This paper conducts a qualitative case study of the ‘Islamic State’ (IS) by answering ‘how organizational terrorist characteristics explain levels of sustainability of such organizations after...Show moreThis paper conducts a qualitative case study of the ‘Islamic State’ (IS) by answering ‘how organizational terrorist characteristics explain levels of sustainability of such organizations after decapitation?’ Sustainability is measured by the physical presence and size of the terrorist group, as where organizational terrorist characteristics are composed by IS’ recruitment strategy and organizational structure. The extent to which group characteristics of a terrorist organization influence its sustainability after decapitation, is tested through the composition of a group profile, containing group characteristics of IS and an analysis of Country Reports on Terrorism by the United States government – illustrating IS in light of sustainability indicators from 2011-2019. The analysis enables the adoption of the main hypothesis stating that IS’ state of being after decapitation does not depict levels of low sustainability as reports in 2019 indicate that IS is far from being defeated, even after decapitation. The organizational structure characteristic of IS enabled them to disperse and decentralize after territorial defeat as they eliminate the need to render approval from higher ranks through training and information sharing . In addition, group size remained the same after decapitation due to cunning use of social media in recruitment, embedded in their recruitment characteristic.Show less
