Recruiting Technology and Social Media: The Digital Social Media in Service of Arab Youth during the 'Arab Spring'

Volume 7, Issue 3, June 2023     |     PP. 158-188      |     PDF (344 K)    |     Pub. Date: May 23, 2023
DOI: 10.54647/sociology841062    100 Downloads     5033 Views  

Author(s)

Kamal Hasan Mo'ed, The Open University & Sakhnin Academic Collage for Teacher Training, Arraba, western Gallile. Israel
Jamal Adawi,, Sakhnin Academic Collage for Teacher Training, Western Gallile, Israel

Abstract
In recent decades, social movements around the world have worked to advance social and political causes, including struggles against tyranny, governmental corruption, police brutality, struggles for changing gender norms, reduce economic inequality and increase awareness of the climate crisis. Digital tools have helped young activists give voice to their political activities by helping articulate a given action’s goals, recruiting participants, and increasing public support. This article analyzes young Arab people’s role in the Arab Spring through their extensive use of social media. The core question of this article is whether and how Arab youth used social media to influence the spread of the Arab Spring and contribute to its success. The article’s main argument is that the Arab Spring is an important example of young people’s successful use of digital tools to amplify social and political activity, including actions that eventually led to the fall of Arab dictatorships.

Keywords
Arab spring, Social media, Digital tools, Arab youth, recruiting digital media.

Cite this paper
Kamal Hasan Mo'ed, Jamal Adawi,, Recruiting Technology and Social Media: The Digital Social Media in Service of Arab Youth during the 'Arab Spring' , SCIREA Journal of Sociology. Volume 7, Issue 3, June 2023 | PP. 158-188. 10.54647/sociology841062

