The Arab Political Blogosphere: The Case of Egypt

Abstract

This chapter, as its title suggests, is divided into two sections. The first section provides an overview of the introduction of the Internet and its multiple implications on the Arab world, with a special focus on the phenomenon of blogging, especially political blogging, in this important and volatile region. In doing so, it sheds light on the Internet’s prevalence in Arab societies, its multiple roles and functions, as well as its potential for acting as a catalyst for democratization and radical transformation in the Arab region. It explains why and how there is a significant amount of debate as to whether blogging has an influential role in promoting social and political change, and its potential for continuing to do so in the future. It also sheds light on some of the most important challenges confronting bloggers in the Arab world.