Abstract
This thesis examines al-Qaeda’s magazine Inspire through six selected articles from six continuous issues of the publication. Using frame theory and a qualitative content analysis, three research questions are answered. The first research question answered, discusses how frames are employed in Inspire to move the reader towards al-Qaeda’s ideological standpoint. The second research question asks how Inspire packaged and delivers martyrdom, to its readers, as not only an acceptable but also as an appealing end goal The final research question goes on to ask if the tone of the magazine changed when comparing the articles published before and after the killing of the magazine’s co-creators and editor-in-chief Anwar al-Awlaki and Samir Khan, respectively. Addressing these questions provides a necessary analysis of available information in an attempt to close a gap in the academic literature surrounding Inspire, al-Qaeda, and terrorism, as well as how radicalization occurs and might manifest within a group or an individual that could ultimately lead to commission of violent actions including, but not limited to, individuals martyring themselves.