International Terrorism;  The Transformation from Real to Cyberspace(Case Study: ISIS)

KAMKARI, MOHAMAD; ghasemi, Hakem

Volume 16, Issue 1 (Quarterly Journal of Political Research in the Islamic World, Winter 2026 2026) پژوهشهاي سياسي جهان اسلام 2026, 16(1): 1-0 | Back to browse issues page

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KAMKARI M, ghasemi H. International Terrorism; The Transformation from Real to Cyberspace(Case Study: ISIS). پژوهشهاي سياسي جهان اسلام 2026; 16 (1) :1
URL: http://priw.ir/article-1-2022-en.html

International Terrorism; The Transformation from Real to Cyberspace(Case Study: ISIS)

MOHAMAD KAMKARI¹

, Hakem Ghasemi ^*²

1- PhD student in Political Science, Faculty of Social Sciences, Imam Khomeini International University, Qazvin, Iran
2- Associate Professor of Political Sciences, Faculty of Social Sciences, Imam Khomeini International University, Qazvin, Iran , ghasemi@ikiu.ac.ir

Abstract: (54 Views)

As one of the most important phenomena of the digital age, virtual networks have provided a powerful space for spreading ideologies, attracting supporters, and even carrying out operations in the real and cyber environments. The ISIS terrorist group exploited this space well, turning it into a strategic tool for expanding its scope of action and carrying out operations. This research examines the transformation of international terrorism from the physical environment to the cyberspace, focusing on the ISIS group. The main research question is how ISIS systematically uses virtual networks to promote radical ideology, recruit forces, organize members, and carry out terrorist operations. The research method in this research is historical-analytical, and the method of collecting documentary and library information is used. The findings show that ISIS launched a soft war by using virtual networks, in which digital media were used to promote radical ideas, attract supporters, and conduct widespread propaganda. This study also demonstrates its innovation in the combined analysis of “cyber-physical terrorism” and the provision of operational solutions (such as conflicting messaging, working with isolated individuals, and blocking financial channels). The results suggest that the transformation of terrorism into cyberspace requires a rethinking of traditional security strategies, and only through a multidimensional approach can the effectiveness of terrorist actions in this domain be neutralized.

Keywords: ISIS, international terrorism, virtual networks, social networks, cybersecurity