Abstract
The common interpretation of “bridgeblogs,” or blogs written in English by bloggers in countries where English is not the primary audience, understands them as primarily serving to explain the local political context for an international audience. This article aims to complicate the existing understanding of bridgeblogs through ethnographic research into five Egyptian bridgeblogs. Specifically, this paper considers bloggers’ engagement in discussions about nationhood in 2011, in the wake of the Egyptian uprising that overthrew Hosni Mubarak. This paper argues that by participating in conversations about the future and shape of the Egyptian nation, bridgebloggers are highly engaged in domestic political networks, are dedicated to political causes within the country, and write for both domestic and international audiences.
Highlights
On January 2, 2011, Egyptian Wael Eskandar wrote in English on his blog Notes from the Underground, “People accuse me of treason when I say that I don't love Egypt anymore
It is difficult to quantify the proportion of Egyptian blogs that are written in English
It is crucial not to overlook this Egyptian audience when considering blogs written in English, insofar as it suggests that the blogs play an active role in Egypt’s domestic political sphere. This ethnographic study of five Egyptian blogs has drawn out the bloggers’ unique contributions to discussion of a new nation in the wake of the 2011 revolution. It has revealed far more than mere explanations of the context and unfolding political events for a foreign audience in these bridgeblogs
Summary
On January 2, 2011, Egyptian Wael Eskandar wrote in English on his blog Notes from the Underground, “People accuse me of treason when I say that I don't love Egypt anymore. The reality is that I'm just being honest...Egypt has been lost and we're not even aware of it.”. He went on to explain, “I do not fool myself by giving love to this evil replica. This is not my country; it's not a country that I want to be associated with. It's a country of thugs, thieves and murderers.”. In this post, Eskandar expressed frustration with the current state of Egypt, suggesting that the political regime had turned his country into something unrecognizable. The state maintained tight control over the media, and dissenting voices were regularly silenced through censorship
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