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Informationen zum Autor Barrie Gunter is Professor of Mass Communication at the University of Leicester, UK. He is author of over 50 books and more than 250 journal articles, books chapters and other publications on media, marketing and management issues. Among his specialist areas of interest are media audiences, new media developments and the impact of news. Vorwort Wide-ranging study of the innovative uses of social media in the Gulf region Zusammenfassung Following the Arab Spring, the use of social media has become instrumental in organising activist movements and spreading political dissent in the Middle East. New online behaviours have transformed traditional communication channels, enabling young people of all backgrounds to feel politically empowered. But now that spring has turned to winter, what are the long-term implications of internet activism in the region? Social Media in the Arab World provides a unique insight into the role of online communications as a force for change in the Gulf States. Featuring examples as diverse as neo-patrimonial politics in Saudi Arabia and the ways an online presence affects the status of women in Kuwait, the chapters examine shifts in the political, social and religious identities of citizens as a result of increased digital activism. With contributions from a variety of inter-disciplinary experts, this wide-ranging study examines the consequences of changing power dynamics brought about by popular social media. In doing so, this book offers an original perspective on the long-term implications of internet usage in the Arab world and is essential reading for students and researchers working across the region.
