Weaponization Of Social Media And Islamic Extremism-The Case Of Kosovo

The use of social media as a weapon in contemporary conflicts poses serious threats to global security and peace. The recent wars in the Middle East are the best illustration of how terrorist groups have led a global social media campaign to take their cause to every computer and mobile phone. Social media is being used as a tool to not only to radicalize, but also as a method to recruit foreign fighters. As such, social media is playing an important role in the battlefields of the world today. The number of followers of radical doctrines indicates how the expansion of radical Islam in the Western Balkans could pose a threat to the stability of the region. The case of Kosovo represents an illustrative example in this context. It is believed that around 300 Kosovar citizens have joined the terrorist organization ‘Islamic State’ in Syria and Iraq. This concerning number represents one of the largest per capita in Europe. Social media has played a central role by serving as a tool towards the radicalization and the recruitment of Kosovar citizens to foreign fights in the Middle East