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Social Media and Democratization in Iraqi Kurdistan

Munir Mohammad

Social Media and Democratization in Iraqi Kurdistan assesses the implications of social media usage for democratization in the context of Iraqi Kurdistan. A considerable number of studies examine the impact of social media on the practice of democracy in liberal democratic contexts and on the democratization process in nondemocratic contexts. However, little is known about the rise and implications of using the Internet and social media platforms for democratization processes in a hybrid political system, like that of Iraqi Kurdistan, which combines elements of both democracy and authoritarianism. The author investigates the use of social media platforms by citizens, politicians, electoral candidates, and political parties, and its significance for political participation and political communication, which are selected as important elements of democratization. Based on original qualitative research, including interviews with activists, politicians, and party leaders, and an analysis of relevant social media content in the Kurdish language, especially on the social media platform, Facebook, the author argues that rather than the increase in online political participation and political communication contributing to the consolidation of democracy in the Kurdish nascent democracy, it is increasing political polarization, exacerbating incivility of political discourse and enabling monitoring of opposition forces by the authorities.

Lexington Books

Pages: 206 • Trim: 6¼ x 9

978-1-4985-9997-9 • Hardback • October 2019 • $117.00 • (£90.00)

978-1-4985-9998-6 • eBook • October 2019 • $111.00 • (£85.00)

Series: Kurdish Societies, Politics, and International Relations

Subjects: Political Science / International Relations / General, Political Science / World / Middle Eastern, Social Science / Media Studies

Social Media and Democratization in Iraqi Kurdistan

Hardback

eBook

Summary

Social Media and Democratization in Iraqi Kurdistan assesses the implications of social media usage for democratization in the context of Iraqi Kurdistan. A considerable number of studies examine the impact of social media on the practice of democracy in liberal democratic contexts and on the democratization process in nondemocratic contexts. However, little is known about the rise and implications of using the Internet and social media platforms for democratization processes in a hybrid political system, like that of Iraqi Kurdistan, which combines elements of both democracy and authoritarianism. The author investigates the use of social media platforms by citizens, politicians, electoral candidates, and political parties, and its significance for political participation and political communication, which are selected as important elements of democratization. Based on original qualitative research, including interviews with activists, politicians, and party leaders, and an analysis of relevant social media content in the Kurdish language, especially on the social media platform, Facebook, the author argues that rather than the increase in online political participation and political communication contributing to the consolidation of democracy in the Kurdish nascent democracy, it is increasing political polarization, exacerbating incivility of political discourse and enabling monitoring of opposition forces by the authorities.

Details

Lexington Books

Pages: 206 • Trim: 6¼ x 9

978-1-4985-9997-9 • Hardback • October 2019 • $117.00 • (£90.00)

978-1-4985-9998-6 • eBook • October 2019 • $111.00 • (£85.00)

Series: Kurdish Societies, Politics, and International Relations

Subjects: Political Science / International Relations / General, Political Science / World / Middle Eastern, Social Science / Media Studies

Author

Munir Mohammad is associate tutor at University of Warwick.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1: social media and democratization

Chapter 2: Democratization in Iraqi Kurdistan: an overview

Chapter 3: Social media, social movements and democratization: the case of the Slemani movement in 2011

Chapter 4: Social media, political discussion, and the Kurdish political parties: the case of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) and the Kurdistan Islamic Union (KIU)

Chapter 5: Social media, elections, and campaigns: the case of the Kurdistan parliamentary elections in 2013

Reviews

“Munir Mohammad’s fine analysis of the use of social media in Iraqi Kurdistan paints a balanced picture, urging us to recognize the intimate interplay between online and offline patterns of communication. This is an admirable book and anyone interested in the future of the region should read it.”
— Stephen Coleman, University of Leeds

Social Media and Democratization in Iraqi Kurdistan

Munir Mohammad

Social Media and Democratization in Iraqi Kurdistan

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