The Power of Social Media in the Arab World:
Increasing Political Activism
Introduction:
As a young adult living in an increasingly digitalized world, I am heavily dependent on new media technologies, specifically social media platforms, to gain news and information. Throughout my study of various aspects of the relationship between media and politics over the past few years, I was able to gain deep insight into the patterns in the politicization of new media, specifically social media’s role in increasing political participation. Growing up in the Middle East, I have been exposed to political conflict through social media from a young age. However, it was only recently that I was able to grasp the extent to which social media platforms have impacted the way politics work in the region. Through the multiple courses that I have taken at NUQ and GUQ, I was able to delve into the complex interrelationship between media and politics and the impact that they both have on each other. This allowed me to reflect on the political impact that social media exerted on people’s participation in various revolutions that took place in the Arab world.
The relevance and influence of social media in the fall of Tunisia's president Zine El Abidine Ben Ali and Egypt’s president, Hosni Mubarak were prominent topics almost immediately after the Arab uprisings began. The focus of media coverage of what some referred to as the Facebook or Twitter revolutions was on young protesters holding smartphones while participating in public demonstrations in support of political causes. Since then, Syrian's sectarian and deadly unrest has brought to light the significance of citizen journalism for political engagement (Brown et al., 2012). In fact, a great deal of individuals believe that social media contributed to the Arab upheavals. A core group of activists was organized in large part due to online networks, especially in Egypt. Arab civil society leaders emphasized the role that social media, mobile devices, and the internet played in the protests. Moreover, Arabs have embraced social media as a venue for participating in politics and exercising their freedom of expression (Brown et al., 2012).
In preparation for the Media and Politics minor, I took six courses. Three of these courses were taken at Northwestern University: Politics in the Digital World with Professor Banu Akdenizli, Exploring Global Media led by Professor Joe Khalil, and Media Law & Ethics taught by Professor Craig LaMay. I have also taken three courses at Georgetown University: Media, Culture and Politics in the Middle East led by Professor Mohamed Zayani, Comparing Electoral Systems in MENA Countries with Professor Luciano Zaccara, and International Relations taught by Professor Gerd Nonneman.
Part 1: Thematic Links
The common theme that was of interest to me after taking these courses was the pattern of increased political activism that social media platforms have had on the Arab region. This theme that I have chosen to focus on is a product of all the courses that I have taken throughout my media and politics minor journey. It mostly stems from my study of Exploring Global Media. Global media, specifically social media, can shape public opinion on political issues by framing stories and providing various perspectives on crucial events. This can be particularly important in countries where there is limited access to alternative perspectives or where state-controlled media outlets dominate. In the Middle East, particularly Arab countries, there are high levels of censorship that govern traditional media outlets such as television channels, newspapers and radio channels. Therefore, social media platforms were revolutionary in the sense that they served as powerful tools for individuals and groups to communicate and share information with less censorship, something that I was able to witness and make use of throughout the past few years.
From the Arab spring that spread across much of the Arab region in the early 2010s to the illegal eviction of Palestinians from their homes in the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood, I was able to experience how social media played a vital role in shedding light on political conflicts and issues in the region. Through my study of Media, Culture and Politics in the Middle East with Professor Mohamed Zayani, I was able to analyze how the media landscape has changed over time and how advancements in communications and information technologies in the digital world are influencing the Middle East. By analyzing various case studies, this class has taught me that social media cannot be considered a primary driver of change, but merely a means to an end. This means that social media has not changed the tactics used to start revolutions, it is just that the available channels of communication have expanded (McCarthy, 2011). Revolutionaries use social media as an extended set of tools for the activities that have always been and continue to be the most significant to activists: gathering support, connecting with like-minded individuals, and disseminating information (McCarthy, 2011). Moreover, social media platforms have been utilized to amplify the voices of marginalized groups who have access to the internet and can help build connections and a sense of community among political activists. This can be especially important in situations where rapid mobilization and widespread participation are needed to achieve effective change (Yan, 2021). As a result, it is evident that social media platforms have facilitated, and thus, significantly increased political participation over the past decade in terms of mobilization, shaping opinions and encouraging change (Zhong, 2022).
