Communication (un)savviness and the failure of terrorism: a case of Pakistani terrorist organizations

ABSTRACT

The central hypothesis of this article is that there are a large number of terrorist groups which prolifically employ strategic communication (stratcom), while paradoxically, there are others who markedly underutilize it, and therefore, fail to mobilize support for the professed cause. The decisive determinant for either of the two ends, it is argued, obtains in the intellectual endowment or its banality among the conspiratorial groupings. A case of stratcom by two leading Pakistani Taliban groups – Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and TTP – Jammat ul Ahrar – is systematically investigated. The analysis clearly engenders that these terrorist organizations are communication un-savvy, because, they are not only religiously and secularly less informed and increasingly rhetorical but are intellectually far less creative to articulate a people inspired rhetorical vision. The brutalization of the civilians further trivializes their discourses. They have thus largely failed to evoke meaningful social mobilization. Besides further elaborating on the findings, the conclusion reflects on a few limitations of the research, offers input for broadening the research scope of some of the key dimensions of terrorism literature and ends with the discussion on some policy implications.

KEYWORDS:

• Strategic communication
• terrorist organizations
• Pakistani Taliban
• master narratives
• narrative rationality

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No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Correction Statement

This article has been republished with minor changes. These changes do not impact the academic content of the article.

Notes

1. For details see Al Quran, Chapter 71- Sura Nuh, chapters, 2, 5, 7, 10, 17, 20, 26, 28, 40, 79 for the story of Pharaoh, and Chapters 3 -Sura Al Imran (verses 123-125) and 33 – Sura Al-Ahzab  for the battle of Badr and confederates.

2. These observations are partly based on the writer’s routine interactions with Pakistani Taliban of various persuasion in the North Waziristan agency of FATA.

3. Certainly, Islam ordains Qisas (law of equality, and not vengeance) to redeem the excess and noting beyond. It concurrently enjoins Diyat (restitution) or voluntary remission “by way of charity”, which the divinity regards “an act of atonement [by aggrieved].” See notes 182–183 and Verse 45, Surah Al-Maida, (Chapter 5), Ali (n.d. [1938]). The Holy Quran: text, translation and Commentary. New Delhi: Farid Book Depot (Pvt) Limited, p. 71.

4. E.g., read an online English version of the fatwa by Dr-Muhammad-Tahir-ul-Qadri at: http://www.scribd.com/doc/29876438/Fatwa-on-Terrorism-by-Dr-Muhammad-Tahir-ul-Qadri.

5. A comprehensive insight into the public perception of terrorism and terrorists can be gained by a key word – terrorism – search on the web page of Gallop Pakistan.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Muhammad Feyyaz

Muhammad Feyyaz is a doctoral candidate at the School of History, Anthropology, Philosophy and Politics, Queen’s University, Belfast, UK. His main interest areas encompass exploring the causes of persistence of terrorism and to theorize socio-political violence.