadeis indicative of its anti-Western
thematic focus. The magazines Enemies organising theme once again includes a highly
pervasive Western Malevolence theme, along with moderately pervasive themes relating
to hostages and a proclaimed clash of civilisations between Muslims and non-Muslims. As
with the previous issues, this issue of Dabiq contains a prominent set of religious themes.
The Superiority of Islam and God theme maintains its critical pervasiveness and the
Gods Will theme maintains its high pervasiveness. The magazines religious organising
theme is generally less prevalent than issues 2 and 3, with fewer total supporting themes
and only four moderately pervasive themes materialising in this issue. Themes within the
magazines Building the Caliphate organising theme are quite prominent within Dabiqs
fourth issue. The Strengths and Victories theme resumes a critically pervasive presence,
and the Exemplary and Legitimate Leadership and Expanding Local Territory themes
maintain their moderate pervasiveness. Themes within the Call to Arms organising
theme are less present than issue 3, however, with only the Spoils of War theme
seeing a pervasiveness level of moderate or higher. Overall, this issue of Dabiq focuses
on the dichotomy of strength and failure. It attributes the former to the Islamic State as
a group (and to Islam in a broader sense) and the latter to its enemies. This issue
asserts the legitimacy of the groups leadership, highlights the groups territorial expansion
and continues with issue 3s focus on the West, particularly in relation to alleged Western
malevolence and Western hostages (Figure 7).
Issue 5, November 2014

Dabiqs fifth issue has a somewhat narrow thematic focus. Fitting with this issues title
Remaining and Expandingthe magazines Building the Caliphate organising
theme is a clear thematic focal point. Here, the Strengths and Victories theme is
employed in a critically pervasive manner to support the issues persistent proclamations
of Islamic State power. Religious themes maintain a level of ubiquity in Dabiqs fifth issue,
though evidently less so than issues 2 through 4. The Example of Islamic Figures and
Support from Quran and Sunnah themes feature in a highly pervasive manner, with
four moderately pervasive themes and three minimally pervasive themes also present.
The Enemies organising theme maintains its recent anti-Western disposition in this
issue, although the pervasiveness of these anti-Western themes has fallen to a moderate
level. Regarding the Call to Arms organising theme, themes included here are mostly
only minimally pervasive. The Resilience and Resolve theme is moderately pervasive
here, however, which again demonstrates issue 5s broad focus on organisation strength,
growth and victory (Figure 8).
Issue 6, December 2014

Dabiqs sixth issue is titled Al-Qaidah of Waziristan: A Testimony from Within. As with
issue 5, this issues thematic landscape is also quite narrowly focused. The Enemies
organising theme is a clearly discernible focus for issue 6. In particular, the Rejection
of Other Jihadis theme features at a critically pervasive level. This theme consumes the
magazines sixth issue, demonstrating a strong and unrelenting focus on intergroup con-
flict with other jihadi groups. The Local Regime Malevolence theme is moderately per-
vasive within this issue, whereas anti-Western themes are now only minimally
pervasive. Religious themes are once again less pervasive than previous issues, reaching
an overall low point of pervasiveness in this issue. The Obedience to God theme is still
highly pervasive, however, with five moderately pervasive themes and three minimally
pervasive themes also supporting this organising theme. The Call to Arms organising
theme is marginally more significant in issue 6 than most previous issues. It includes
the moderately pervasive Brotherhood, Being Humble and Measured and Jihadi Experi-
ences themes, indicating a focus on personal traits and the personal experience of jihad.
Regarding the magazines Building the Caliphate organising theme, this issue sees a
reduction in the number of its supporting themes to a total of only five. Taken as a
whole, this issue is best described as zealously focused on the rejection of other jihadi
groups. It continues with state-building narratives, religious narratives and its call to
arms, but these are quite clearly secondary to challenges directed at the groups enemies
(Figure 9).
Issue 7, February 2015

