This article examines the role of the new media in the arab spring in the middle east and north africa mena region. This report investigates the impact of social media upon social unrest during the arab spring and is designed to test the common hypothesis that facebook, twitter and other social media outlets had a significant impact on the outbreak of protests in the mena region. Explaining the role and impact of social media in the arab spring. The arab spring carried the promise that social media and the internet were going to unleash a new wave of positive social change. What is the role of social media on fundamental change in arab countries in the middle east and north africa. The role of social media in the arab spring, a revolutionary wave of demonstrations and protests in the middle east and north africa between 2010 and 2012, remains a highly debated subject. There has been much analysis of the causes and rapid spread of the 2011 arab spring or arab uprisings. Professor, department of mass communication, university of north carolina at pembroke, usa introduction 25th november, 2007. The role of social media in the arab spring public. The purpose of this paper is to explain the incidents that are believed to ignite the arab spring and then argue for the role of social media in arab spring.
Apr 21, 2014 worth noting is the fact that social media played a comprehensive role in enhancing the success of the arab spring plattner et al. This paper aims to demonstrate why the role of social media in the arab spring cannot be disregarded. The first is that one cannot understand the role of social media in collective action. Challenges for the 21st century sufism in the modern world. Egypt, libya, jordan, yemen, and tunisia, along with additional examples. The gatherings in tahrir square and selfimmolation of civilians has inspired awe the world over. Therefore, this paper shall discuss the impact of social media during the arab spring, and try to ascertain the extent to which it facilitated the growth of the movement. A spike in online revolutionary conversations often preceded. This paper will discuss the causes of the arab spring and how social media played a role in the middle east before the start of the revolutions in 2011.
The role social of media and modern technology in arab spring. American university analyze the role of social media in the. In the wake of dissatisfaction with the rule of local governments and the economy, citizens of the mena region had an interest in reforming the political and economic aspects of. Aljazeera and alarabia were the important television. For he who is not embraced by a passion for life will dissipate into thin air, at. Social media is no longer the domain of the liberal youth, empowering different agendas across the political map. Egypt was disconnected from the outside world for days and yet the.
What the arab spring tells us about the future of social. One of the hallmarks of the arab spring uprisings has been the role of social media in articulating demands of the popular protesters and broadcasting dramatic events as they unfolded, but it is less clear whether social media acted as a catalyst for many of the movements in. The arab spring showed the potential of young people in the middle east armed with technology. Almost immediately after the arab uprisings began, there was debate over the role and influence of social media in the ouster of tunisian. Of the four major arab spring protests analyzedtunisia, egypt, libya, and bahrain. He certainly could not have foreseen that he would motivate the peoples of the arab world1 to seek social change in the collection of demonstrations. Controlled loyalist repressed censored the typology of middle east media systems is always in flux hafez, 2001 the middle east and the internet how does it break down. Apr 23, 2018 the power of social media is that it allows people to experience current events on a personal level at a speed never before possible.
Arab spring and citizen journalism abroad festivities. The role of social media in the arab uprisings past and present. Online arab spring responds to this question, considering five countries. The role of social media in the arab spring pangaea journal. Ict and social media had little to do with sociopolitical and socio economic factors behind the protest movement. Egyptian revolution case study, and the electronic version of my thesis deposited in the isstag system are identical. The role of social media in the arab spring has it been as important as commentators have suggested. American university analyze the role of social media in the arab spring protests of 201112. It argues that although the new media is one of the factors in the social. The role of new information and communication technologies. Did twitter play a role in the liberation of egypt during the arab spring. While some scholars extrapolate the role of the new media for antiauthoritarian movements 2. Study confirms social medias revolutionary role in arab.
