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Is Internet the Great Equalizer? A 12-Country Study of Protest Participation Inequality in the Arab World

Sun, May 27, 12:30 to 13:45, Hilton Prague, Floor: LL, Congress Hall II - Exhibit Hall/Posters

Abstract

This study investigates the role of the Internet in protest participation in the Arab world. More specifically, we aim to address three important questions: (1) Does Internet news use increase the chances of protest participation? (2) Does the Internet news use amplify or reduce participation gaps that exist among individuals at various socio-economic strata? (3) Does press freedom of a country as a contextual factor shape the role of the Internet in participation gaps? The results based on an analysis of nationally representative multi-country survey suggest that Internet news use for political purposes increases the likelihood of protest participation in the Arab world while it also deepens socioeconomic stratification in participation. However, this intervening role of the Internet is largely shaped by national press freedom. Theoretical implications of these findings for political inequality literature and the practical consequences for the Arab world are discussed.

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