What is it about?

Using the ongoing Gulf crisis (June 2017–present) as the case study, this article shows how social media has been used as an online battleground for conflict between the Gulf countries. The article gives examples of online discourse over the proper role of women, the territorial boundaries of the Gulf, and tensions over Qatar hosting the FIFA World Cup 2022. Although the tools of social media may be new weapons, the issues under debate represent old regional rivalries between the countries.

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Why is it important?

Much of the current Gulf crisis has been fought through media channels, both mainstream and online. It is important to recognize how social media is being used and abused during the crisis, and also important to understand how these attacks on social media are part of larger historical struggles between the Gulf countries.

Perspectives

This article represents some of our student–faculty research conducted over the course of a Qatar National Research Fund UREP grant, which focuses on the undergraduate research experience. I enjoyed working with and learning from my two faculty colleagues, Ibrahim Abusharif and Banu Akdenizli, and our nine undergraduate students: Noor Abunaba’a, Ömer Alaoui, Shaikha Alderbesti, Mariam Al-Dhubhani, Mariam Feroun, Lulwa Al-Khori, Tarfa Al-Mansouri, Haya Al-Mohannadi, and Nada Qaddourah!

Dr. Jocelyn Sage Mitchell
Northwestern University in Qatar

Read the Original

This page is a summary of: #Blockade: Social Media and the Gulf Diplomatic Crisis, Review of Middle East Studies, November 2019, Cambridge University Press,
DOI: 10.1017/rms.2019.44.
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