Politicizing participatory culture at the margins: The significance of class, gender and online media for the practices of youth networks in the MENA region

Our paper focuses on case-studies of artistic, creative and political participation by young feminists and civil society groups in Jordan, Morocco, Tunisia and UAE. Central questions uncover the intersecting significance of class, gender and new media in young MENA citizens’ participation; the connections between mediated cultural production and political intervention; and the role of structural barriers for online community and agency. Analysis of our original data reveals that the internet and digital apps provide differential opportunities for agency to young teachers, football ultras, feminists, gamers, performance collectives and metal music networks depending particularly on gender and social class. Our findings highlight: the significance of offline spaces for youth participation in cultural and democratic action in the MENA region; the increased possibilities afforded by new media to specific demographics; the ways that they change existing networks of participation rather than bringing networks into being; and that some young activists have learnt to use social media sparingly, and with caution. Our conclusions challenge the notion that the democratic ethos of civic participation networks has burgeoned since digitisation; and highlight that digital tools and online spaces work more effectively for youth with existing offline economic power and/or cultural capital.