Similarly, in my Politics in the Digital World class, we delved into the topic of “agenda-setting” in the digital world. In one of my class readings, I was able to analyze how social media platforms have an impact on how agendas are created and maintained. As online messages propagate among people who have the same opinions and reinforce prominent views, they can serve as a means of constructing partisan agendas. Agenda setting on social media has a significant influence on political activism by amplifying certain issues, diversifying the range of issues that are discussed, and personalizing news content (Perloff, 2021). It also plays an important role in shaping political activism by influencing public perceptions of what issues are important and worthy of attention, and therefore inspiring political action and mobilizing individuals and groups to engage in political activism (Perloff, 2021). The reason why social media has proven to be more compelling and successful at agenda-building and encouraging political activism than traditional media results from several factors and emotional devices including its higher accessibility, higher interactiveness and its increased political polarization which allowed for the divergence of people’s political attitudes towards ideological extremes.
Part 2: Relevant Examples
Through the virtual book talk that I have recently attended with Dr. Maria Repnikova who discussed her book titled "Chinese Soft Power", I was able to delve deeper into the Chinese conception of soft power and its efficient implementation in various international contexts. Dr. Repnikova also touched on re-appropriations of soft power in the region such as the role of the Islamic Republic of Iran’s soft power in the Middle East. This talk inspired me to expand beyond the Chinese territory and examine social media’s role and impact as a form of “soft power” in the Arab region. Social media's soft power lies in its ability to shape people's beliefs, attitudes, and values without using coercion or force. Social media networks provide a platform for individuals to express their views, connect with like-minded individuals, and organize themselves around a particular cause. It also affects political activism by increasing access to information, mobilizing collective action, and shaping people's attitudes and beliefs about political issues (Háberová, 2019).
Professor Zayani’s class, along with concepts I had learned in other GUQ classes, allowed me to gain a deeper understanding of the role social media platforms played in the Arab Spring. As these uprisings deeply affected the region and brought about change, it was of extreme significance for me, an Arab student who grew up listening to and watching news about revolutions in neighboring countries, and is currently studying media and politics, to finally be able to analyze whether social media platforms indeed influenced the Arab uprisings. The dissemination of information on social media contributed to the Arab upheavals in a variety of different ways that are still being used till this day to mobilize the masses and bring revolutions to life. For example, online networks played a significant role in the organization of a central group of activists, particularly in Egypt. Leaders of civil society in Arab nations highlighted how the internet, mobile phones, and social media were used in the protests, either to facilitate the organization of the protests and revolts that took place, or to broadcast and publicize the uprisings by providing live coverage that traditional media platforms were not able to broadcast. Arabs have also embraced digital media as a platform for civic involvement and to exercise their right to free speech during the uprising period, by expressing their political opinions that oppose their governments (Brown et al., 2012). To further support this point, social media has become crucial in defining how the crisis is presented and interpreted in a nation like Syria where information is controlled by an authoritarian regime. It has evolved into a mechanism used to report on topics that the dominant local media censors as well as an alternative means of giving the opposition some sort of organizational structure (Salvadoretti, 2013).
In Professor Banu Akdenizli’s class, Politics in the Digital World, we discussed Malcolm Gladwell’s argument that social media platforms are built around weak ties and that social media activism is considered to be of “low-risk” because although it allows an increase in participation, it only does so by “reducing the level of motivation that participation requires” (Gladwell, 2010). Although I understand his perspective, I believe that social media activism has proven to be successful in many cases, regardless of the intensity of risk that it exerts. For instance, in 2021, a small neighborhood in East Jerusalem called Shaikh Jarrah was being illegally evicted by Israeli settlers and Palestinian homes were being demolished (BBC, 2021). However, through the use of several social media platforms including Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, people have succeeded in raising awareness of the situation in Sheikh Jarrah and galvanizing support for the Palestinian cause. Not only that, but social media allowed people to shed light on Israeli settlements in Jerusalem and emphasize the rights of the Palestinian people to self-defense, resistance to the occupation, and the right to tell their own story. Hundreds of thousands of people from all around the world, including myself, shared and reposted images and videos of the issue. Hashtags including #SheikhJarrah and #SaveSheikhJarrah went viral on Twitter and Instagram, triggering an unprecedented change in public opinion worldwide. Activists have also used social media to organize protests and rallies in solidarity with Sheikh Jarrah residents, amplifying their voices and bringing attention to the situation. This resulted in the Israeli suspension of Palestinian evictions in Shaikh Jarrah (Aljazeera, 2022). This proves that the increase in political activism on social media can pressure states into making decisions in favor of the general public.
