SATELLITE CHANNELS AND SOCIAL MOVEMENTS: THE BBC PERSIAN TELEVISION’S CONSTRUCTION OF IRAN’S GREEN MOVEMENT MANSOUREH GANJIAN Malaya THESIS SUBMITTED IN FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THEof DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY FACULTY OF ARTS AND SOCIAL SCIENCES UNIVERSITY OF MALAYA KUALA LUMPUR University 2017 UNIVERSITY MALAYA ORIGINAL LITERARY WORK DECLARATION Name of Candidate: Mansoureh Ganjian Registration/ Matric No: AHA 120015 Name of Degree: Ph.D. Title of Project paper/ Research Report/ Dissertation/ Thesis (“this Work”): SATELLITE CHANNELS AND SOCIAL MOVEMENTS: THE BBC PERSIAN TELEVISION’S CONSTRUCTION OF IRAN’S GREEN MOVEMENT Field of Study: Media Policy I do solemnly and sincerely declare that: (1) I am the sole author/ writer of this work; (2) This work is original; Malaya (3) Any use of any work in which copyright exists was done by way of fair dealing and for permitted purposes and any except or extract from, or reference to or reproduction of any copyright work has beenof disclosed expressly and sufficiently and the title of the work and its authorship have been acknowledged in this work; (4) I do not have any actual knowledge nor ought I reasonably to know that the making of this work constitutes an infringement of any copyright work; (5) I hereby assign all every rights in the copyright to this work to the University of Malaya (“Um”), who henceforth shall be the owner of the copyright in this work and that any reproduction or use in any form or by any means whatsoever is prohibited without the written consent of UM having been first had and obtained; (6) I am fully aware that is in the course of making this work I have fringed any copyright whether intentionally or otherwise. I may be subject to legal action or any other action as may be determined by UM. Candidate’s Signature: Date: UniversitySubscribed and solemnly declared before, Witness’s signature Date: Name: ii ABSTRACT In modern societies, the term of “social movements” is representative of broad social alliance of people who are connected through their collectively shared knowledge and identity to give voice to their concerns by engaging in collective actions. Evidently, media, as an integral part, has been associated with new social movements in departure of collective identity to collective behaviors. Since the social media, due to velocity and amplification in exchange of information, has been received more attention by scholars, the purpose of this study is to prominent the role of transnational TVs, as multi-platform services, in non-democratic countries when political control of internet cause a fundamental shift in form of expressing the protests andMalaya grievance by the new media. On that account, this study is an attempt to evaluate the news coverage of the BBC Persian TV (BBCPTV) in 2009 presidentialof post-election and the Iranian Green Movement, whereas the issue is clouded by the BBCPTV’ claim for unbiased reporting. Increasing the value of citizen journalism and user-generated content (UGC) during the Iran’s political crisis indicates the important role of the BBCPTV as a reliable source of information. It capable the protestors have their voice heard through the world largest broadcaster, when they have limited access to internal media and social networks as well. Drawing on critical discourse analysis (CDA) by applying to Fairclough approach (1989), this article develops a theoretical framework of constructivist approach to Universityexplicate whether the BBCPTV discourse, for the period of 2009-2011, has been in line with the Green leaders’ demands and goals. The findings provide confirmatory evidence that the BBCPTV through specific framing, has attempted to validate the movement’s goals and its legitimacy while delegitimize Islamic Republic of Iran. iii ABSTRAK Dalam masyarakat moden, istilah "pergerakan sosial" adalah wakil perikatan sosial yang luas melalui ahli masyarakat yang mempunyai hubungan melalui pengetahuan yang dikongsi secara kolektif dan identiti yang akan memberi suara kepada kebimbangan mereka dengan melibatkan diri dalam tindakan kolektif mereka. Ternyata, kebanyakan media konteks dikaitkan dengan pergerakan sosial yang baru di mana ia berada di dalam proses perubahan daripada identiti kolektif kepada tingkah-laku yang kolektif. Selaras dengan perkembangan media sosial terutamanya dalam pertukaran maklumat, ia telah mendapat perhatian daripada banyak pihak terutamanya para pakar. Tujuan kajian ini adalah untuk meninjau peranan transnational TV di negara-negaraMalaya demokratik apabila berlakunya politik internet yang memberikan impak kepada peranan media. Oleh sebab itu, kajian ini merupakan satu usaha untuk menilaiof liputan berita daripada pihak BBC Parsi TV (BBCPTV) selepas 2009 gerakan “Hijau