Author Description

Fast-moving, self-propelled 'violent images' have radically changed the nature of insurgency in the modern world. The global media has revolutionised the way ideas, messages and images are disseminated, and the speed with which they travel. First satellite TV, then laptops and the Internet, and now mobile phones and social media have transformed the way we communicate, collapsing time and distance. Rebels who once relied on local support and traditional methods of communication now operate in a globalised, digital environment where the image is as important as the act itself. In this book, Neville Bolt explores how insurgent groups have adapted to this new reality, using the 'propaganda of the deed' to capture the attention of a global audience and challenge the state's monopoly on information. By examining the communicative aims of insurgents, Bolt provides a unique insight into the way violence is used to shape public opinion and influence political outcomes.