YOUNG EGYPTIAN ACTIVISTS’ PERCEPTIONS OF THE POTENTIAL OF SOCIAL MEDIA FOR MOBILISATION

This thesis explores the perceptions of a sample of young Egyptian activists about the potential of social media (SM) for mobilising collective action. Themes of media usage, dispositions and actions (online and off-line) that appear to relate to these perceptions are investigated and analysed. This thesis builds a moderate case for SM’s influence on the mobilisation of collective action. Although young activists purposively use the SM repertoire as instruments through which to mobilise collective action, they believe that the role these media may play varies significantly, depending on the media user, i.e., the contribution of SM to creating favourable dispositions towards the participation and mobilisation of individuals to move from behind their keyboards and to take to the streets differs between activists and non-politicised individuals. The findings suggest that SM are not perceived as a suitable arena for the building of an activist identity, which consequently raises concerns about the commitment to and sustainability of social movements organised on social media platforms. This thesis is organised to allow these arguments to be made clearly in relation to the data. Findings are discussed and analysed in Chapters Five (young activists’ uses of social media), Six (young activists’ contextual perceptions and political dispositions) and Seven (the perceived opportunities to link to off-line space). Each chapter considers several dimensions that are related to the theme being investigated. Throughout these chapters, the data are analysed and discussed horizontally in order to delineate the interconnection and interaction of the research themes. In each chapter, data from questionnaires and focus group discussions (FGDs) are presented. Quantitative and qualitative findings around key themes and issues are presented in an integrated fashion. In most cases, general findings begin by displaying participants’ questionnaire answers. These findings are subsequently considered within the context of what respondents said in FGDs. Chapter Eight coherently draws together these three dimensions based on findings illuminated in the preceding three chapters. It also presents recommendations for practice and future research.