The seventh issue of Dabiq is thematically diverse. The issues feature article draws a dis-
tinct dichotomy between Islam (which the Islamic State claims to epitomise) and the so-
called enemies of Islam, which predominately include the West, moderate Muslims and
local regimes. The group claims to have erased what it calls a grayzone that exists
between true Islam and its enemies, giving readers a binary choice between its brand of
Islam and the kufar (those who reject Islam). Other articles deal with topics as diverse
as the execution of Muath Al-Kasasbeh, advice for Islamic State leaders, the need for
Islam to live by the sword, battlefield operations, allegiances, sexual deviance, exemplary
models and Western malevolence (among others). This wide array of topics results in an
issue that is rich in moderately pervasive themes, but also one that fails to produce any
critically pervasive themes. Religious themes do exhibit a high pervasiveness in some
areas, such as the Support from Quran and Sunnah, Obedience to God and Superiority
of Islam and God themes. The Enemies organising theme does not contain any highly or
critically pervasive themes, but it does contain four moderately pervasive themes. Building
the Caliphate themes are only minimally significant within this issue, with only the
Strengths and Victories theme appearing at a level of moderately pervasive or higher.
Call to Arms themes are greater in number, but they are also only minimally to
moderately pervasive. Overall, the seventh issue of Dabiq includes articles on a wide range
of topics. The result is a diverse thematic landscape with few themes receiving particularly
strong and sustained attention across the entire issue. Aside from the magazines ubiqui-
tous religious themes, individual themes tend to feature strongly within individual articles,
but they do not present strongly over the issue as a whole (Figure 10).
Issue 8, March 2015

Dabiqs eighth issue is titled Shariah Alone Will Rule Africa. As we have seen in most
previous issues of Dabiq, religious themes are once again particularly salient. The maga-
zines religious organising theme contains a large array of 14 supporting themes. The most
critical of these is the Superiority of Islam and God theme, which results from this issues
particularly strong attempt to contrast Islam and the concept of nationalism. Highly per-
vasive religious themes include the Example of Islamic Figures, Obedience to God and
Support from Quran and Sunnah themes. The magazines Enemies organising theme is
less significant, containing no highly or critically pervasive themes. Moderately pervasive
themes within this organising theme mostly relate to local regimes, sectarianism and the
rejection of so-called moderate/nationalist militant groups. The Building the Caliphate
organising theme is similarly tame in its significance in issue 8, with only the Expanding
Local Territory and Strengths and Victories themes maintaining a moderate pervasive-
ness. The Destroying Antiquities theme does make a minimally pervasive showing in this
issue, although this is not typical of previous or later issues. With 10 supporting themes,
this issue of Dabiq does feature a diverse Call to Arms organising theme. While such
themes are numerous, however, only the Emigration theme is above the moderately
pervasive threshold. Accordingly, this issues thematic landscape is somewhat similar to

issue 2 in that it exhibits a particularly strong focus on theology and religious issues. A
robust array of moderately pervasive themes is employed alongside these religious
themes, and they generally relate to rejection of local actors or attempts to parade the
groups alleged successes (Figure 11).
Issue 9, May 2015

They Plot and Allah Plots is the title of Dabiqs ninth issue. The magazines Enemies
organising theme is particularly significant within this issue. It contains 12 themes, includ-
ing the highly pervasive Local Regime Malevolence and Western Malevolence themes.
Moderately pervasive themes relate to the rejection of local tribal forces, the rejection of
other jihadis (al-Qaeda in particular), anti-Shia sectarianism, and a clash of civilisations
between Islam and non-Muslims. Due to repeated suggestions that the West is willing to
collude with its traditional enemies to undermine Islam, a minimally pervasive West Col-
luding with Its Enemies theme is also present within this organising theme. Religious
themes maintain their ongoing relevance to the Dabiq narrative in this issue, with the
Superiority of Islam and God theme providing a highly pervasive contrast to the
groups non-Muslim enemies. The magazines Building the Caliphate organising theme
maintains relevance through the highly pervasive Strengths and Victories theme and
the moderately pervasive Expanding Local Territory theme. Minimally pervasive
themes relating to the legitimacy of slavery and the supposed superiority of the Islamic
States governance are also present, which is not typical of other issues. A high number
of Call to Arms themes is once again present. As is common with other issues of
Dabiq, however, the pervasiveness of these themes is quite low. Overall, this issue of Dabiq
is principally focused on the Islamic States enemies. While religious themes are signifi-
cantly present, this issue pays strong attention to denigrating the groups enemies and
asserting the superiority of Islam and the group itself (Figure 12).
Issue 10, July 2015

