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The Islamic State: Reconceptualizing Statehood

Bäck, Jesper LU (2023) STVK02 20222
Department of Political Science
Abstract
This thesis provides a qualitative text analysis of the Islamic State’s statehood claims in order to examine how they challenge the conventionally accepted Western notion of statehood. The thesis focuses on the Islamic State’s own claims of statehood as it identifies itself and sculpts its alternative definition of state, as illustrated in primary material including speeches, videos, articles, and text from the Islamic State itself through al-Furqan, the Islamic State’s media center, Dabiq, the now-discontinued magazine, and al-Naba, a still-published weekly newsletter.

This thesis argues that the Islamic State’s claims, as well as its state-like operating apparatus, significantly deviate from what has been traditionally regarded as... (More)
This thesis provides a qualitative text analysis of the Islamic State’s statehood claims in order to examine how they challenge the conventionally accepted Western notion of statehood. The thesis focuses on the Islamic State’s own claims of statehood as it identifies itself and sculpts its alternative definition of state, as illustrated in primary material including speeches, videos, articles, and text from the Islamic State itself through al-Furqan, the Islamic State’s media center, Dabiq, the now-discontinued magazine, and al-Naba, a still-published weekly newsletter.

This thesis argues that the Islamic State’s claims, as well as its state-like operating apparatus, significantly deviate from what has been traditionally regarded as the factors that constitute a state. While the Islamic State’s brutal terrorist actions prevent its legitimacy, its statehood claims and the alternate ideal type of state that is presented from these claims highlight the need to potentially reconceptualize the mainstream definition of state. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Bäck, Jesper LU
supervisor
organization
course
STVK02 20222
year
type
M2 - Bachelor Degree
subject
keywords
Islamic State, Statehood, Reconceptualization
language
English
id
9105650
date added to LUP
2023-02-22 13:30:43
date last changed
2023-02-22 13:30:43
@misc{9105650,
  abstract     = {{This thesis provides a qualitative text analysis of the Islamic State’s statehood claims in order to examine how they challenge the conventionally accepted Western notion of statehood. The thesis focuses on the Islamic State’s own claims of statehood as it identifies itself and sculpts its alternative definition of state, as illustrated in primary material including speeches, videos, articles, and text from the Islamic State itself through al-Furqan, the Islamic State’s media center, Dabiq, the now-discontinued magazine, and al-Naba, a still-published weekly newsletter. 

This thesis argues that the Islamic State’s claims, as well as its state-like operating apparatus, significantly deviate from what has been traditionally regarded as the factors that constitute a state. While the Islamic State’s brutal terrorist actions prevent its legitimacy, its statehood claims and the alternate ideal type of state that is presented from these claims highlight the need to potentially reconceptualize the mainstream definition of state.}},
  author       = {{Bäck, Jesper}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{The Islamic State: Reconceptualizing Statehood}},
  year         = {{2023}},
}