The strategic logic of Islamic State information operations

Drawing on English and Arabic Islamic State (IS) communiques produced by its central media units, wilayat information offices and broader supporter base, this study examines the strategic logic of IS information operations (IO). It argues that the overarching purpose of IS's IO campaign is to shape the perceptions and polarise the support of audiences via messages that interweave appeals to pragmatic and perceptual factors. Pragmatic factorssuch as security, stability and livelihoodare leveraged in IS messaging by promoting the efficacy of its politico-military campaign and denigrating its enemies' efforts via rational-choice (logic of consequence) appeals. Perceptual factorswhich are tied to the interplay of in-group, Other, crisis and solution constructsare leveraged via identity-choice (logic of appropriateness) appeals that frame IS as the champion of Sunni Muslims (the in-group identity), its enemies as Others complicit in Sunni perceptions of crisis, and IS as the only hope for solving this malaise. With this approach, IS seeks to resonate its message across a diverse glocal' constituency and supercharge supporters towards action. IS simultaneously targets its enemies with messaging that manipulates the inherent dualities underlying perceptual and pragmatic factors, vigorously counters criticisms and baits' opponents into ill-conceived IO responses.