On Experience of Social Networks Exploration for Comparative Analysis of Narratives of Foreign Members of Armed Groups

Abstract

This article contains a comparison of narratives of foreign members of armed groups of The Islamic State of Iraq; the Levant; the Lugansk and Donetsk People's Republics in Syria and Ukraine. This data was collected in 2015-2016 using social networks and telecommunications which are presented in the article. The probabilistic and stochastic methods of analysis and classification of data from social networks were used for the identification of active members of illegal armed groups, and for analysis its number, composition and dynamics in active conflict areas. Some structural, figurative and lexical features of 83 stories are discussed. Key similarities, anomalies and differences are determined. Ways of information dissemination using social networks and traditional media are described. Role of narratives is shown. Conclusions are proposed.