The tenth issue of Dabiq is titled The Laws of Allah or the Laws of Men. The issues nar-
rative identifies an alleged conspiracy between local tribal forces, so-called moderate mili-
tants and other jihadist militant groups, which the magazine identifies as conspirators
against the Islamic State. The significance of the magazines religious organising theme
is evident in the thematic network. It is supported by a critically pervasive Superiority
of Islam and God theme, which shows strongly due to the issues focus on the superiority
of sharia law over other forms of governance. This is also reflected in the high pervasive-
ness of the magazines Spreading Islam and Sharia theme. Themes related to the example
of historical Islamic figures, Gods will and obedience to God are also highly pervasive. A
moderately pervasive Takfir theme is also present, which originates from the issues
regular insistence that other militant groups in the Muslim world have effectively aposta-
tised from Islam for failing to govern by sharia law. The thematic significance of these
other groups is evident in the magazines Enemies organising theme. The Rejection of
Other Jihadis theme is critically pervasive within this issue, indicating a strong focus
on intergroup conflict with al-Qaeda and its allies. The Rejection of Moderate Rebel
Groups theme is also highly pervasive and the Rejection of Local Tribal Forces theme
is moderately pervasive. While anti-Western themes do not present particularly strongly
in this issue of Dabiq, a clear focus on local groups is evident. The Building the Caliphate
and Call to Arms organising themes contain only minimally pervasive themes, with the
exception of the Strengths and Victories theme, which is moderately pervasive. These
factors considered, it is clear that the thematic landscape of Dabiqs tenth issue is primarily
fixated on intergroup competition and the alleged superiority of Islam (Figure 13).
Issue 11, August 2015

Dabiqs eleventh issueFrom the Battle of al-Ahzab to the War of Coalitionscontinues
issue 10s emphasis on out-group conflict. It builds on a grand conspiracy theory involving
a diverse range of actors who consciously plot and collaborate against Islam and the
Islamic State. As with issue 10, the magazines Enemies organising theme is particularly
salient. It contains 14 themes, including the highly pervasive Local Regime Malevolence
and Western Malevolence themes. Issue 11 also continues Dabiqs tradition of conveying
a robust religious narrative. The Superiority of Islam and God theme remains critically
pervasive, with six moderately pervasive and six minimally pervasive themes also
present in the issues religious organising theme. The Building the Caliphate organising
theme contains only five themes in this issue, including the highly pervasive Strengths and
Victories theme. Unique to this issue, however, is the Obligation of Staying Local theme,
which discourages and forbids individuals from abandoning the Islamic State (particularly
as refugees). Call to Arms themes remain a core component of Dabiqs narrative in issue
11. The moderately pervasive Emigration, Jihadi Experiences and Resilience and
Resolve themes are present in this issue, along with eight minimally pervasive themes
that are typically present in most issues of the magazine. Overall, the thematic network
once again reveals an issue that is strongly focused on the groups enemies and the super-
iority of its religion (Figure 14).
Issue 12, November 2015

Dabiqs twelfth issue is bluntly titled Just Terror. Its release followed the November
2015 Paris terrorist attacks, the downing of Russian Flight 9268 over Egypt, and the
execution of an unarmed police finance worker in Sydney, Australia. Continuing a
trend evident since issue 9, this issue of Dabiq places most of its emphasis on the
magazines religious and Enemies organising themes. Regarding the former, issue
12 once again contains a critically pervasive Superiority of Islam and God theme.
In this issue, it appears alongside the highly pervasive Takfir and Gods Will
themes. The Takfir themes high pervasiveness here is interesting as it reflects an
increasing reliance on takfiri themes over the course of Dabiqs publication. Regarding
Enemies themes, the magazine exhibits similarities to issues 10 and 11 by placing sig-
nificant emphasis on what it calls the crusader alliance (the West, Russia, Europe,
local regimes and Jews), the Sahwah alliance (local tribal, nationalist and other jihadist
militias) and the Safawi alliance (Shia Muslims, the Iraqi government and Iran) (As
for the Blessing 2015, 32). It frames these alliances as a global conspiracy designed to
destroy Islam and the Islamic State. Consequently, the Local Regime Malevolence,
Rejection of Moderate Rebel Groups, Rejection of Other Jihadis and Western Mal-
evolence themes are all highly pervasive in this issue. The magazines sectarian anti-
Shia theme is also moderately pervasive. The Building the Caliphate organising
theme also maintains its relevance in this issue, with the Strengths and Victories
theme remaining highly pervasive. Call to Arms themes remain minimally to moder-
ately pervasive. Summed up, issue 12 is best characterised as another issue that is
fixated on religious supremacy, theology and the enemies of the Islamic State, both
near and afar (Figure 15).
Issue 13, January 2016

