2. Arab Spring created a media hailstorm but
nations that did not achieve complete
revolution were overlooked
Morocco offers an interesting case study for
social media researchers
Examine why OCA of Blogoma failed to
explain how event would unfold
Argument: Fragmentation of society
manifests online and off. Collective action
frames of the Blogoma failed to resonate
with the greater population.
3. Lead author’s ethnographic research 2007-
2009: employed participant observation,
content analysis, interviews, and surveys
This research oriented us to the primary
concerns of the bloggers: civil liberties and
freedom of speech, govt accountability
Updated in 2012 through the discussions of
many of the same informants and they
oriented us to new blogs
Examined dozens of blogs in English and
French (Feb 20, referendum, elections)
4. Significant
social, economic, political, religious, linguisti
c, and ethnic distinctions
DD not so much the binary of un/linked
(Selwyn 2004; Graham 2011) but similar
societal divides manifest off/online or are
exacerbated (Farrell 2012; Couldry 2012)
Linguistic divide: even lower classes with access
may not contribute to Blogoma
Arabophone bloggers, at times from divergent
socio-economic backgrounds, less likely than
Francophone to cover Mourtada and Erraji arrests
5. “Homophily” reaffirms that interest of group
are most important issues (Farrell 2012)
Blogoma presents as a unified front although
societal fragmentation prevalent
Diagnostic frames identified in earlier
research: expand liberties and free speech
through govt accountability
Prognostic frame: parliamentary monarchy
Benford and Snow (1988) salience and
credibility most important
6. Bloggerspart of media landscape so clearly
free speech important part of movement
Not directly affected by poverty, illiteracy, lack
of services that preoccupy majority of
population, which impedes salience
Regime started campaign to discredit
protesters/bloggers as inauthentic Moroccans
and called upon the true ones to uphold
sacred institutions through voting
PJD not implicated in past corruption so able to
maintain credibility unlike bloggers/protesters
7. Started as networking community in 2004 but
began to exhibit solidarity of a collective,
especially surrounding censorship issues:
Google Earth, YouTube, Mourtada, Erraji
Less success in influencing politics
(abstention/anti-PJD in 2007 elections)
Success in social initiatives: BlogonsUtile!
and Gaza relief
1st survey: 18:21 said censorship issues were
most important
2nd survey: 42 unanimously said Moroccans
should be able to debate sacred institutions
8. Feb 20 resonates w/ Blogoma initiatives:
parliamentary monarchy free from arbitrary
rule and special favors (grima)
Some linkages theoretical, others clear
Former informant, Hisham Almiraat, co-founder
of Mamfakinch—covers protests
Feb 20 viral YouTube video offers various
reasons for protesting:
freedom, equality, better living
standards, education, labor rights, minority
rights (Lalami 2011)
Regime responds w/ subsidies, jobs, reforms
9. Why did the protests not result in revolt?
1st: Alaouais have maintained popularity--
1,200 yo dynasty descends from Prophet,
Moroccans inculcated with inseparability of
God, state, and monarchy (Roumana 2011),
regime scapegoating
2nd: King central to stability—April Marrakech
bombing (M4C 2011)—against militants, used
to squelch assembly (Hogan 2011)
3rd: part-time protesting (Imad 2011),
movement splintering (37 orgs) (M4C 2011)
10. 4th:middle class dubious of the ability of the
lower classes to participate in democracy
(Tourabi 2011)
Blogoma/Feb 20 reject integration of religion
into politics not likely to have voted for
PJD, which has managed to avoid scandals
PJD promises to reduce poverty, increase
wages, and fight corruption (Cabalmuse
2011), which are more concrete than
Blogoma/Feb 20’s abstract ideas of liberties
Majority believe that PJD can reform system
11. Majority of Moroccans voted for change
through PJD
Islamic-oriented political parties have
offered services for years (Cohen and Jaidi
2008)
Not likely concerned PJD’s rumored changes:
liquor sales, co-ed beaches, promoting hijab
Coalitions integral to effective politicking
(Almiraat 2011)—hopefully expected change
will be realized
The Arab Spring has not passed Morocco by:
it is in hibernation for the winter