1. Karin Knorr Cetina (2005) characterized al-Qaeda as a global microstructure.  Do you think that the group proclaiming the Islamic State is also a “global microstructure”? Why?
2. The ISIS group uses technologies to pursue what sort of goals? Why does Cetina define it as “scopic media”?
3. What is the “lone wolf phenomenon”?
4. Do you agree with Thomas Friedman’s argument that ISIS is a by-product of “failed governance” (a.k.a. failed states) in the Arab world? Why? (tip: you should refer to Morten and Kathleen’s article about the notion of “failed states” in your answer. You don’t have to agree with them, but demonstrate knowledge of their argument)
5. What is homegrown terrorism?

Make sure you differentiate the concepts of ‘homegrown terrorism’ and ‘lone wolf terrorism’. Although they can overlap, they mean different things!

                                                            SAMPLE SOLUTION

The characterization of al-Qaeda as a global microstructure is quite appropriate given that as a global terror organization, it did not have a complex structure, but rather the mechanisms of coordination in this group are similar to those that exist in interaction systems. The group proclaiming the Islamic State is also a global microstructure given that the group’s activities have effects all across the world, yet the group is not tied to some form of organizational complexity (Cetina, 2005). This is especially true given that the main goal of the group is to radicalize people in different parts of the world to participate in terrorism attacks on Western countries. Despite the fact that the Islamic State has curved out a portion of Iraq, Pakistan and Syria out of which it operate, its ability to attract fighters and members from all over the world are what makes it a global microstructure.

The ISIS group uses technologies to communicate to the world that they have total control over the regions, which they have declared as a caliphate. They communicate this message frequently to their followers and sympathizers all across the world in order to rally them behind their mission of creating a global Islamic State. Cetina defines this as “scopic media” because they use technology not to communicate the reality, but to focus their message around a single them of global Muslim domination (Cetina, 2005). The scopic media used in this case is largely broadcast media as well as radicalization videos posted on the web and also in-person recruitment efforts.