Dabiqs thirteenth issue is titled The Rafidah: From Ibn Saba to the Dajjal (Rafidah is a
pejorative term used by some Salafist groups to refer to Shia Muslims). Thematically
speaking, issue 13 once again places most of its emphasis on the magazines religious
and Enemies organising themes. Regarding religious themes, the Takfir theme
remains highly pervasive due to lengthy characterisations of Shia Muslims as apostates.
Other highly pervasive themes within this organising theme include the Superiority of
Islam and God, Gods Will and Example of Islamic Figures themes. Four moderately
pervasive and three minimally pervasive religious themes are also present. The magazines
Enemies organising theme is most strongly represented by the critically pervasive Anti-
Shia Sectarianism theme. Themes related to local regime malevolence, Western malevo-
lence, a clash of civilisations and the rejection of other jihadis are still present, although
these are only moderately pervasive within this issue. Themes within the Call to Arms
organising theme remain minimally to moderately pervasive within this issue, with no
particularly interesting highlights in this space of the issues thematic landscape.
Overall, Dabiqs thirteenth issue remains focused on religious themes and the Islamic
States enemies. Within this thematic landscape, Shia Muslims are a clear focal point
(Figure 16).
Changes in thematic focus across issues

An examination of the above thematic networks reveals both consistency and variation in
Dabiqs thematic focus across issues. Regarding consistencies, the magazines organising
themes and global theme remain stable across all issues. Basic themes fit within the
same four organising themes (Religion, Enemies, Call to Arms and Building the Cali-
phate) and global theme (Islam Is at War) in all 13 issues. Some organising themes and
basic themes also maintain a relatively stable and significant pervasiveness across issues.
At the organising-theme level, for example, the magazines religious themes are ubiqui-
tous. At least one highly pervasive theme is present within this organising theme in all
issues, although multiple highly and critically pervasive themes are typically present.
While some issues of Dabiq are certainly more focused on religious themes than others,
all issues contain a significant and persistent presence of religious themes. This consistent
pervasiveness is not evident in the magazines other organising themes, which each experi-
ence periods of minimal significance throughout the magazines life cycle. The Call to
Arms organising theme exhibits this minimal significance most consistently. Indeed,
not a single theme within this organising theme ever presents in anything above a mod-
erately pervasive fashion.
Despite these observable consistencies, Dabiqs thematic focus has broadly shifted in
four relatively clear phases since its first publication. The first of these phases covers
issues 1 and 2. These opening issues exhibit a distinct focus on religious legitimacy and
legitimisation of the Islamic States leadership and state-building project. An examination
of the above thematic networks shows that issues 1 and 2 featured their most pervasive
themes within the magazines Religion and Building the Caliphate organising themes.
Outside of these organising themes, the only themes appearing at a moderately pervasive
level or higher are the Lies and Hypocrisy and Rejection of Other Jihadis themes, both of
which fall within the Enemies organising theme. The magazines Enemies and Call to
Arms organising themes are otherwise occupied by only minimally pervasive themes in
these two issues.
This thematic focus shifts to some extent in issues 3 and 4, where Dabiq enters its
second distinct phase. Here, the magazine introduces a more concerted anti-Western nar-
rative. The Western Malevolence theme becomes highly pervasive in both issues, and a
moderately pervasive Hostages theme is introduced as the magazine begins to cover
the Islamic States execution of Western hostages. Religious themes maintain their charac-
teristically significant presence, and moderately pervasive themes relating to emigration,
killing civilians, the obligation of jihad and the spoils of war begin to appear within the
Call to Arms organising theme.
Dabiqs third distinct phase includes issues 5 to 8. The key characteristic of this period is
a lack of discernible thematic trends across issues. Indeed, examination of the above the-
matic networks shows the magazine shifting its thematic focus on an issue-to-issue basis
during this period. For example, issue 5 is somewhat comparable with issue 1 in its focus
on organisational strength, whereas issue 6 focuses heavily on the rejection of other jihadi
groups. Issue 7 is diverse and lacking any obvious thematic focal point, whereas issue 8 is
similar to issue 2 in its heavily religious focus.
This thematic impulsiveness stabilises to a degree by issue 9, where Dabiq begins its
fourth phase. This phase is noticeably characterised by conflict with local out-groups
