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Revolutions Without Revolutionaries? Social Media Networks and Regime Response in Egypt

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Revolutions Without Revolutionaries? Social Media Networks and Regime Response in Egypt University of Pennsylvania ScholarlyCommons Publicly Accessible Penn Dissertations Spring 2010 Revolutions Without Revolutionaries? Social Media Networks and Regime Response in Egypt David Faris University of Pennsylvania, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://repository.upenn.edu/edissertations Part of the Comparative Politics Commons Recommended Citation Faris, David, "Revolutions Without Revolutionaries? Social Media Networks and Regime Response in Egypt" (2010). Publicly Accessible Penn Dissertations. 116. https://repository.upenn.edu/edissertations/116 This paper is posted at ScholarlyCommons. https://repository.upenn.edu/edissertations/116 For more information, please contact [email protected]. Revolutions Without Revolutionaries? Social Media Networks and Regime Response in Egypt Abstract Does the Internet change the balance of power between authoritarian regimes and their domestic opponents? The results of this case study of Egyptian digital activism suggest that the Internet has important effects on authoritarian politics, though not necessarily the kind we have come to expect from popular accounts of online activism. In this dissertation, I argue that what I call Social Media Networks can trigger informational cascades through their interaction effects with independent media outlets and on-the-ground organizers. They do so primarily through the reduction of certain costs of collective action, the transmission capabilities of certain elite nodes in social and online networks, and through changing the diffusion dynamics of information across social networks. An important secondary argument is that while states, including Egypt, have become more adept at surveillance and filtering of online activities, SMNs make it impossible for authoritarian countries to control their media environments in the way that such regimes have typically done so in the past. Case studies of media events in Egypt between 2006 and 2008 explain how SMNs undermine the process of authoritarian media control and why the independent press is critical for claims-making and the building of shared meaning. However, the power of SMNs is not capable of challenging the entrenched repressive capacity of determined states, nor can SMNs be substituted for the difficult work of assrgr oots organizing. I arrive at this conclusion through a case study of the April 6th Youth Movement, which staged nearly identical strikes on April 6th, 2008, and April 6th, 2009, with divergent results. Therefore, the dissertation concludes that even though SMNs may lead to richer information environments with increased capacity for organizing, the technologies themselves are not determinative of political outcomes. Finally, by studying the use of digital tools by Muslim Brothers and Baha’is, the dissertation argues that SMNs can provide critical public space and create discursive focal points for political and religious minorities. Degree Type Dissertation Degree Name Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Graduate Group Political Science First Advisor Ian S. Lustick Second Advisor Robert Vitalis Third Advisor Deborah Wheeler Keywords Authoritarianism, Modern Egypt, Democratization, Social Media, Blogging, Middle East Politics Subject Categories Comparative Politics This dissertation is available at ScholarlyCommons: https://repository.upenn.edu/edissertations/116 REVOLUTIONS WITHOUT REVOLUTIONARIES? SOCIAL MEDIA NETWORKS AND REGIME RESPONSE IN EGYPT David Faris A DISSERTATION In Political Science Presented to the Faculties of the University of Pennsylvania in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy 2010 Supervisor of Dissertation ________________________________ Ian S. Lustick, Professor of Political Science Graduate Group Chairperson ________________________________ Anne Norton, Professor of Political Science Dissertation Committee Ian S. Lustick, Professor of Political Science Robert Vitalis, Professor of Political Science Deborah Wheeler, Associate Professor of Political Science For my parents ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Completing a dissertation is a task that requires the support of dozens of people, from advisors to friends and family. My case is no different. It would be impossible to fully thank everyone who played a role in shepherding this project from beginning to end, but this section will serve as my honest attempt to offer thanks to everyone who deserves it. Just sitting down to enumerate the many thanks and debts I owe to friends, colleagues, and family has been a humbling experience. I want to thank first the members of my committee. Professor Ian Lustick, the chair, has devoted