This paper, which is entitled the role of social media in the syrian uprising aimed to report on survey research conducted which identify the role of played by social media in the syrian uprising currently social media tools were good mediums of electronic communication. A study from the university of washington shows that social media, like twitter and facebook, did, indeed, play a major role in sparking the arab spring revolutions that engulfed the middle east. Bouazizis selfimmolation was one of several stories told and retold on facebook, twitter, and youtube in ways that inspired dissidents to organize protests, criticize their governments, and spread ideas about democracy. What the arab spring tells us about the future of social media in revolutionary movements. It helped people share videos of protest, police aggression, injured and murdered citizens. Causes, consequences, and implications if, one day, a people desire to live, then fate will answer their call. The role of social media in the arab spring pangaea. Social media and citizen journalism also played an essential role in the case of arab spring.
In addition, the tunisian regime was a dictatorship that controlled. A spike in online revolutionary conversations often preceded major events on the ground. Pdf the role of social media in the syrian uprising. Social media alone did not create the movements observed in the arab spring, but access to interactive platforms affected their narratives and influenced political concessions. I will, thus, illustrate how scholars, prior to the arab spring, had underestimated the social media. Ict and social media had little to do with the underlying sociopolitical and socioeconomic factors behind the. General consensus emerges on a combination of political, economic and social factors as being critical. Applying the framework of digital reflexivity to analyze gender and online activism. It argues that although the new media is one of the factors in the social rev.
Research problem tunisia is a developing country, an uppermiddleincome economy, and not everybody has access to the internet. Howard, university of washington aiden duffy, university of washington deen freelon, american university muzammil hussain, university of washington will mari, university of washington marwa mazaid, university of washington working paper 2011. Is focus on the syrian arab spring revolution that. The impact of social media on social unrest in the arab spring. In the 2011 arab spring protests, social media networks played an important role in the rapid disintegration of at least two regimes, tunisia and egypt, while also contributing to sociopolitical mobilization in bahrain and syria. Social media played a significant role facilitating communication and interaction among participants of political protests.
Read the excerpt from the role of social media in the. The arab social media report, produced by the dubai school of governments governance and innovation program, is a recurring series that highlights and analyzes usage trends of online social networking across the arab region. At the same time, i will also show that opinions have not completely changed on the ability of new icts. Then 2011 manifestations of the arab spring, social media networks an important role rapid decay of at least two regimes, tunisia, and egypt, while contribution to the sociopolitical mobilization in bahrain and syria. Over the course of 2011s momentous arab spring uprisings, young women in egypt, tunisia, libya, bahrain and yemen used social media and cyberactivism to carve out central roles in the revolutionary struggles under way in their countries, according to a new study commissioned by rice universitys baker institute for public policy. It does, however, facilitate organization, which was one of a few. Precisely, social media platforms such as facebook, youtube, and twitter offered comprehensive platforms where populations in support of the arab spring could share their resentments. Social media made the arab spring, but couldnt save it. It builds on a previous report, published in 2010 by usip press, titled blogs and bullets. Social media played a central role in shaping political debates in the arab spring. New media in contentious politics, and applies its fivelevel framework for studying and understanding the role of new media in political movements.
A spike in online revolutionary conversations often. Networks formed online were crucial in organizing a core group of activists, specifically in egypt. Civil society leaders in arab countries emphasized the role of the internet, mobile phones, and social media. Jul 03, 2012 ultimately, public information supplied by social networking websites has played an important role during modernday activism, specifically as it pertains to the arab spring. Until now, most of what we have known about the role of social media in the arab spring has been anecdotal. Social media played a central role in shaping political debates in. The scientific landscape is also divided over the importance of social media during the arab spring. The importance of social media in the arab uprisings throughout the arab spring uprisings, the world has seen numerous surprising events. Technologys role in the arab spring protests youtube. It was a spring forward for many countries in the middle east such as tunisia, egypt, libya, and seventeen others, who fought against their oppressive government regimes to put the power back in the hands of the people. Description in late of 2010 and during 2011, the arab countries saw a series of large scale political uprisings. Arguably, social media played a significant role in the arab spring by making it easy to spread messages, videos, and photos through protesters and then to the entire public.
