On the Role of the Media in Political Processes: the Arab Spring

Abstract

This article analyses the potential of the media in modeling different political processes. It examines theoretical aspects of media influence in instigating revolutionary and destabilising events and describes the key communicative-psychological tools of influence. The article also analyses the specifics of media policy to reinforce protest sentiments in Iran during the recent mass demonstrations. It describes in details the role and strategy of the media in the context of the Arab Spring, using the revolutionary events in Egypt and other Arab countries as an example. The article concludes that the media, including the “new media”, actively using Internet platforms and social media, plays an increasingly important role in shaping public opinion for certain political purposes.