Posted by Nabil Echchaibi on Monday, February 14, 2011
The New York Times had a fascinating article and an interactive timeline tracing the roots of the peaceful revolution in Tunisia and Egypt. The transnational dimension of these uprisings is just incredible as activists and protesters exchange idea, tactics and read up on resistance literature and activist initiatives in the history of the United States and more recently in Serbia. What's also fascinating is how the Web and social media have become mobilizing tools to brand these revolutionary movements who are looking to replicate what happened in Tunisia. Everything is subverted in these actions: Pepsi becomes a resistance tool against tear gas, YouTube helps animate passions for revolt, Twitter and Facebook help mobilize thousands into the streets, and cell phones become instant telegraphs sending bits of critical information the world over. Below is an example of how a Moroccan group now is trying to emulate the digitization of resistance in Tunisia and Egypt to launch its own version. A number of mostly young Moroccans alternate on the screen completing the same sentence, "I'm Moroccan and I will go out on February 20th to peacefully demonstrate for...." The list of reasons include better jobs, better health care, more dignity, equal opportunity, fight against corruption and nepotism, etc. The complexities of these networks of resistance demand from us better focused attention.
I was born and raised in Morocco. My research focuses on the intersections between Islam, Arab popular culture and the media. I'm currently an assistant professor in the School of Journalism at the University of Colorado-Boulder.