Jihadism from a Subcultural Perspective

Abstract

Current trends in Western jihadism point to the renewed relevance of subcultural theory. This article outlines a novel subcultural perspective that synthesizes subcultural theory with recent accounts of intersectionality and argues that such an approach enables an understanding of jihadism as a collective and cultural response to a shared experience of marginalization and othering. In addition, this theoretical perspective offers a framework for comprehending the processes of bricolage central to subcultural collective creativity. This article illustrates this potential by analyzing examples of jihadi rap. Such analyses represent important contributions to studies of the broader cultural and social ecology of jihadi subculture.