Full Description
This edited volume examines the current challenges to media freedom and democratisation in the Middle East. The book revisits the relationship between media consumption and activism in the region, providing thorough analyses on the appropriation of social media for political engagement.
Since the outburst and spread of what was known as the 'Arab Uprisings' in 2010, the political and media landscapes in the Middle East region have dramatically changed. The initial hope for democratic change and governance quality improvements has faded, as several regimes in the Middle East have strengthened their repressive tactics toward voices deemed critical of governments' practices, including journalists, bloggers, and activists. The crumbling Arab media scene has also reached an abysmal low, with little to no independence, and public perception of basic freedoms in the region has significantly dropped, as has trust in media and government institutions. This book examines current challenges to media freedom, political participation, and democratisation in the region while reassessing the dynamic relationship between media use and political engagement, amidst a complex political environment accompanied by a rapidly changing digital media landscape.
This book's relevance will appeal to varied audiences, such as scholars and students of journalism, communication, political science, and Middle Eastern studies. It will also prove to be an invaluable resource for organisations dedicated to the research of political communication, media freedom, and use patterns of nontraditional, or new, media.
Contents
Introduction: The State of Media and Democracy in the MENA Region 1. Freedom of Expression in the Post-Arab Spring Countries 2. The Collapse of Social Media-Based Movements and the Dilemma of Democracy in Egypt 3. Social Media and Social Change in Jordan 4. Cracking Down on Media and Democracy in Lebanon: The October 17 Uprising 5. Citizenship, Media, and Activism in Turkey during Gezi Park Protests 6. Political Laugh on Social Media: An Analysis of Humorous Participation in Turkey 7. Cultural identity in Libyan and Yemeni Social Media Visual Art: The Expression of Transcultural Identity in Countries of Conflict 8. Saudi Women Journalists: An Ethnographic Study Exploring their Roles and Practices in an Age of National Transformation 9. Democratising the Media: Media Reform and The Future of Journalism in Egypt 10. Memory as a Human Right: Palestinian Memory and Israel's Modes of Forgetting
