‘We Are after Ideals’: A Critical Analysis of Ideology in the Tweets by Boko Haram

Chiluwa, Innocent and Ajiboye, Esther (2014) ‘We Are after Ideals’: A Critical Analysis of Ideology in the Tweets by Boko Haram. Global Media Journal African Edition, 8 (2). pp. 318-346.

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Abstract

This study critically examines the influence and power of ideology in the activities of Boko Haram – an Islamic radical group that claims responsibility for several bombing attacks in northern Nigeria. Data comprise tweets and retweets presumably produced by members of this group in their effort to promote their ideological stance and mobilize followers. Discursive content of the tweets show that the Islamic radicals adopt some existing African socio-cultural norms to champion Islamic religious ideologies that are intolerant to opposing views. The Boko Haram tweets generally reflect the positive construction of the ‘we’ in-group and negative representation of the ‘others’ who are referred to as ‘infidels’, and are worthy of death. This study also shows that twitter/tweeting has been used in recent times to popularize religious and political ideologies.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	twitter, tweets, ideology, terrorist, Boko Haram, Al-Qaeda, government, Nigeria
Subjects:	B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BJ Ethics B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BL Religion J Political Science > JA Political science (General) J Political Science > JF Political institutions (General) P Language and Literature > P Philology. Linguistics P Language and Literature > PE English P Language and Literature > PL Languages and literatures of Eastern Asia, Africa, Oceania
Divisions:	UNSPECIFIED
Depositing User:	Dr. Esther Ajiboye
Date Deposited:	29 Jan 2015 11:26
Last Modified:	29 Jan 2015 11:26
URI:	http://eprints.covenantuniversity.edu.ng/id/eprint/3395

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