Representation of Power in Daesh’s Media: Content Analysis of Dabeq

Today’s world is the arena of competition among the media. Media, considering their functional dimentions, not only have the ability to shape the minds, but also they can make even specific mindsets. Because they have the power to give their own constructed narratives to their audiences. Daesh gives much importance to media and this means that it well understood the role of media in the world. The main question of the present research is how the power representation is being done in daesh’s media? To answer the question regarding the concepts and elements of the soft power, authors analyze the power representation techniques in daesh’s media via a content analysis method. The case study of the research is dabeq magazine as the most important media that Daesh employs. Content analysis of Dabeq shows that Daesh succssessfully exerted power by declaring the Islamic State named Khilafa, revived the Islamic Khilafa based on religious holy texts, accompanied a wide range of Muslims all around the world by reinforcing the spiritual power and conviction to fight under the ideology of Daesh Khalifa and to exhibit the Daesh power across the globe by terrorist operations. Other elements analyzed in the research are focusing on the military power, punitive power, economic power and social and welfare services by Daesh.