As demonstrations against the government continue in Egypt, two questions have emerged among many news viewers in the United States: Why now? And how did social media play a role in the protests? Laura Roselle and Rudy Zarzar, two professors in the Department of Political Science, offer answers to those questions in the latest in a series of videos in which Elon University faculty members share their research and classroom expertise.
As Zarzar explains, economic conditions in much of the Arab world have reached a tipping point. Unhappy Egyptians noted the success of an uprising in Tunisia last month that toppled the regime there, and that inspiration may have been all that was needed to rise up against their own president.
Discontent, however, isn’t always enough to spur action, and Roselle – whose scholarship has focused on political communications – explains how social media not only helps share information about what is taking place, it also allows for protesters to coordinate their activities while sending each other messages of solidarity.
Learn more about the events unfolding in Egypt by watching Roselle and Zarzar’s recent interview with the Office of University Relations.
The office welcomes Elon University students and professors to nominate faculty for the video series. Email suggestions to Eric Townsend, director of the Elon University News Bureau, at etownsend4@elon.edu.