Al jazeeras framing of social media during the arab spring. Politics comes first gadi wolfsfeld 1, elad segev2, and tamir sheafer3 abstract the goal of this article is to place the role that social media plays in collective action within a more general theoretical structure, using the events of the arab spring. Uprisings occurred in states regardless of internet usage in the area. The role of information communication technologies in the. The role of social media in the arab uprisings pew research center. Apr 03, 2012 was the arab spring really a facebook revolution. Despite heated arguments on the real role of social media in the arab spring, its undeniable that it had somewhat exerted influence which contributed to its fruition. Critical thought and the future of islam the middle east and muslim southeast asia. I was working for an international media organization, so i used to receive many emails every day. The goal of this article is to place the role that social media plays in collective action within a more general theoretical structure, using the events of the arab spring as a case study.
The role of social media in the arab spring the role of social media in the arab spring the arab spring. The role of social media in arab spring independent study. Clay shirky did an interesting short interview for the annenberg eye on the middle east program nov. While some people regard social media merely as a tool for this revolution, i believe that social media is the main weapon to make a success story for this. Combining the approaches of geospatial analysis and nlp allows us to examine in a broader sense different aspects of crowd behaviorarab spring, for example the role of social media in the arab. Uprisings occurred in states regardless of their levels of internet usage, with some states with high levels of internet usage such as bahrain, with 88% of its population online in 2011 experiencing. I hereby declare that the print version of my masters thesis the impact and role of social media networks on arab spring. Twitter, facebook and youtubes role in arab spring middle. Oct 24, 2012 social media and the arab spring rachel williams. Social media and women of the arab spring effects of social media on egyptian womens participation in the revolution hanna lehtonen supervisors.
Taking power through technology in the arab spring. The role of social media in terms of national crisis curtis ar ph. The role of new media in the arab spring request pdf. In light of the arab spring revolutions of early 2011, the internet and its tools of. This article will highlight the shift from traditional activism to digital activism by using the egyptian revolution as a specific. However, due to varying internet levels of accessibility, the inconsistency of its influence differs among the participating countries. May 20, 2014 in regards to the role social media played in the arab spring, author emily parker says, the internet never causes revolution. Role of social media in the arab spring by ami sedghi on prezi. Social media indeed played a part in the arab uprisings. The present descriptive study examines the islamic states is use of social media to launch its message and expand its propaganda to the world. There are many debates about the role of social media in the arab spring that started in tunisia and spread to other arab countries such as libya, egypt, yemen and syria. Acknowledgement of the role of social media during the arab spring. In saying that its role cannot be disregarded, this paper does not argue that social media caused the arab spring but was an essential tool. This chapter will focus on the effect of social media on the arab spring.
Explaining the role and impact of social media in the. According to the 2011 arab social media report, 94% of tunisians get their news from social media tools, as do 88% of egyptians. The role played by the arab mass media in the arab spring is recognized by a lot of analysts. Pdf the role of social media in the arab uprisings. A much more productive way to conceptualize the role of social media is as a variable like any other one that can. New media and conflict after the arab spring the web site cannot. Did egypt tweet its way to freedom focuses on a data analysis of twitter tweets surrounding the egyptian revolution inside the 2011 world shaping arab spring. Students will analyze patterns, rates of change and consider the inquiry question. Social media and the arab spring rutgers university. Social media was effective in awakening the arab people and giving them the power to fight against repressive regimes in their drive for greater freedom and independence.
Opening closed regimes what was the role of social media during the arab spring. Often referred to as the facebook and twitter revolution, it is thought by many that social media was the main tool for the arab uprising. It argues that although the new media is one of the factors in the social revolution among others such as social and political factors in the region, it nevertheless played a critical role especially in light of the absence of an open media and a. Role of social media in shifting a peaceful arab spring into terrorism by steve johnston introduction this article will examine the islamic states use of social media to gain support from within the syrian public during the 2011 arab spring. The ongoing arab spring revolutions of 2011 have fostered a budding dialogue about the role of social media and networking as a tool for political mobilisation towards regime change and prodemocracy movements. The arab spring spawned a series of revolutionary movements that are unique in that they utilized social media as an effective means to spread information and promote insurgent agendas. Social media helped spread democratic ideas across international borders. Study confirms social medias revolutionary role in arab spring.
