This book looks into the role played by mediated communication, particularly new and social media, in shaping various forms of struggles around power, identity and religion at a time when the Arab world is going through an unprecedented period of turmoil and upheaval. The book provides unique and multifocal perspectives on how new forms of communication remain at the centre of historical transformations in the region.   

The key focus of this book is not to ascertain the extent to which new communication technologies have generated the Arab spring or led to its aftermaths, but instead question how we can better understand many types of articulations between communication technologies, on the one hand, and forms of resistance, collective action, and modes of expression that have contributed to the recent uprisings and continue to shape the social and political upheavals in the region on the other. The book presents original perspectives and rigorous analysis by specialists and academics from around the world that will certainly enrich the debate around major issues raised by recent historical events.

Preface.- Part I: Mediated Identities and “Arab Spring” Politics.- 1.Beyond the Technology Debate: A General Introduction. Mohamed Ben Moussa.- 2.Social Media, Global Communications and the Arab Spring: Cross-level and Cross-Media Story Flows. Joo-Young Jung.- 3.New Media and Public Will Mobilization in the Tunisian and Egyptian Revolutions. Sahar Khamis and Kathy Vaughn.- 4.Islamists and New Media: The Muslim Brotherhood Digital Presence in English. Eid Mohamed and Emad Mohamed.- 5.Against all Odds: Defining a Revolutionary Identity in Syria. Naomí Ramírez Díaz.- Part II: New Media Journalism and Political Change.- 6.25 TV: A Case Study of the Media during the Egyptian Uprising. Chris Harper.- 7.Journalistic Transparency in Egypt and the UAE: Parallels between the Phenomena of the “Arab Spring” and the Demand of Web-based Transparency Tools. Andreas Sträter.- 8.Mapping the “Arab Spring”: A Framing Analysis of Egyptian TV News Coverage of July 3, 2013, the Day of the Ouster of President Mohamed Morsi. Mohamad H. Elmasry, Philip J. Auter and Heidi Makady.- 9.The 2011 Popular Protests in the Sultanate of Oman. Ahmed Al-Rawi.- 10.Network Journalism and the Egyptian Revolution: Can it Build Democratic Capacity? Ahmed El Gody.- 11.The Mediated “Arab Spring” Foretold: Conclusion. Aziz Douai