The Role of Culture and Technology in Civil Society Promotion in the Middle East: A Case Study Approach

E-ISSN： 1949-3606|24|1|111-138

ISSN： 1060-4367

Source： DIGEST OF MIDDLE EAST STUDIES, Vol.24, Iss.1, 2015-05, pp. : 111-138

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Abstract

For over a decade, the U.S. administration has been sponsoring capacity‐building efforts focusing on technology to support democracy activists in Middle Eastern societies; such efforts have often fallen short in their effectiveness. In this article, using a case study approach, we argue that capacity‐building efforts must be approached in a culture‐specific manner. It is imperative to begin exploring the specific nature of civil society in different Middle Eastern societies and translate the Western concept of “civil society” into terms appropriate to Middle Eastern contexts. Based on a culture‐specific understanding, programs involving technology to promote democratic institutions in Middle Eastern societies can be designed.