Original scientific paper

THE NEW MEDIA AND “ARAB SPRING”

Albina Osrečki orcid.org/0000-0002-5660-1089 ; Faculty of Political Sciences, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia

Abstract

Using critical theory of media and technology as a theoretical framework, we
describe the dialectical interrelation between (media) technology and democratic
changes, where new media technology only paved the way to organization
and exchange of information during “Arab Spring”, but was not its
cause. “Arab Spring” as the case in point proved a negative correlation between
the level of communication technology (new media) and the intensity
of protests, according to which a higher level of accessibility to new media led
to a lower level of protests. Also, we observe an uneven impact of new media
on democratic changes, i.e. internet social networks had a secondary role
in creating media news, compared to satellite TV which at an early stage of
“Arab Spring” enabled the actors of online civil society to have an impact on
state politics to a large extent. Arab new media cannot yet lead to democratic
changes nor explain their causes, but merely alter patterns of mobilization and
organization of social and political events.

Keywords

Traditional Media; New Media; Democratization; Social Movements; “Arab Spring”

Hrčak ID:

129731

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/129731

Publication date:

18.11.2014.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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