ABSTRACT
Terrorism is now a global disease that has grown rapidly to infect almost every country across the world (Sandler, 2015). For example, the year 2014 witnessed an 81 per cent increase in worldwide deaths from terrorism, from 18,000 in 2013 to 33,000 in 2014, while kidnappings by terrorist groups in 2014 increased by three times the 2013 figure (US State Department, 2015). In some senses this is nothing new, since terrorist activity has a long history, dating back many hundreds of years (Lutz and Lutz, 2013). However, modern methods of communication mean that terrorist acts can now instantly secure publicity and readily reach potential recruits and funders worldwide. Indeed, O’Hair and Heath (2005: 4) argued that ‘Terrorism is an inherently communicative process’, as communication infuses every level of the activity from the intrapersonal processes involved in adopting and internalising radicalised beliefs, to the interpersonal relations that sustain the group, and the mass communication methods used to publicise and promote their activities.