References

[ 1 ] A. A. Rassoul, “Tahrir Graffiti,” https://www.pinterest.com/ahmedabdelrasso/tahrir-graffiti.
[ 2 ] A. Adams and R. Winthrop, "The Role of Education in the Arab World Revolution", Brookings, (10.6.2011), https://www.brookings.edu/opinions/the-role-of-education-in-the-arab-world-revolutions.
[ 3 ] A. Cohen, “Mahapechat ha-Facebook: ha-Girsa ha-Falastinit [The Facebook Revolution: Palestinian Edition],” NRG, February 9, (2011), https://www.makorrishon.co.il/nrg/online/1/ART2/209/986.html.
[ 4 ] A. Elmishiti, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eDKgTNKY0ss (“Oh nightingale of the revolution, if the darkness lasts, the truth has its own light.”) March 21, (2012).
[ 5 ] A.Honwana, "Are Global Youth Protests Learning From the Arab Spring?", LSE, https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/mec/2019/11/27/are-global-youth-protests-learning-from-the-arab-spring/ (27.11.2019)
[ 6 ] A. Issacharof, “Nasi Mitzrayim Hosni Mubarak Hitpater mi-Tafkido [The President of Egypt Hosni Mubarak Resigned from His Position],” Haaretz, February 11, (2011), https://www.haaretz.co.il/news/world/1.1161728.
[ 7 ] A.Masarwah Srour, Nashot ha-Misgad: Lemida Hatranit Shel Yeda Dati [Women of the Mosque: Subversive Learning of Religious Knowledge], Tel Aviv: Resling, (2017).
[ 8 ] A.Quinn and R.E. Doherty, "Clinton Talks Tough to 'Stagnant' Mideast Allies", ,https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-arabs/clinton-talks-tough-to-stagnant-mideast-allies-idUSTRE70C1YA20110113. Reuters, January 13, (2011)
[ 9 ] A.Russell, ‘Extra-National Information Flows, Social Media and the 2011 Egyptian Uprising’, International Journal of Communication 5 (2011).
[ 10 ] Abu-salih Mustafa, 'Al saitara 'ala al nafs 'an tariq shabakat al tawasul' [Mind control through social networks], Al Jazeera, (26.6.2018) https://www.aljazeera.net/blogs/2018/6/26
[ 11 ] Anastasia Valassopoulos and Dalia Mostafa, "Popular Protest Music and the 2011 Egyptian Revolution", Popular Music and Society, 37:5 (2014).
[ 12 ] B. Camps-Ferber, "Political Humor as a Confrontational Tool Against the Syrian Regime", Institute Catala International (2012).
[ 13 ] B. Hamdy and D. Karl, Walls of Freedom: Street Art of the Egyptian Revolution, Berlin: From Here to Fame, (2014).
[ 14 ] C. Garoian, "In the Event that Art Occurs", Visual Arts Research, 39:1, (2013).
[ 15 ] D. Abudi, Mothers and Daughters in Arab Women's Literature: The Family Frontier, Boston: Brill, (2011).
[ 16 ] D. Zisenwine, “Zaakat ha-Aviv- ha-Aravi be-Lov: Ha-milchama al ha-Shilton, ha-Zehut, ve-ha-seder ha-medinati [The Cry of the Arab Spring in Libya: The War for Power, Identity, and the Political Order],” in: E. Podeh and O. Winckler (ed.), Ha-Gal Ha-Shelishi: Mechaa ve-Mahapecha be-Mizrach ha-Tichon [The Third Wave: Protest and Revolution in the Middle East], Jerusalem: Carmel, (2017).
[ 17 ] E. Lehmann, “Mahapechat Al-jazeera ha-rishona: ha-milchama al ha-shalat [The first Al Jazeera Revolution: The War for the Remote Control,” Ynet, January 31, (2011), https://www.ynet.co.il/articles/0,7340,L-4021432,00.html.
[ 18 ] E. Machter and A.M. Machter, Caricature, Interpretation, and Critic, Tel Aviv: Resling, (2014).
[ 19 ] F. Ajami, The Syrian Rebellion, Stanford: Hoover Institution Press, (2012).
[ 20 ] H. Erlich, Dorot shel meri: Studentim ve-universitaot be-mizrah ha-tichon [Generations of Rage: University and Students in the Middle East], Ra'anana: The Open University Press, (2012).
[ 21 ] Hisham Matar, The Return: Fathers, Sons and the Land in Between, London: Penguin Books, (2017).
[ 22 ] J. Cole, The New Arabs: How the Millennial Generation is Changing the Middle East, New York: Simon & Schuster, (2014).
[ 23 ] J. Zdanowski, Middle Eastern Societies in the 20th Century, Newcastle: Cambridge Scholars Publishing, (2014).
[ 24 ] K. Al Khamissi, Monit [Taxi], Jerusalem: Carmel Press, (2014).
[ 25 ] K. Kneissel, "Elements for Scientific Analysis of the Arab Revolution in Spring 2011", Institute for Social Anthropology of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, (March 2, 2011).
[ 26 ] K. Robinson and W. Merrow, "The Arab Spring at Ten Years: What's the Legacy of the Uprising?", Council on Foreign Relations, (3.12.2020), https://www.cfr.org/article/arab-spring-ten-years-whats-legacy-uprisings.
[ 27 ] Khaled il-Muheir,”Adel al-Mosheiti: The Revolutionary Singer of Libya,” (Al Jazeera, February 20, 2012). The Libyan singer Adel al-Mosheiti sang in his song “We Will Stay Here” about Hassan al-Marimi, a freedom fighter from Libya, who was imprisoned after waving a slogan in the streets of Bengazi “we have a dream. Our demand is freedom.” He decided to sacrifice his life, along with another some 750 protestors in protecting the values of freedom.
