Taliban's Virtual Emirate

Neil Krishan Aggarwal is an assistant professor of clinical psychiatry at Columbia University, a cultural psychiatrist in private practice, and a research psychiatrist at the New York State Psychiatric Institute. He is also the author of the Columbia University Press title Mental Health in the War on Terror: Culture, Science, and Statecraft (2015).

Nothing less than astonishing-The Taliban's Virtual Emirate is a blueprint for how to do cultural analysis of terrorist/insurgent activity online. The depth of what's on offer here should only spur more academics to figure out how they too can do work like this. -- John G. Horgan, author of The Psychology of Terrorism Aggarwal has a detailed understanding of the group, the culture, and their use of language. The scientific research presented when discussing psychological concepts is accurate and wholly representable and (more importantly) relevant and interesting to the discussions. -- Neil D. Shortland, Center for Terrorism and Security Studies, University of Massachusetts, Lowell Aggarwal, who is trained in cultural psychology, demonstrates how to conduct systematic discourse analysis and wed this to leadership analysis. The Taliban's Virtual Emirate will be seen as essential reading for both practitioners and academic analysts. -- Jerrold M. Post, author of The Mind of a Terrorist: The Psychology of Terrorism from the IRA to al-Qaeda It is difficult to overstate the importance of The Taliban's Virtual Emirate, which provides a comprehensive and intelligent analysis of the use of the virtual space by one of the more successful and violent contemporary ideological movements. Scholars, practitioners, and others who are interested in the new ways militant groups shape their communities' and other constituencies' perceptions and understanding of the political reality should read this book. -- Arie Perliger, director of Terrorism Studies at the Combating Terrorism Center at the U.S. Military Academy, and author of Middle Eastern Terrorism This remarkable study brings to bear Aggarwal's broad knowledge of South Asian and Middle Eastern languages and cultures and the conceptual frameworks of cultural psychiatry to examine the discourse and rhetoric of the Taliban. The insights will help all concerned to understand the religious idoleogies and aspirations that fuel some of the central conflicts of our time. -- Laurence J. Kirmayer, McGill University Aggarwal demonstrates an accurate understanding of the Islamic and Afghani cultural contexts. Hismethod of inquiry is rigorous and reproducible. American Journal of Psychiatry

• Acknowledgments Transcription and Translation Guide Preface 1. Channels of Communication in the Virtual Emirate 2. Mullah Omar's Leadership in the Virtual Emirate 3. Identity in the Virtual Emirate 4. Jihad in the Virtual Emirate 5. International Relations in the Virtual Emirate Epilogue Notes References Index