Conference "Media and the Politics of Transformation in the Arab World and Asia"
10./11.12.2015, Berlin
In times of increasing mediatization and digitalization, indisputably media play an important role when it comes to political and societal transformation processes. But how exactly can we analyze the relationship between transformation and media (and also media in transformation) to contribute to both the fields of political science and communication studies? Which theoretical concepts, methodological approaches and empirical fields can be chosen and how can they “cross-fertilize” each other?
In the scope of this conference, we seek to establish a comprehensive interdisciplinary dialogue among senior and junior researchers, acknowledging that despite several efforts theories and research practices in these two disciplines continue to co-exist rather than intersect.
The seminal uprisings in the MENA region in 2010/2011 have revitalized both research fields by bringing many-to-many media and mobilization processes into the focus. Choosing a country-based approach our conference seeks to inquire on how these processes evolve in the context of (formally) restricted media systems and state dominated public spheres. In order to allow for case-centered analysis as well as transnational comparisons these countries range from the MENA region and their respective transformation processes to the Far East.
This conference is organized as a joint event of the division “International Communication” (Prof. Dr. Carola Richter) and the “Center for Middle Eastern and North African Studies” (Prof. Dr. Cilja Harders) and funded by the Faculty for Political and Social Sciences at Freie Universität Berlin
The workshop booklet including program and abstracts can be downloaded here.
Program
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Thursday, 10th of December 2015 |
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17.00-18.00 |
Public Keynote: Sticks and Stones, Clicks and Phones: Contextualizing the Role of Digital Media in the Politics of Transformation Merlyna Lim, Carleton University, Canada |
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18.00-20.00 |
Public Panel Discussion: When Theory Meets Ground Moderator: Carola Richter, Free University, Berlin Podium: Kaustubh Srikanth, Head of Technology at Tactical Technology Collective, Berlin Afef Abrouigi, Researcher on digital rights and global voices contributor, Tunis Khaled Yacoub Oweis, visiting fellow at the German Institute for International and Security Affairs, SWP Berlin and Journalist |
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Friday, 11th of December 2015 Admission: if you wish to take part on Friday, please register until December 5th at mediatransfo@zedat.fu-berlin.de |
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09.15 |
Welcome Cilja Harders, Free University, Berlin |
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09.30-11.00 |
Panel 1: Digital Media and Women's Activism
Comments: Deva Woodly, The New School, USA |
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11.30-13.00 |
Panel 2: Digital Media and Activism
Comments: Donatella della Ratta, University of Copenhagen, Denmark |
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14.00-15.30 |
Panel 3: Transforming Media in Times of Transition
Comments: Eid Mohamed, Doha Institute for Graduate studies, Qatar |
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16.00-17.30 |
Panel 4: Media operating within authoritarian structures
Comments: Natalie Fenton, Goldsmith University, UK |
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17.30-18.00 |
Conclusion Carola Richter, Free University, Berlin |
