Did Social Media Support the Arab Spring?
Did social media support the “Arab Spring”?
(Credits: http://www.heraldsun.com.au)
A research conducted by Tim Tabak and Leon da Silva
INDEX
Executive Summary 3
Introduction 3
Research 4
* Methods 4
* Sub-Questions and discussion 4
* Discussion and conclusion 7
* Recommendation 8
Reference List 9
Annotated Bibliography 10
Appendix I - Our Expert/Interviewee 12
* Appendix I.II - Important Quotes 12
* Appendix I.III - Interview Script 14
Appendix II - Reasoning Tree 19
Appendix III - Initial Research Plan 20
Appendix IV - Group work declaration 22 Executive Summary
In this research we tried to find an answer to the question if social media supported the Arab Spring in the Middle East. “Arab Spring” is a term used for the civil uprisings going on in the Middle East and Northern Africa, starting in December 2010.
We used several information sources like newspaper articles, magazines and an interview to get as close to the truth as possible. The newspaper articles and magazines projected the image that the social media played a tremendous role according to the uprisings in the Arab World. This role was mainly organizing protests, as a huge tool of propaganda and information distribution.
In a conflict like the Arab Spring, the distribution of biased information is very likely to occur. This is due to the fact that such a conflict always includes two or more parties competing in convincing foreign powers of their motives. To make sure not to rely only on potentially biased information, we also conducted an interview with an expert in that field who could see this conflict from a different angle.
The interview with Prof. Rob Leurs, a media and culture studies professor at Utrecht University in combination with further articles, lead
(Credits: http://www.heraldsun.com.au)
A research conducted by Tim Tabak and Leon da Silva
INDEX
Executive Summary 3
Introduction 3
Research 4
* Methods 4
* Sub-Questions and discussion 4
* Discussion and conclusion 7
* Recommendation 8
Reference List 9
Annotated Bibliography 10
Appendix I - Our Expert/Interviewee 12
* Appendix I.II - Important Quotes 12
* Appendix I.III - Interview Script 14
Appendix II - Reasoning Tree 19
Appendix III - Initial Research Plan 20
Appendix IV - Group work declaration 22 Executive Summary
In this research we tried to find an answer to the question if social media supported the Arab Spring in the Middle East. “Arab Spring” is a term used for the civil uprisings going on in the Middle East and Northern Africa, starting in December 2010.
We used several information sources like newspaper articles, magazines and an interview to get as close to the truth as possible. The newspaper articles and magazines projected the image that the social media played a tremendous role according to the uprisings in the Arab World. This role was mainly organizing protests, as a huge tool of propaganda and information distribution.
In a conflict like the Arab Spring, the distribution of biased information is very likely to occur. This is due to the fact that such a conflict always includes two or more parties competing in convincing foreign powers of their motives. To make sure not to rely only on potentially biased information, we also conducted an interview with an expert in that field who could see this conflict from a different angle.
The interview with Prof. Rob Leurs, a media and culture studies professor at Utrecht University in combination with further articles, lead