Part 3: Self-Assessment
Throughout my journey of pursuing a Media and Politics minor in collaboration with Northwestern university and Georgetown university in Qatar, my perspective on the interrelationship between media and politics has constantly changed and evolved. Prior to declaring my minor, I viewed media and politics as two separate entities, not recognizing the complex and multifaceted relationship between them. With every course I took, whether at NUQ or GUQ, I developed a deeper understanding of what “Media and Politics” means. Each course provided me with different perspectives and opened up more opportunities for gaining knowledge and development. As a communications student, it is of extreme significance for me to understand the role of media in shaping political discourse and how this framing can influence public opinion. I have specifically seen a significant change in the shaping of my world view when I consider themes and concepts that I have learned in the six courses that contributed towards my minor. For example, on a more personal level, interning at Al Jazeera has also allowed me to tie back what I have learned in my media and politics classes to issues in the real world. Throughout my internship, I have been provided with access to a wealth of news and information and have been exposed to diverse perspectives in terms of global news coverage which allowed me to become even more familiar with the way media shapes politics. Working in a place that makes me more politically aware has increased my interest in learning more about political activism through social media and how it translates in the real world, especially since global media networks like Al Jazeera have a strong social media presence with millions of followers. This has allowed me to further understand the power of social media as a tool for political activism and social change and has inspired me to use my own social media platforms to encourage change. Overall, this minor has enriched my educational experience as I am now able to critically analyze current events and media coverage of political issues while identifying biases and propaganda, and evaluating the credibility of my news sources, whether for work, classes, or personal use.
References
Al Jazeera (2022) Israeli top court suspends sheikh jarrah evictions for now, Israeli top court suspends Palestinian evictions in Sheikh Jarrah. Al Jazeera. Available at: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/3/1/israeli-top-court-suspends-palestinian-evictions-in-sheikh-jarrah (Accessed: February 16, 2023).
Brown, H., Guskin, E. and Mitchell, A. (2012) The role of social media in the arab uprisings - pew research center, Scribd. Pew Research Center. Available at: https://www.scribd.com/document/376758801/The-Role-of-Social-Media-in-the-Arab-Uprisings-Pew-Research-Center (Accessed: February 16, 2023).
Gladwell, M. (2010) Small change, The New Yorker. The New Yorker. Available at: https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2010/10/04/small-change-malcolm-gladwell (Accessed: February 16, 2023).
Háberová, B. (2019, March 27). Social media as new source of Soft Power. Ústav mezinárodních vztahů - Expertise to impact. Retrieved March 5, 2023, from https://www.iir.cz/social-media-as-new-source-of-soft-power
McCarthy, C. (2011, January 26). There's no such thing as 'Social Media Revolution'. CNET. Retrieved March 5, 2023, from https://www.cnet.com/culture/theres-no-such-thing-as-social-media-revolution/
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Perloff, R. (2021). The Dynamics of Political Communication: Media and Politics in a Digital Age (3nd edition). Abingdon: Routledge
Salvadoretti, T. (2013, December 12). The role of social media in the Syrian crisis. Asfar. Retrieved March 5, 2023, from https://asfar.org.uk/the-role-of-social-media-in-the-syrian-crisis/
Sheikh jarrah: Israeli police evict Palestinians from East Jerusalem Home (2022) Sheikh Jarrah: Israeli police evict Palestinians from East Jerusalem home. BBC. Available at: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-60052131 (Accessed: February 16, 2023).
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Zhong, F., Li, P. and Xi, J. (2021) A survey on online political participation, social capital, and well-being in social media users-based on the second phase of the third (2019) TCS Taiwan Communication Survey Database, A Survey on Online Political Participation, Social Capital, and Well-Being in Social Media Users—Based on the Second Phase of the Third (2019) TCS Taiwan Communication Survey Database. Frontiers. Available at: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.730351/full (Accessed: February 16, 2023).