and other jihadist organisations. The magazines themes shift further towards a sectarian
agenda, with increasing emphasis on identifying and challenging apostates, declarations
of takfir and accusations of religious illegitimacy. During this phase, themes related to the
rejection of other jihadis, the rejection of so-called moderate militias, anti-Shia sectarian-
ism and the rejection of local tribal militias commonly feature in a highly or critically per-
vasive manner. The magazines articles begin increasingly to aggregate these groups
together, regardless of whether they are Islamic (Shia, Alawite, non-Salafi), local actors
(Kurds, local regimes, Yazidis) or distant foreigners (the USA, Russia, France). In practice,
the magazine does continue to recognise the distinct identities and practices of these
groups, but its narrative increasingly portrays the Islamic States enemies as an individual
element within a single, monolithic conspiratorial plot.
These four distinct shifts show changes in the magazines strategic messaging over time.
Explaining the reasons for these thematic shifts is difficult, yet a number of hypotheses
might be put forward. For example, thematic shifts may suggest changes in how the maga-
zines editors conceive of the Islamic States appeal, its recruitment drivers or its objectives.
This may result from reader feedback, top-down instruction to Dabiqs editorial team or
the executive choice of an individual editor. These shifts may also indicate a change in the
external challenges facing the Islamic State, particularly in the enemies and out-groups
that it views as the greatest threat to its existence at a given time. They may also constitute
a deliberate attempt to keep the magazines content fresh and ensure it covers a broad and
interchanging set of issues. Further research will be required to determine which of these
explanations holds the most validity and whether they hold utility to counterterrorism
practitioners who wish to counter the Islamic States influence.
Dabiq as an instrument of jihadi discourse

The role of group identity
As an instrument of jihadi discourse, thematic analysis shows that Dabiq is particularly
engaged with group-level identities. This echoes Ingram (2016b), who has previously
studied the magazines bipolar treatment of in-group and out-group identities in some
depth. As the above networks show, at the broadest level of these identities, Dabiq
draws a persistent and stark distinction between Muslims and non-Muslims. It uncompro-
misingly asserts the superiority of the former over the latter, conveying an accompanying
theme of Muslim unity throughout. At a lower level of identity politics, Dabiq identifies an
array of out-groupsboth Muslim and non-Muslimwhich the Islamic State considers
its enemies. It proceeds to spend considerable time rejecting and disparaging these
enemies. For example, the magazine aggressively rejects the authority of local regimes,
the legitimacy of other jihadi groups and the religious authenticity of Shia Muslims,
and promotes the alleged weakness and malevolence of the West, and the supposed
deviousness of non-Islamist militias in Iraq and Syria (among others) . Dabiqs editors
have focused heavily on this out-group rejection, particularly in more recent issues. In
this sense, the magazine habitually expresses the Islamic States identity and authority
not just in its own right, but also through contrast with other groupsparticularly al-
Qaeda and local militias. The Islamic States supposed positive traits, uniqueness, strengths
and victories are no doubt still discussed and emphasised without reference to out-groups,
but out-group comparison remains a key method for the Islamic State to assert its own
legitimacy.
When Dabiq is not contrasting the Islamic State with other groups, group-level identity
is still a crucial element of the magazines narrative. Themes related to allegiance, the
Islamic States strengths and victories, territorial expansion and brotherhood all feature
consistently and prominently. These themes seek to create an in-group identity centred
on victory, and to frame the Islamic States expansion and successes as a group achieve-
ment on behalf of Islam itself. Dabiq provides its readers with the narrative of a cohesive,
powerful group that is engaged not just in conflict, but also in a protracted Islamist revo-
lution. In this way, the magazine offers a narrative of cosmic war wherein Muslimsled by
the Islamic Stateare waging a war against a coalition of states and organisations which
are unified through their opposition to Islam (Ingram 2016b).
This is not to suggest that Dabiq only limits its engagement to group-level identities.
Themes related to the role of individuals and appeals to individual action are still
present in Dabiq. For example, themes related to emigration, individual jihad, martyrdom
and exemplary models are present throughout the magazines life cycle. Yet themes that
appeal to the individual as an individual are generally less pervasive and less significant
than themes that appeal to the individuals group identity.
Dabiqs audience and function