From the toppling of the autocratic governments of tunisia and egypt to the unrests in bahrain, yemen and syria, the social media has acted as an. Social media has played a crucial role in the emergence, organization and dissemination of the. Read the excerpt from the role of social media in the arab uprisings by heather brown, emily guskin, and amy mitchell. The article presents two broad theoretical principles. In light of the tunisian events and those in tunisia, egypt, syria, and bahrain, researchers have focused on the role of social media in establishing democratic leadership and collective activism. Politics comes first gadi wolfsfeld 1, elad segev2, and tamir sheafer3 abstract the goal of this article is to place the role that social media plays in collective action within a more general theoretical structure, using the events of the arab spring as a case study. Social media and the internet allowed young arab women to. The role of social media in the arab spring, a revolutionary wave of demonstrations and protests in the middle east and north africa between 2010 and 2012. Taking power through technology in the arab spring iran. Although there are many factors that make the revolution successful, one of the significant factors that is discussed in my blog is the role of social media in the arab spring revolution.
Conversations about revolution often preceded major events, and social media has carried inspiring stories of protest across international borders. Implications of the arab spring the jefferson quran maher zain, technology, and southeast asias place in modern islam islam and science the new social media and the arab spring saudi arabia. In arab countries, many activists who played crucial roles in the arab spring used social networking as a key tool in expressing their thoughts concerning unjust acts committed by the government. The role of social media in the arab spring the role of social media in the arab spring. The analysis is based on international survey data from egypt, iraq, jordan, libya, morocco, and tunisia, gained within the framework of the fp7 project. But the past five years have shown that liberty isnt the only. The impact and role of social media networks on arab spring. Limited data and analysis of the role of social media in the arab spring. In regards to the role social media played in the arab spring, author emily parker says, the internet never causes revolution.
The series of arab uprisings collectively known as the arab spring is a flashpoint in history perhaps the biggest we. Social media really did play an instrumental role in the wave of arab spring revolutions that swept across parts of the middle east and northern africa earlier this year, a. For a broader description of just how gamechanging the revolutions in egypt, tunisia and elsewhere in the middle east may be, see thomas friedmans. Youth frustration and the arab spring 3 mohammed bouazizi, the young street vendor who set himself ablaze in public in late 2010, did not intend to start a revolution in tunisia. Protesters used social media to organize demonstrations both pro and antigovernmental, disseminate information about their activities, and raise local.
The arab spring of 2010 was a domino style revolution that spread throughout the middle east and north africa resulting in a complete upheaval of the autocratic status quo in the region. Role of social media in shifting a peaceful arab spring into terrorism, by major hasan harkous, 7 pages. Facebook, twitter, youtube, and other forms of social media have played a major role in the planning, acceleration, and even the preparation of some of the uprisings and revolutions that too place in the middle east at this time. It analyzes the extent to which social media has been used for political purposes and also investigates the participation in protests during the arab spring, both in a generational comparison. The role of social media in political mobilisation.
Social media and the arab spring in 2011, the world witnessed unprecedented events that unfolded in the middle east and north africa that resulted to the overthrowing of the despotic arab regimes. Nov 18, 2011 this article examines the role of the new media in the arab spring in the middle east and north africa mena region. And their night will then begin to fade, and their chains break and fall. The public revolt in syria followed other such revolutions in tunisia, egypt, and libya.
For the case of tunisia, social media specially facebook was a main actor in the revolution. The role of social media in the 2011 egyptian revolution. Social media has certainly played a part in the arab spring revolutions but its impact is often exaggerated on the inside. And since then, the violent and sectarian unrest in syria has brought increased attention to the role of citizen journalism. The role of social media in the arab uprisings pew. Social media and the arab spring sage publications.
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