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Probably because the decentralization, reach, and scale make it materially different where the potential harms can be so much greater. That IS was able to recru

Probably because the decentralization, reach, and scale make it materially different where the potential harms can be so much greater. That IS was able to recruit and inspire people across the world through their distribution of propaganda is a prime example of this.

sushshshsh 6y ago
I mean, the IRA was able to do the same with the telephone and the M4 and lasted much longer than ISIS
- dalbasal 6y ago
  I agree, but I don't think this is an example. For one thing, the IRA used the M1. The M4 runs east-west. (joke). More to the point, revolutionary republicanism and the IRA existed for a pretty long time. A lot of those who joined the (P)IRA in the 70s were grandchildren of "old IRA" members. True also for many of the international (mostly US) supporters. They communicated in person.
  - azinman2 6y ago
    And notice how regional that is, stemming from a history/land divisions that again were regional. Imagine if people were bombing for the IRA world-wide... that is materially different.
    - sushshshsh 6y ago
      Ironically the weapons and funding for the IRA came from international sources, much like how ISIS obtains funding and fighters from international sources. And the IRA did this without the use of the internet in 1970. Two principle sources were the USA and Basque country. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Provisional_Irish_Republican_Army_arms_importation#:~:text=In%201969%20the%20IRA%20received,receives%20weapons%20from%20Basque%20ETA https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Provisional_Irish_Republican.... The IRA didn't target global targets, it's true. The IRA didn't blow up mosques in Syria. But the reason for this is that terrorists attack those who are in power, and the large majority of that flows back to Western Europe and USA. There are no muslim terrorists trying to get popular from murdering school children in Belarus, for example.
dalbasal 6y ago
Arguably, but I think you need more than that to make the argument. Al Qaeda, the parent organization achieved something similar in the 80s. The spanish civil war in the 20s attracted international communists and anarchists (including George Orwell) to fight for their cause. Fascism spread across Europe very quickly. The radical liberalism of the French and American revolution is an earlier example. These ideas spread pretty fast. In all these cases (including ISIS) war was a major catalyst. In all cases propaganda played a major role and it was disseminated by whatever media was politically relevant at the time. Anticommunist revolutions of 1989 spread despite some pretty extreme centralization, censorship and control of media. Word gets around. You can also find many pre-modern and arguably ancient examples. FWIW, I believe a lot of ISIS propaganda was spread by cassette tape. For Al Qaeda, I believe this was the primary medium. In both cases, I seriously doubt that propaganda alone would have inspired and recruited so many. It was military success. ISIS recruits started arriving when they won Mosul. Once they crossed into Syria and established bonafide territorial control, the faucets were turned on.

sushshshsh 6y ago

I mean, the IRA was able to do the same with the telephone and the M4 and lasted much longer than ISIS

dalbasal 6y ago
I agree, but I don't think this is an example. For one thing, the IRA used the M1. The M4 runs east-west. (joke). More to the point, revolutionary republicanism and the IRA existed for a pretty long time. A lot of those who joined the (P)IRA in the 70s were grandchildren of "old IRA" members. True also for many of the international (mostly US) supporters. They communicated in person.
- azinman2 6y ago
  And notice how regional that is, stemming from a history/land divisions that again were regional. Imagine if people were bombing for the IRA world-wide... that is materially different.
  - sushshshsh 6y ago
    Ironically the weapons and funding for the IRA came from international sources, much like how ISIS obtains funding and fighters from international sources. And the IRA did this without the use of the internet in 1970. Two principle sources were the USA and Basque country. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Provisional_Irish_Republican_Army_arms_importation#:~:text=In%201969%20the%20IRA%20received,receives%20weapons%20from%20Basque%20ETA https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Provisional_Irish_Republican.... The IRA didn't target global targets, it's true. The IRA didn't blow up mosques in Syria. But the reason for this is that terrorists attack those who are in power, and the large majority of that flows back to Western Europe and USA. There are no muslim terrorists trying to get popular from murdering school children in Belarus, for example.

dalbasal 6y ago

Arguably, but I think you need more than that to make the argument. Al Qaeda, the parent organization achieved something similar in the 80s. The spanish civil war in the 20s attracted international communists and anarchists (including George Orwell) to fight for their cause. Fascism spread across Europe very quickly. The radical liberalism of the French and American revolution is an earlier example. These ideas spread pretty fast. In all these cases (including ISIS) war was a major catalyst. In all cases propaganda played a major role and it was disseminated by whatever media was politically relevant at the time. Anticommunist revolutions of 1989 spread despite some pretty extreme centralization, censorship and control of media. Word gets around. You can also find many pre-modern and arguably ancient examples. FWIW, I believe a lot of ISIS propaganda was spread by cassette tape. For Al Qaeda, I believe this was the primary medium. In both cases, I seriously doubt that propaganda alone would have inspired and recruited so many. It was military success. ISIS recruits started arriving when they won Mosul. Once they crossed into Syria and established bonafide territorial control, the faucets were turned on.