Global Jihadism in Somalia. Analyzing Al-Shabaab Legitimization Discourse

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Master's Thesis from the year 2015 in the subject Orientalism / Sinology - Islamic Studies, Cranfield University, language: English, abstract: Alshabab is a radical Islamic movement which is waging an insurgency in Somalia against the internationally recognized government and the troops of the Africa Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM).This movement is affiliated with Al-Qaida whom it shares the same ideology. This study is concerned with Alshabaab discourse and how the radical organization is legitimazing Global Jihadism in Somalia. The finding indicate that Alshabaab discourse draws heavily on Salafim and contemporary jihadists tenets, but posses also its own peculiarity due to the East African context in which it is operationalized. In addition, it is a discourse with strong hegemonic and ideological features which relate to power and control, and which entail a normative effect that shape social practices. The latter features of the organization discourse are increasingly becoming problematic for the Somalia-based radical group. Initially, Alshabab succeeded in establishing itself as a resistance movement, and then gradually, the radical organization started to publicly advocate the Global jihad. To justify this ideology, and beside Salafism doctrines, Al shabaab uses a literalist and selective reading of the Quran. In recent years, however, Alshabaab is increasingly challenged in Somalia. The organization discourse is becoming less and less relevant as the statebuilding efforts are making slow but steady progress. Thus, the inherent contradictions in the militant discourse are made more apparent. Indeed Alshabaab positioning as a national resistance movement is quite incompatible with its call for a world domination as promoted by Global Jihadism. Furtermore, Somalis were repulsed by Alshabaab harsh practices of the Sharia, and its terror tactics. As a result, the militant group is faced by increasing challenges in Somalia. Therefore, Alshabaab is compelled to change. A shift in strategy is already perceptible, as Alshabaab is expanding its operation into Kenya which indicates the radical organization intention to regionalize its struggle.