years of guidance, chapter-reading, and steady encouragement to this project, from when it was merely a kernel of an idea percolating in a Zamalek high-rise, to when I was circulating completed drafts. His patience, persistence and support have made this project possible. Only when you become a professor yourself to you see and understand the level of dedication and sacrifice it must take to steward a student through this extended process. Professor Lustick has always done so with cheer, optimism, toughness, and graciousness. Professor Robert Vitalis is also owed by deep gratitude, for his stewardship of the project, challenging questions and comments, and almost impossible responsiveness. The dissertation is incomparably stronger for his input, prodding, and support. Finally, Dr. Deborah Wheeler has been a tireless supporter of my work since the day that I emailed her out of the blue and asked her to work with me. From landing me spots on conference panels, to offering encouragement and support during difficult times, I owe her my most humble thanks and I am also deeply indebted to her. iii Beyond my committee I am also indebted to the many current and former graduate students at the University of Pennsylvania who attended talks and conferences where I presented versions of this work. Special thanks are owed to Murad Idris, who helped me with drafts and particularly with translations and transliterations. Thanks are also due to Jennie Noakes for her generous assistance with this final draft. I also owe thanks to Nori Katagiri, Rosella Capella, Allison Evans, Barbara Elias, Eric Trager, Stacey Philbrick Yadav, Sarah Salwen, Thea Riofrancos, Tim Weaver, Stefan Stohler, Michael Janson, and surely many others. The comraderie of our graduate students was always a great benefit to me. And of course I must thank the members of my wonderful family. My parents, Ralph and Jane Faris, not only read and commented on every draft, but served as my support system, sounding board, and cheering squad during years of this process. They always believed in me, believed in my work, and helped keep my spirits up when I was abroad doing fieldwork, and when I returned to write up my findings. My brother Jason Faris and sister-in-law Katie Faris also deserve my thanks and for similar reasons. They are all, without exception, the most wonderful family I could possibly have been blessed with. Without the love and guidance of my tight-knit family, I would not have made it to the finish line. I would remiss if I didn’t devote a special section of thanks to my close friend and colleague Dave Karpf of Rutgers University. Dave selflessly read and quickly commented on nearly every chapter draft of this project, and his insights were invaluable in creating the theoretical framework for the project, refining ideas, and striking the right iv balance between narrative and theory-building. In addition, he served as my informal dissertation coach, offering encouragement at the most difficult moments, and cheerfully pushing me to keep going, to finish what was in sight, and to make it the best possible project. Dave’s own work served in many ways as an inspiration for mine, and to my intellectual fellow-traveler, I can only offer this humble note of thanks. I would not be exaggerating to say that I could not possibly have arrived at this point without his gracious help, and to note that I will remain forever in his debt for doing so. I would also like to thank the Critical Writing Program at the University of Pennsylvania, where I taught for the final two years of this journey. Valerie Ross in particular is due thanks for her years of support and encouragement. Philadelphia friends and confidants also provided the support structure for me to finish this dissertation. I owe my deep thanks and gratitude to Christian Pedone, Bryan Moody, Megan Slater, Derick Loafmann, Dave Hank, Meghann Williams, Gigi Naglak, Kimberly Fitch, Chris Taylor, Naren Gupte, Sonja Sherwood, Matt Hotz, Ryan Godfrey, Jessica Lowenthal, Greg Hoskins, Erin Gautsche, Carrie Davoli, Ashley Cohen, Christine Beardsley, Laura Beardsley, and countless others. My friend and college roommate Andrew Dufresne was also there for me every step of the way. They deserve more than I could ever repay. Friends who believe in you make everything possible. Friends who believe in you, and who have been there for you through every high and low, they cannot be thanked enough. Fellow dissertation-sojourners also deserve thanks: Erin Snider of Cambridge University, whose support and draft-reading were invaluable; Jeffrey Culang, whose v Cairo friendship saw me through trying times; Stephanie Boyle of Northeastern University, who was my constant partner in crime overseas, and who has supported me then and ever since; Nadim Audi, whose wisdom and companionship helped me immeasurably. Rebecca Johnson of Northwestern University
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