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An Ideological Study of the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood's Rhetoric in Ikhwanweb Soumia Dhar

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An Ideological Study of the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood's Rhetoric in Ikhwanweb Soumia Dhar University of New Mexico UNM Digital Repository Communication ETDs Electronic Theses and Dissertations 7-1-2011 Understanding the Confluence of Online Islamism and Counterpublicity: An Ideological Study of the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood's Rhetoric in Ikhwanweb Soumia Dhar Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalrepository.unm.edu/cj_etds Recommended Citation Dhar, Soumia. "Understanding the Confluence of Online Islamism and Counterpublicity: An Ideological Study of the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood's Rhetoric in Ikhwanweb." (2011). https://digitalrepository.unm.edu/cj_etds/28 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Electronic Theses and Dissertations at UNM Digital Repository. It has been accepted for inclusion in Communication ETDs by an authorized administrator of UNM Digital Repository. For more information, please contact [email protected]. UNDERSTANDING THE CONFLUENCE OF ONLINE ISLAMISM AND COUNTERPUBLICITY: AN IDEOLOGICAL STUDY OF THE EGYPTIAN MUSLIM BROTHERHOOD’S RHETORIC IN IKHWANWEB By SOUMIA DHAR B.A. (Honours), English Literature, University of Calcutta, 2001 M.A., Communication, University of Madras, 2003 DISSERTATION Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Communication The University of New Mexico Albuquerque, New Mexico July 2011 iii © 2011 Soumia Dhar iv DEDICATION This dissertation is dedicated to my grandmother. Ma, I love you. v ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Sometimes our light goes out but is blown into flame by another human being. Each of us owes deepest thanks to those who have rekindled this light—Albert Schweitzer My years as graduate student were filled with trials and tribulations. And I am happy I embarked on this journey. That I did complete it, this work, is a testament to the help and involvement of a great many people. In the process I amassed vast arrears in debts of gratitude. A roster so large that I can, at best, hope only to make a few gestures of acknowledgement towards the most pressing of these debts. In making this grateful acknowledgement to them I might have, unintentionally, omitted some names from my personal honor roll: I ask those beautiful people to forgive me. Today I sit proud with an academic accomplishment coveted dearly for many years; I also sit content with the realization that this journey made me stronger, and a better human being. These marvelous gifts that life has given did not come without the light in me needing to be rekindled, again and again. All of you, in your unique and valuable ways, have blown my light into flame… Professor John Oetzel, my advisor—for always being there, even when it would be easy to lose faith in me; for guiding me through the nuances of an academic environment that was foreign; for helping me see a possibility in even the apparently impossible. You were my voice of reason. Professor Karen Foss, my advisor—for accepting to mentor me although I approached late, and never leaving my hand since; for not letting me be satisfied with mediocrity; for being a source of good cheer and patient ear when I needed to talk. You helped me discipline myself. vi I thank John and Karen, most dearly, for going through innumerable drafts of my dissertation, showing me the way and giving the benefit of their wisdom, for challenging me to be my best, and for being patient, understanding, and supportive through some tough personal times. I also extend my gratitude to my dissertation committee members. Professor Richard Wood—you were the one who helped me believe I had what it takes. Always acknowledging my efforts, always praising my endeavors. Showing reality as it was, yet, pushing me to have faith in my dreams and work towards realizing them. You helped preserve my self-esteem when circumstances got brutal. Professor Mary Jane Collier—the passion I see in you for all your academic endeavors is infectious. Every interaction with you reminded me of the passion that brought me to this academic echelon. It is in your conviction for intellectual pursuits, in your conviction to see beyond the most obvious, I have been repeatedly reminded of my passion for my cause. Professor John Voll—we have never met in person, but in our conversations I felt your unconditional support for my intellectual pursuits. It is also because of you that I got introduced to the rich scholarly discourse around Islam and the Middle East. I treaded a difficult path with this topic, and many a time questioned myself. You remained my source of confidence throughout. Each one of you contributed to making my study reach its analytical