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Adel EL ZAÏM
Senior Programme Specialist, Information and Networks,
International Development Research Centre
(Cairo, Egypt)
Cyberactivism in the Middle East and North Africa:
Promoting Local Languages
Introduction
Although 2010–2011 will enter the history as the two years of dramatic change
in the Middle East and North Africa, revolutions in Arab countries didn’t start
in 2010. One should say the revolutions culminated and succeeded mainly in
Tunisia and Egypt in 2011, after several attempts during the first years of the
21 st century. Revolts continue in several countries and are transforming in some
others into massacres (Syria), into civil war and international intervention
(Libya), and into a hidden repression (Bahrain).
In fact, the young population is uprising on all the continents. After China,
Burma and Iran come Middle East and North Africa in 2010-2011 – from
Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, and Egypt to Libya, Yemen, Bahrain and Syria.
Revolts and repressions are still harvesting lives and ruining economies in all
these countries. People are also demonstrating in Spain and Greece as well as
in Senegal more recently. In Senegal, population is demonstrating against the
corruption and the president’s plans to run for a third mandate and create a
Vice-President position 62 .
The question about the role of the information and communication technologies,
and social media in such a revolution was one of the first questions asked very
early in Tunisia and Egypt. Researchers and journalists wanted to know if it can be
called Digital Revolution or Revolution 2.0. More serious questions are also asked
about the timing and the location of the revolution: why now, why in Tunisia, why
in Egypt, what country is next How to reform a country: by way of creating new
political systems, and a new category of politicians, or political practices
The new era of reforms and renaissance will fill a library of research reports and
books, studying all kinds of impacts, benefits, history, roles, and new models.
Dozens of books about the revolution have already been published in Tunisia
and Egypt. Cultural products including songs, music, movies and photos are
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http://www.senrevolution.com (among other sites).
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