This essay aims at analysing the impact of globalisation on the Arab Revolts. It does so by focussing on one of the most influential outgrowths of globalisation: the digital revolution and the thereof resulting emergence of social media. Instead of carrying out a general approach the analysis will focus on two selected countries, namely Egypt and Bahrain. Although trying to find an answer to the well known question if the Arab revolts were or weren’t a social media revolution the present paper tries to concretise this initial question in splitting it into sub-question which reflect the three possible meanings it implies: First, did the Arab revolts start in social media? Second, was social media a means to the end for the Arab revolts? Last, was social media the main venue of the revolts?
Table of contents
1. Introduction
2. Theoretical Framework
3. The Use of Social Media during the Revolts
3.1. Egypt
3.2. Bahrain
4. Weak Networks and Western Views
5. Conclusion
6. Bibliography
Research Objectives and Themes
This paper examines the impact of globalization, specifically the digital revolution and the rise of social media, on the Arab Revolts. By focusing on case studies in Egypt and Bahrain, the work seeks to determine whether these events can be accurately categorized as "social media revolutions" by analyzing the role of digital platforms as mobilization tools, communication venues, and agents of political change.
- Analysis of the influence of digital technology on mass mobilization in the Middle East.
- Application of the resource mobilization theory to social media usage.
- Comparative case study of protest dynamics in Egypt and Bahrain.
- Critique of Western media narratives regarding "Facebook revolutions."
- Evaluation of the limitations of social media in fostering deep interpersonal commitment.
Excerpt from the Book
3.1. Egypt
Egypt is often seen as the prime example of a state being at the interface of social media and revolution. Before the revolts started in January 2011, grievances were discussed in weblogs and Facebook groups, despite harsh state control. Famous is amongst other the group “We Are All Khaled Said”, named after a regime critical blogger who was beaten to death by the police in 2010 (Vargas, 2012). Encouraged by the success of the Tunisian revolution, revolts erupted in Cairo on January 25th, 2011. Facebook and Twitter were heavily used to coordinate protests, capturing the demonstrations and encounters with Mubarak’s forces on camera and posting it, sharing practical tips about protesting and how to best avoid police violence but also for seeking help when trapped or wounded. In addition they were also used to exchange information, encouragements and ideas with Tunisian activists and of course to express political opinions or wishes. Another big aspect was to make the happenings available internationally. Many groups, sites and posts aimed at creating global interest in the situation. The term “citizen journalist” was coined during that period: protesters disseminated updates in text, images and video both nationally and internationally (Eltantawy and Wiest, 2011: 1212-1215). In its inability to control the information spreading through social media Mubarak’s regime eventually cut off the internet service. However many protesters still managed to post online (Swaine, 2011).
It is estimated that at the time of the protests, about 21% of Egypt’s populations had access to the Internet and that about 4,5 million out of 80 million Egyptians had an Facebook account (Internet World Stats, 2012a).
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: The introduction establishes the scope of the study, questioning the validity of the term "social media revolution" and outlining the research focus on Egypt and Bahrain.
2. Theoretical Framework: This section introduces the resource mobilization theory and extends it with the concept of high-risk/cost activism to better analyze social media's role in political movements.
3. The Use of Social Media during the Revolts: This chapter provides a factual overview of how social media was employed in the specific contexts of the Egyptian and Bahraini uprisings.
4. Weak Networks and Western Views: The main analysis evaluates the efficacy of social media as a mobilization resource and critiques the Orientalist and overly optimistic Western perspective on digital platforms in the Middle East.
5. Conclusion: The conclusion summarizes the findings, arguing that while social media was an important resource, it did not constitute the primary driver or venue of the Arab Revolts.
6. Bibliography: Lists the academic, media, and statistical sources used to support the research arguments.
Keywords
Arab Revolts, Social Media, Resource Mobilization, Egypt, Bahrain, Digital Revolution, Political Change, Mobilization, Facebook, Twitter, Globalization, Western Media, Orientalism, Internet Freedom, Public Sphere
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core subject of this research paper?
The paper investigates the impact of global digitization and social media on mass mobilization efforts during the 2011 Arab Revolts.
What are the central thematic areas covered?
Key themes include the role of digital platforms in political uprisings, the application of social movement theories, regional comparisons of protest dynamics, and the critical analysis of Western media representations.
What is the primary research goal?
The primary goal is to address whether the Arab Revolts can be categorized as "social media revolutions" by testing this label against the actual events in Egypt and Bahrain.
Which scientific methodology is applied?
The paper utilizes a qualitative analysis based on a modified resource mobilization theory, supplemented by the concept of "high-risk/cost activism" to evaluate social media’s impact.
What content is addressed in the main analysis?
The main body (Section 4) assesses the utility of social media as a resource, the limitations of "weak" digital networks in fostering deep commitment, and the influence of Western bias in reporting.
Which keywords characterize the work?
Core keywords include Arab Revolts, Social Media, Resource Mobilization, Egypt, Bahrain, Digital Revolution, and Public Sphere.
How did social media usage differ between Egypt and Bahrain?
In Egypt, social media was used primarily for organization and global dissemination of information against the regime, whereas in Bahrain, it was also heavily utilized by regime supporters for counter-intelligence, trolling, and identification of opposition members.
What does the author conclude about the "Facebook Revolution" label?
The author rejects the label, concluding that the revolts did not start solely in social media, nor was the internet the main venue for the uprisings; rather, public space remains the critical arena for social change.
What is the "Orientalist" critique mentioned in the paper?
The author argues that Western media praised social media's role in the Middle East based on a biased assumption that "Western" technology inherently exports democracy, often ignoring the local complexities and the limited internet penetration in these countries.
- Quote paper
- Johanna Schell (Author), 2014, Were the Arab Revolts ‘Social Media Revolutions’?, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/279554
