Anonymous, 9 Sep 2010
Research on Middle East, Islam and digital media
keyword: Middle East

New Book: The Digital Origins of Dictatorship and Democracy: Information Technology and Political Islam

This book looks at the role that communications technologies play in advancing democratic transitions in Muslim countries. As such, its central question is whether technology holds the potential to substantially enhance democracy. Certainly, no democratic transition has occurred solely because of the internet. But, as Philip Howard argues, no democratic transition can occur today without the internet. According to Howard, the major (and perhaps only meaningful) forum for civic debate in most Muslim countries today is online. Activists both within diasporic communities and within authoritarian states, including Iran, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, are the drivers of this debate, which centers around issues such as the interpretation of Islamic texts, gender roles, and security issues. Drawing upon material from interviews with telecommunications policy makers and activists in Azerbaijan, Egypt, Tajikistan and Tanzania and a comparative study of 74 countries with large Muslim populations, Howard demonstrates that these forums have been the means to organize activist movements that have lead to successful democratic insurgencies.
 
Thai, Evelyn, Alternate Viewpoints: Counter-hegemony in the Transnational Age. Arab Media and Society, Issue 11, Summer 2010 abstract full text PDF
 
Bernardi, Chiara, Saudi bloggers, women’s issues and NGOs. Arab Media and Society, Issue 11, Summer 2010 abstract full text PDF
 
Reinisch, Lisa, Environmental Journalism in the UAE. Arab Media and Society, Issue 11, Summer 2010 abstract full text PDF
 
Faris, David, (Amplified) Voices for the Voiceless. Arab Media and Society, Issue 11, Summer 2010 abstract full text PDF
 
Cochrane, Paul, The Coming Contenders. Arab Media and Society, Issue 11, Summer 2010 abstract full text PDF
 
Wagner, Ben, Deep Packet Inspection and Internet Censorship: International Convergence on an ‘Integrated Technology of Control’. Academia.edu: Follow research, presented at the 3rd Annual Giganet Symposium in December 2008 abstract PDF

Special Issue of CyberOrient: Online Journal of the Virtual Middle East

CyberOrient: Online Journal of the Virtual Middle East
Middle East Section of the American Anthropological Association; Faculty of Arts of Charles University in Prague
http://www.cyberorient.net/
Daniel Martin Varisco; Vit Sisler
social networks, Middle Eastern studies, ethnography, sociology, Islam, information and communication technology, communication studies, cultural studies, Muslim minorities, Middle East
Dec 1, 2010
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