Iran”. Peranan BBCPTV sebagai sumber maklumat yang boleh dipercayai sangat digalakkan disebabkan, peningkatan nilai kewartawanan di kalangan rakyat dan kandungan yang dihasilkan oleh pengguna (UGC) semasa krisis politik di Iran. Dengan menggunakan kritikal wacana analisis (Critical Discourse Analysis) yang di perkenalkan oleh Fairclough (1989), artikel ini mengusahakan rangka kerja Teori Konstruktivisme pendekatan untuk menilai sama ada wacana di BBCPTV, bagi tempoh 2009-2011, selaras dengan kehendak dan matlamat Universitypemimpin-pemimpin hijau (Green leaders). Hasil kajian ini terbukti bahawa wacana di BBCPTV melalui framing tertentu, mengesahkan matlamat gerakan dan kesahihan di Republik Islam Iran. iv ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS First and above all, I praise God, the almighty for providing me this opportunity and granting me the capability to proceed successfully. Definitely, undertaking this journey has been truly a life-changing experience for me and it would not have been possible to do without the support and guidance that I received from many people. I would like to extend my special thanks to my supervisor, Associate Prof. Datin Dr. Hasmah Binti Zanuddin. Actually words cannot express how grateful I am to you. You are excellent example of a compassionate teacher that I have never seen before. Your brilliant advice on both research as well as on my career have been priceless. My sincere thanks also goes to my co-supervisor, AssociateMalaya Prof. Dr. Jatswan Singh for your insightful comments and suggestions. Without your precious support, it would not be possible to conduct this research. of I would also like to express my heartfelt thanks to my beloved husband, Hamid, for full- supporting me throughout this tough experience and to my beloved daughter Kimiya, for being such a good girl always cheering me up. A special thanks to my family, specially my mother, for all of the sacrifices and spiritual support that you have made on my behalf. I am also very grateful to all those at the faculty of Arts and Social Sciences and particularly Media department office, who were always so helpful and provided me with Universitytheir assistance throughout my dissertation. v TABLE OF CONTENTS Abstract…………………………………………………………………………….….iii Abstrak…………………………………………………………………………….......iv Acknowledgements………………………………………………………….................v Table of Contents………………………………………………………………….......vi List of Figures………………………………………………………………………...xii List of Tables……………………………………………………………….…….….xiii List of Charts………………………………………………………………………....xiv List of Symbols and Abbreviations……………………………………….…….….....xv Malaya CHAPTER ONE: AN INTRODUCTION TO THE STUDY….…………………...1 1.1 Background of the Study…………………………of .………..………………......8 1.1.1 Iran Presidential Election Scenario…….….…..……….….……………..8 1.1.2 The Green Movement’s Goals………….……….…..…….………….…12 1.1.3 Media in Iran and 2009 Presidential Election………..……..…………..16 1.1.4 BBC Persian TV……………….………………………..….……………22 1.1.5 The BBC Persian TV Staff……………………..………..………………27 1.1.6 An Overview of Iran-UK Relations after the 2009 Iran Election……….28 1.2 Statement of Problem……………………………………………………….…..31 1.3 Significant of the Study………………………………………….….……..…...35 University1.4 Objectives of the Study………………………………………………………...36 1.5 Research Questions……….……………………………………………………38 1.6 Scope of the Study……………………………………………………….……..39 1.7 Limitation of the Study……………………………………………….………...39 vi 1.8 Research Design………………………………………..….…………………..40 1.9 Definitions of Terms………..……..………………..…….……….……………41 1.9.1 Social Knowledge…..…..……………………..….……….…………....41 1.9.2 Social identity………..……………………………………………..….42 1.9.3 Social Norms…….…..…………………………………………………42 1.11 Summary…………………………………………………..…………………...43 CHAPTER TWO: REVIEW OF LITERATURES…………………..…………....45 2.1 Introduction……………………………………………………………...............45 2.2 Social Movement Definition……………………………………….…................45 2.3 Review Literature on Social Movement…………………………….…Malaya……......48 2.3.1 Overview of Social Movement Theory………….…….……….…..…….48 2.3.2 Individual-Oriented Approach……………………of .………….…...….......52 2.3.3 Relationship-Oriented Approach…………….………………….….…….54 2.3.4 Social Determinism-Oriented Approach………………….………..…......59 2.3.5 Combination of Three Categorizations..………………..………….…......60 2.4. Constructivist Approach of Social Movements…………………………..……...63 2.4.1 Constructivist Approach……………………………………………….....63 2.4.2 Constructivist Approach to Social Movements……………………….….66 2.5. Media Function and Social Movements…………….….......................................71 2.5.1 Media Framing and Social Movements……………..………………..…...76 University 2.5.1.1 Conflict Frame………………… .……………..…….……….…….81 2.5.1.2 Attribution of Responsibility frame………………………,….…...81 2.5.1.3 Morality Frame………………..……………………….…..….……82