Collectivindualism and Shadow Players: Palestinian Youth, Social Media, and Hamas’s Communications Strategies

Authors

  • Harel Chorev Halewa Tel Aviv University; Visiting scholar at New York University and Yeshiva University

Keywords:

Palestinian social media, Palestinian youth, Hamas, individualism, collectivism, online strategies

Abstract

This article explores the social and political processes that have made Palestinian social media an important arena for Hamas’s communications strategies and mobilization efforts. I argue that this arena derives its power from being a confluence point of two seemingly opposing forces: the quest of Palestinian youth for social and political alternatives to traditional sources of authority, including Hamas, and the strategy of Hamas to adapt to this trend among Palestinian youth by striving discreetly to frame the online discourse to compensate for the movement’s off-line obstacles while advancing its agenda.

Author Biography

Harel Chorev Halewa, Tel Aviv University; Visiting scholar at New York University and Yeshiva University

Head of the Middle Eastern Network Analysis research group, the Moshe Dayan Center, Tel Aviv University. Visiting scholar at New York University and Yeshiva University.

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Published

2020-01-01

Issue

Section

Articles