[ 28 ] 'Khams sanawat 'ala wiladat 'harakat 6 april' zid nizam mubarak',5] years since the birth of the 'April 6 protest' against Mubarak's regime [, (Al-misri al-yawm, 5.4.2013).
[ 29 ] L. Austin, "The politics of Youth Bulge: From Islamic Activism to Democratic Reform in the Middle East and North Africa", SAIS Review of International Affairs, 31:2 (2011).
[ 30 ] L. Noueihed and A. Warren, The Battle for the Arab Spring: Revolution, Counter-Revolution and the Making of a New Era, New Haven: Yale University Press, (2012).
[ 31 ] M. Albakry and R. Maggor (editors), Tahrir Tales: Plays from the Egyptian Revolution, London: Segaull Books, (2016).
[ 32 ] M. Cooke, Dancing in Damascus: Creativity, Resilience and the Syrian Revolution New York: Routledge, (2016).
[ 33 ] M. Grondahl, Revolution Graffiti: Street Art of the New Egypt, Cairo: American University in Cairo Press, (2012).
[ 34 ] M. Grondahl, Tahrir Square: The Heart of the Egyptian Revolution (Cairo: The American University in Cairo Press, (2011).
[ 35 ] M. Mesrati, "My Family and Friends in Libya Did Not Die in Vain", Telegraph, 10.10.2011, https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/libya/8839087/My-family-and-friends-in-Libya-did-not-die-in-vain.html.
[ 36 ] N. Al Sayyad and M. Guvenc, "Virtual Uprisings: On the Interaction of New Social Media, Traditional Media Coverage and Urban Space during the ‘Arab Spring’", Urban Studies (52:11, 2015).
[ 37 ] N. Aviad and N. Zitzman, “Paskol Shel ha-Mahapechot: Ha-Shirim she-Livu et ha-Taltelot be-Medinot Arav be-Shanim 2010-2015 [Soundtrack of Revolutions: The Songs that Accompanied the Upheavels in Arab Countries Between 2010-2015],” Jerusalem: Minerva, (2016).
[ 38 ] N. Neggaz, "Syria Arab Spring: Language Enrichment in the Midst of Revolution", Language, Discourse and Society Journal (2013).
[ 39 ] N. Yahav, “Historia be-Mitzrayim: Niftach Mishpato Shel Hosni Mubarak [History in Egypt: Hosni Mubarak’s Trial has Started],” Walla, (August 3, 2011), https://news.walla.co.il/item/1846857.
[ 40 ] N. Yahav, “Maasar Olam le-Nasi Mitzrayim Hudach Hosni Mubarak [Life Imprisonment for Ousted Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak],” Walla, (June 2, 2012), https://news.walla.co.il/item/2538171.
[ 41 ] N. Yahav, “Mitzrayim: Ha-Memshala Higisha Hitpatruta Ekev Chidush ha-Mehumot [Egypt: The Government Submitted Its Resignation Following the Renewal of Protests],” Walla, (February 21, 2011), https://news.walla.co.il/break/1878969.
[ 42 ] O. Keynan, "Activism U’Macha’a be-idan ha-digitali: Hizdamnut, etgarim, kelim, ve-darchei peulah" [Activism and Protest in the Digital Era: Opportunity, Challenges, Tools, and Ways to Act], Shatil (2021).
[ 43 ] P.N. Howard, A. Duffy, D. Freelon, M.M. Hussain, W. Mari, and M. Maziad, ‘Opening Closed Regimes: What Was the Role of Social Media During the Arab Spring?’, SSRN (2019).
[ 44 ] Pierre Bourdieu, Masculine Domination [Shleta gabrit]. translation: Avner Lahav, Tel Aviv, 2007.
[ 45 ] R. Bassiouney, "Language and Revolution in Egypt", Telos: Critical Theory of the Contemporary, 163. (2013).
[ 46 ] R. Kadri and E. Bronner, "King of Jordan dismisses his cabinet", The New York Times,(February1,2011). https://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/02/world/middleeast/02jordan.html.
[ 47 ] R. Kais and E. Levy, “Haficha Shniya: Tzava Mitzrayim Hidiach et Mohamed Morsi [A Second Coup: the Egyptian Army Ousted Mohamed Morsi],” Ynet, (July 4, 2013), https://www.ynet.co.il/articles/0,7340,L-4400507,00.html.
[ 48 ] R. L. M. Saad, "Art and Cultural Identity (Visual Arts and Egyptian Cultural Identity After the Revolution of 2011", The International Conference: Cities' Identity Through Architecture and Arts,https://press.ierek.com/index.php/ARChive/article/download/104/PDF.
[ 49 ] R. Mahmoud, "Syrian Women's Revolution: The New Women of Quarish". In: Asaad Alsaleh, Voices of the Arab Spring: Personal Stories from the Arab Revolutions, Columbia University Press, 2015.
[ 50 ] R. Marzan, Ha-av, ha-ben ve-ruah ha-mahapecha: ha-tzeirim ve-ha-tzeirot be-aviv ha-aravi [The Father, the Son and the Spirit of the Revolution: The Young Arabs in the Arab Spring], Haifa: Haifa University Press, (2021).
[ 51 ] R. Nachmias, “Mitkaplim: Bechirei Mifleget Ha-shilton ve-Gamal hipatru [Packing Up: Leaders of the Ruling Party and Gamal Resign],” Ynet, (February 5, 2011), https://www.ynet.co.il/articles/0,7340,L-4024205,00.html.
[ 52 ] S. Davidson, "An Exploratory Study of Risk and Social Media: What Role Did Social Media Play in the Arab Spring Revolutions?", Journal of Middle East Media, 11 (2015).
[ 53 ] S. Joseph and S. Slyomovics, "Introduction, in Women and Power in the Middle East", ed. Suad and Slyomovics, Philadelphia: Pennsylvania Press, (2000).