Dabiqs intended audience is somewhat unclear. While the magazine is published in
several languagesincluding Arabic, French and Germanit predominately receives
attention in the West due to its English-language version, which is also apparently its
most popular version. This English-language format, along with appeals to emigration
and individual jihad, is often taken as a sign that the magazine serves a function of recruit-
ing and inspiring Western Muslims. However, as the above thematic networks show,
themes relating to a Call to Arms are generally less pervasive than other categories of
themes contained within the magazine. For example, Call to Arms themes often
feature less prominently than discussions of internal jihadi politics, local politics and
theology. Moreover, while Dabiq is composed in English, it relies extensively on Roma-
nised Arabic, theological argumentation and a prerequisite knowledge of ancient
Islamic history. Its composition is dense, often relatively impenetrable and even archaic
in its use of language. The magazines articles are long-winded, laborious to read, and
heavily focused on justifying the groups actions and religious legitimacy. These factors
render vast sections of the magazine somewhat inaccessible to a casual Western audience.
Accordingly, as Colas (2016) observes, while popular characterisations of Dabiq as a
Western recruitment tool are in some way accurate, they are incomplete and do not rep-
resent the best way to capture the magazines thematic essence or characterise its contents.
Instead, thematic analysis shows that the magazine appears to function more as a form of
press release. It provides the Islamic State with an opportunity to justify its actions and
its religious authenticity to a broader Muslim audience and taunt its enemies. It seeks to pos-
ition the Islamic State at the vanguard of a global Islamist revolution, to provide religious
legitimacy and justification to the groups actions, to pacify would-be challengers, to com-
municate with existing supporters, and to attract attention and reporting from mainstream
Western media outlets. Based on the above thematic analysis, Dabiqs primary function is
ultimately to provide the Islamic State with legitimacy both within and beyond its borders,
and recruitment is only one of many benefits that accompany this legitimacy.
Conclusions
Research findings
This research has shown both consistencies and variations in Dabiqs narrative over time.
At a high level of thematic interpretation, the magazines narrative has remained relatively
constant. Basic themes consistently fit within the same global theme (Islam Is at War)
and four organising themes (Religion, Enemies, Call to Arms and Building the Cali-
phate). Yet these basic themes themselves have shifted in presence and pervasiveness
across time. Thematic network analysis reveals a thematic landscape that has shifted in
four relatively distinct phases over the magazines first 13 issues.
The first of these phases includes issues 1 and 2. Here, Dabiq focuses on themes within the
Building the Caliphate organising theme. These issues place emphasis on asserting the reli-
gious and functional legitimacy of the Islamic States caliphate-building project and leadership.
The magazines second thematic phase includes issues 3 and 4. These issues see a reduction in
focus on state-building matters and a shift in attention to anti-Western themes. Issues 5
through 8 constitute the magazines third phase, wherein the thematic focus differs on an
issue-to-issue basis with no clear trends present. Phase four includes issues 9 to 13, which
exhibit a strong focus on out-groups and the Islamic States purported enemies.
Recognising these thematic dynamics is of crucial importance for those engaged in
counter-messaging and the development of counternarratives. These practitioners must
maintain an awareness of Dabiqs tendency to shift its thematic focus over time, as well
as its focus on group-level identities and religion. Due to Dabiqs thematic dynamism,
it will not be possible to develop static counternarratives free from a need for ongoing
maintenance and engagement. Continual and agile analysis of jihadist propaganda will
prove necessary to ensure that our understanding of such texts is up to date, and that
counter-messaging efforts are appropriately targeted, relevant and timely.
Research limitations and areas for further research