and intellectual acme. Thank you. vii My heartfelt thanks and gratitude, in fact, go out to all my teachers who have touched my life—you have introduced me to infinite knowledge, you have kindled the intellectual fire in me, and you have shaped me as a scholar. It becomes extremely important to thank every precious individual who provided me the teaching and research opportunities that ensured a smooth flow of life as I pursued my PhD; my sincerest gratitude to Professors Roli Verma, Laura Haniford, Daniel Wolne, and Glenda Balas. I have learnt much from each of these experiences, and from each one of you. My deepest appreciation is due to Shirley-Rey Lovato, Mary Lawton Bibeau, Christina Jensen, Nancy Rice, Gregoria Cavazos, Nancy Montoya, and Jeanette Albany. You supported and helped with every logistical problem I faced during this endeavor. With a smile. I thank you all. No endeavor in life can be complete without friends. For lending wonderful support through my graduate program, thanks a pile, folks. Each one of you taught me something new, kept me going, and provided me healthy competition that stoked my desire to excel. And some friends became more than just that. Jess—your unconditional friendship and love, your tenacity and passion for life, your strength as a woman, and your excellence as a scholar is inspirational. Chie—a most affectionate, accepting, warm, loving friend. Your silent strength, your sense of organization, your steadfastness of purpose, and your excellence as a scholar is inspirational. Abdissa—the long talks with you about life and spirituality kept me going during some very hard times. Your passion for the cause you have chosen for life, and your excellence as a scholar is inspirational. viii Chris—your sunny demeanor, your cool composure, and your excellence as a scholar is inspirational. I thank each one of you for loving me unconditionally, making me laugh like never before, and for believing in me. You guys are the kind that lifelong friends are made of. Then there are those very special individuals for whom words cease to express the gratitude felt. Desiree Woodland, and Mozafar Banihashemi are my family away from home. And they shall remain so forever. You kept me going… you held my hand beyond academic challenges and graduate school struggles. You have been there when it was most required. Your contributions to my life are infinite. Yet I shall try to put my gratitude in a few modest words. Desiree—you loved me like a mother, you supported like a friend, and nurtured like family. You accepted me unconditionally, and loved me dearly. You cried with me, and you celebrated each and every achievement of mine in that special Desiree way. You made me part of your life and family, and never for once let me stay depressed when I missed home. You have shaped me as a person through your presence in my life… I have not only completed this current endeavor with your support and love, but I have become a better human being in your essence. Thank you. Mo—you have shown me much affection, you have been a rock during moments of despair, and you have nurtured me like family. You have taught me to always see the positives of life; you have helped me believe in the value of optimism. Your passion for knowledge, your tenacity for perfection, your undeterred resolve when life strikes a hard blow, are exemplars for a lifetime. In addition, your knowledge of the dynamics of religion ix and politics as regards the Middle East has served as an invaluable resource for this study. Thank you. Last, but most significantly, for your support and encouragement I thank my family. The appreciation due them is beyond measure. Mum and Papa, Ma and Baba, thanks for your unquestioning support, your love. For always telling me that I am the best, for being the reason why I never quit, even when the going got tough. It is because of the values you have instilled, and your unshaken belief in what I can achieve that I dare to dream. I hope I can always make you proud. My sweetheart Ma, and Maime, I love you guys much and miss you so. But the look of joy I see in your eyes in my achievement makes success tempting. Ma, I have stayed away from you so long… and I know you have missed me dearly. You are and always will be, my best buddy. I thank you; I thank you all, for making my dream worth more than the sacrifice of staying away. I am who I am because of you all. And finally, Saurav, who is always at the receiving end! Dear husband, best friend, unfailing supporter of all things rational (and irrational) in me. My biggest critic, as well as my most genuine appreciator. It is because of your patience, your love, your encouragement, your sacrifices, your belief in my abilities and dreams that today I sit proud with my achievements. My academic as well as personal endeavors could sustain and succeed, only because of a soulmate and partner as remarkable and giving as you.
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