Digital World War

Islamists, Extremists, and the Fight for Cyber Supremacy

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Pub Date Oct 24 2017 | Archive Date Oct 13 2017

Description

A seasoned diplomat with deep knowledge of Islamist politics and digital innovation draws the first clear picture of the unprecedented impact of online networks

Social media has dominated the discourse of recent events in the Muslim world—from the Arab Spring and its aftermath to ISIS’s online recruitment. Yet the roles of social media in these events and the use of the dark web, hacking, and digital attacks have received little attention.

Haroon Ullah investigates the unprecedented impact of social media across the Middle East, North Africa, and South and Southeast Asia and demonstrates how it has profoundly changed relationships between regimes and peoples, and within populations—mostly, but not always, for the better. He considers its apparent inherently “democratic,” anti-establishment revolutionary impact, as well as how religious conservatives and extremists have co-opted various platforms. He goes on to show how political parties, corporations, and governments have learned to exploit digital tools to target and mobilize audiences, to ultimately achieve power and status. Identifying key trends across the Muslim world, Ullah outlines what a proper understanding of social media can teach us about regional and international politics and diplomacy.
A seasoned diplomat with deep knowledge of Islamist politics and digital innovation draws the first clear picture of the unprecedented impact of online networks

Social media has dominated the...

Advance Praise

“In a world growing more chaotic, Haroon Ullah is one of those rare people who can provide a new roadmap to understand the intersection of technology, marketing, and social media in the Muslim world. The first step to breaking the brand of extremists is to understand it. This book is a must-read for all.”—Gary Briggs, Chief Marketing Officer, Facebook


“This book is fascinating and also critically important. With great insight and expertise, Haroon Ullah shows how social media is being used in the Muslim world both to transform governments as well as recruit fighters to Islamist extremism. One of our most important challenges today is turning digital media into a force for good. The first step is to understand how it is being used, for good and for evil, in places like the Middle East. That’s why this book is indispensable.”—Walter Isaacson, is a writer, journalist, and the President and CEO of the Aspen Institute


“Islamic politics are rich and varied, but are typically reduced to ISIS, al-Qaeda, and the Muslim brotherhood. Digital World War draws a fascinating map of this political world by tracking street-fighting and brand-building on social media—a landscape of censorship and change. An illuminating read.” —Anne-Marie Slaughter, President and CEO, New America


“As we come upon nearly a decade of intense protests and revolutions across the Middle East, social media has demonstrated its enormous potential to mobilize citizens and challenge regimes. In this important new book, Haroon Ullah provides a comprehensive analysis of the interplay between political rebels and cyber communities—and how they will reshape the world’s most turbulent region.”—Parag Khanna, author of Connectography


Digital World War is a major contribution to how technology, in particular social media, is shaping and changing Islamist movements, from mainstream Islamist parties to violent jihadist organizations. Haroon Ullah writes clearly and concisely on this important phenomenon, which is reshaping the Muslim world in unexpected ways.”—Peter Bergen, author of United States of Jihad: Investigating America’s Homegrown Terrorists

“In a world growing more chaotic, Haroon Ullah is one of those rare people who can provide a new roadmap to understand the intersection of technology, marketing, and social media in the Muslim world...


Available Editions

EDITION Other Format
ISBN 9780300231106
PRICE $25.00 (USD)
PAGES 336