The method used offers a novel and analytically rigorous approach to qualitative analysis
of jihadist literature. At the same time, it does not allow for analysis of Dabiq beyond its
textual elements. One particular shortcoming of this research is that its method does not
enable analysis of imagery. Images can have a powerful influence on a magazines reader-
ship (Cope et al. 2015). Further examination of Dabiq should therefore analyse its imagery,
the implicit messaging conveyed by this imagery, and the likely effects of such imagery on
the magazines audience.
Beyond imagery, further research is also required into how audiences consume jihadist
propaganda like Dabiq. While thematic network analysis allows us to understand which
themes a text contains, it does not allow us to measure how strongly a given theme may res-
onate with individual readers, or which themes readers themselves will see as important or
trivial. In this sense, the above research examines how a narrative is conveyed, but not
how it is received. Further research should explore Dabiq from the perspective of its
readers, seeking to determine how the pervasiveness of narrative themes translates in relation
to reader and audience receptivity. Such research should not be limited to texts like Inspire
and Dabiq, but could also focus on the broader milieu of often rapidly produced and con-
sumed jihadist propaganda (such as videos and social media postings).
Finally, it is worth noting again that Dabiq is only one instrument in the Islamic States
propaganda tool kit. It is not necessarily the case that Dabiqs themes have shifted in
concert with the groups other propaganda channels (including videos, photo reports,
social media posts, written press releases and audio statements). Disciplined thematic
analysis of these other forms of propaganda will be required to generate a more complete
picture of the Islamic States narrative and how it has shifted over time. Such analysis may
also illuminate interesting observations about whether different channels of Islamic State
propaganda have focused on different thematic concerns at different times or with differ-
ent intensity. Understanding this may have high relevance to those engaged in counter-
messaging campaigns that seek to undermine extremist propaganda.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.
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Australian Journal of International Affairs

ISSN: 1035-7718 (Print) 1465-332X (Online) Journal homepage: http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/caji20

Mapping the thematic landscape of Dabiq

Julian Droogan & Shane Peattie

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Mapping the thematic landscape of Dabiq magazine

understanding of Dabiqs themes, identifying a range of concerns

CONTACT Julian Droogan julian.droogan@mq.edu.au

Figure 1. Attride-Stirlings (2001, 391) method of thematic network analysis.

Figure 3. Example thematic network.

pected thematic richness.

Dabiq as a thematic network

Issue 2, July 2014

Figure 4. Thematic network of Dabiq, issue 1.

Issue 3, September 2014

Figure 5. Thematic network of Dabiq, issue 2.

Issue 4, October 2014

Figure 6. Thematic network of Dabiq, issue 3.

Issue 5, November 2014

Figure 7. Thematic network of Dabiq, issue 4.

Issue 6, December 2014

Figure 8. Thematic network of Dabiq, issue 5.

Issue 7, February 2015

Figure 9. Thematic network of Dabiq, issue 6.

Issue 8, March 2015

Figure 10. Thematic network of Dabiq, issue 7.

pervasive threshold. Accordingly, this issues thematic landscape is somewhat similar to

Issue 9, May 2015

Figure 11. Thematic network of Dabiq, issue 8.

Issue 10, July 2015

Figure 12. Thematic network of Dabiq, issue 9.

Issue 11, August 2015

Figure 13. Thematic network of Dabiq, issue 10.

Issue 12, November 2015

Figure 14. Thematic network of Dabiq, issue 11.

Issue 13, January 2016

Figure 15. Thematic network of Dabiq, issue 12.

Changes in thematic focus across issues

Figure 16. Thematic network of Dabiq, issue 13.

Dabiq as an instrument of jihadi discourse

than themes that appeal to the individuals group identity.

Dabiqs audience and function

Research limitations and areas for further research

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