Abstract
Beyond the physical world around us, a deeply penetrating digital world or cyberspace began to bring about new opportunities and threats for national and international actors. The violent non-state actors (VNSAs) are not exempt from this development. Above all, the age of cyberspace changed the propaganda and recruitment strategies of the VNSAs. Armed groups acting in intrastate wars that want to recruit individuals and increase their supporters now reach people more effectively through cyberspace. Women play an important role at this point. Numerous studies explain various dimensions of the changing role of women in intrastate wars. Rather than a simplistic division of roles between men and women, some organizations began to present women as respected members rather than baits and sexual objects. By observing propaganda made by the VNSAs in cyberspace, this study shows how women are used differently to recruit new members and receive international support comparatively. In this sense, the study focuses on female fighters' role and representation in cyberspace.
TopBackground
The rapid change in media and communication technologies has provided new opportunities for violent non-state actors (VNSAs). The widespread use of the internet facilitated reaching out to individuals. Forum pages and social media channels provided suitable channels to interact. The covid-19 pandemic has also accelerated this process through increasing online interactions during school and workplace closures.
VNSAs became able to reach and recruit individuals more quickly and effectively through cyberspace. Defined as insurgents, militias, warlords, crime groups, and paramilitaries acting in intrastate war, VNSAs dramatically shifted their focus onto virtual platforms for various territorial and political goals.
Key Terms in this Chapter
Martyr: A person killed because of their religious or other beliefs.
Sharia: Is a body of religious law that forms part of the Islamic tradition.
Psychological Warfare: It is a way of propaganda instruments, threats as well as other non-combat techniques during interstate and intrastate wars in order to mislead, intimidate, demoralize, or change the mind of the enemy.
Kobani (Ayn al-Arab): It was an Arab city and was demographically changed to Kurdish dominated after the defeat of ISIS.
Burqa: It is an enveloping outer garment covering the body and worn by women.
Kurdistan: It is the imaginary state of the ethnic Kurdish people comprising Southern Turkey, Northern Iran, and Iraq.