[ 54 ] S. Perry, “Melech ha-Kikar [King of the Square],” Yediot Ahronot, (February 18, 2011).
[ 55 ] T. Scheff, Bloody Revenge, Emotions, Nationalism and War, New York: Routledge, (2020).
[ 56 ] T.R. Gurr, Why Men Rebel, Princeton: Princeton University Press, (1970).
[ 57 ] The World Bank, “UN population statistics for Middle East and North Africa in 2010,” https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SP.POP.TOTL?locations=ZQ, (2022).
[ 58 ] U. Furman, “Mitzrayim: Ha-omnam Mahapecha? [Egypt: Indeed, a Revolution?],” in E. Podeh and O. Winckler (ed.), Ha-Gal Ha-Shelishi: Mechaa ve-Mahapecha be-Mizrach ha-Tichon [The Third Wave: Protest and Revolution in the Middle East], Jerusalem: Carmel, (2017).
[ 59 ] W. Perlman, "Emotions and the Micro-Foundations of the Arab Uprising", Perspectives and Politics 11:2 (2013).
[ 60 ] W. Perlman, We Crossed a Bridge and It Trembled: Voices from Syria, New York: HarperCollins, (2017).
[ 61 ] W. Sawah, "Activism in Syria", in Lina Khatib, Image Politics in the Middle East: The Role of the Visual in Political Struggle, London: I.B. Tauris, (2013.
[ 62 ] Wael Abbas, "Blog al-wa'ai al masri" [Egyptian Awareness blog], http://misrdigital.blogspirit.com/.
[ 63 ] Wael Ghonim, Al thawrah 2.0 [The Revolution 2.0], Cairo, Dar al shorouk, (2012).
[ 64 ] Website of the Yemenite artist Murad Subay: https://muradsubay.com/campaigns/12-hours/.
[ 65 ] Website: "Egyptian-American leaders call for U.S. support of 'Lotus Revolution,'" CNN, (January 28, 2011). https://web.archive.org/web/20110314141657/http://articles.cnn.com/2011-01-28/world/egypt.press.club_1_saad-eddin-ibrahim-egyptian-american-egyptian-people?_s=PM%3AWORLD.
[ 66 ] Website: "Graffiti for a Social Cause: Zeft, Nazeer, Nemo and Mona Lisa Brigades" Suzeeinthecity, (11.3.2013), https://suzeeinthecity.wordpress.com/2013/03/11/graffiti-for-a-social-cause-zeft-nazeer-nemo-and-mona-lisa-brigades/.
[ 67 ] Website: "Meet Asmaa Mahfouz and the Vlog that Helped Spark the Revolution", (2.2.2011), https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SgjIgMdsEuk.
[ 68 ] Website: "Report of the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry," (2011), https://www.bici.org.bh.
[ 69 ] Website: "Tunisia Protests Against Ben Ali Left 200 Dead, Says UN," BBC News, (January 1, 2011), https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-12335692.
[ 70 ] Website: "UAE: Nearly a Decade of Unjust Imprisonment for 'UAE-94' Dissidents," Amnesty International, (July 2, 2021).https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2021/07/uae-nearly-a-decade-of-unjust-imprisonment-for-uae-94-dissidents/.
[ 71 ] Website:" Arab Human Development Report 2009,״ www.arab-hdr.org, November 21, 2015 pp. 27-9.
[ 72 ] Website: “Creative Memory of the Syrian Revolution,” https://creativememory.org.
[ 73 ] Website: “Egypt, Hosni Mubarak,” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_rNK3hfeGMc.
[ 74 ] Website: “Egyptian Postcard 2- Brutality, Egypt,” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yzK1KKlypKw.
[ 75 ] Website: “Ha-im ha-Reformot be-Morocco Yatzilu et ha-Melech mi-Zaam ha-Hamon? [Will Reforms in Morocco Save the King from the Anger of the Masses?],” Walla, (July 7, 2011), https://news.walla.co.il/item/1836979.
[ 76 ] Website: “Hosni Mubarak’s Constitutional Amendments,” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Du6dA-91IWs&t=72s
[ 77 ] Website: “Mitsrayim: Veada Tifal Leshanot et ha-Chukah [Egypt: A Committee Will Work to Change the Constitution],” NRG, (February 6, 2011), https://www.makorrishon.co.il/nrg/online/1/ART2/208/978.html.
[ 78 ] Website: “Mr. Mubarak, 26 Years is Enough, Kefaya Song,” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WbEM6soTHOA.
[ 79 ] Website: “Sexual Torture Under Mubarak,” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j2kMzrFHt-Y.
[ 80 ] Website: “Telling the Story of the Arab Spring: An Interactive Graffiti Map,” Muftah. https://muftah.org/telling-story-arab-spring-interactive-graffiti- map/#. ZBWVyHZBw2w
[ 81 ] Website: A documentary about the art scene in Cairo after the revolution, “The Noise of Cairo” follows the interconnected relationships between artists and the revolution in Egypt: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pi8FUERht2o.
[ 82 ] Y. Ben-Horin, “Obama lo marpeh me-Mubarak: hatchel haavarat ha-shilton [Obama is not relaxing on Mubarak: start the transfer of power],” Calcalist, (February 5, 2011).
[ 83 ] Z. Meriboute, “‘Arab Spring’: The Influence of the Muslim Brotherhood and Their Vision of Islamic Finance and State,” Journal of International Development Policy, 4: (2013).
[ 84 ] Zvi Barel, “Shoter Boet Be-Zman Ement" [Police Officer Kicking in Real Time], Haaretz, (October 30, 2006). https://www.haaretz.co.il/gallery/1.1149670.