Social Media, the Public Sphere, and Public Space in Authoritarian Settings: A Case Study of Egypt’s Tahrir Square and 18 Years of User Generated Content

Abstract

Taking Egypt as a case study, this article examines the relationship between social media and Habermas’ public sphere and public space in less democratic settings. Using a survey of Tahrir Square protesters and process tracing to examine 18 years of social media use, the article proposes a theoretical model highlighting the role of social media in carving out an eventful public sphere, despite the lack of public space to promote communicative action in authoritarian settings. Unlike the process described by Habermas, which takes place in democratic societies, the narratives presented in this study reveal a different pattern of communication which centers around an event through which larger issues are discussed within a defiant space. This happens through initiating conversation and drawing attention to the event, engaging counterpublics, establishing links of affinity, and possibly, calling for action. Factors influencing the success of an eventful public sphere under state control include the nature of the event, its effect on the publics, the public’s affinity to the event, potential social or cultural resistance, the amount of risk involved, and the potential scope of participation.