The research area “Politics and Media in the SWANA region” focuses on two key dimensions of contemporary research on the South West Asia and North Africa region (SWANA).
Main target countries are Turkey, Syria, Egypt and Morocco.
- “Politics”, as the first dimension, addresses particularly the emergence and functioning of modern public spheres as well as their political environments in the SWANA region. Based on the analysis of the respective political systems, the emphasis lies on social movements and contentious politics. The research area focuses on social movements dynamics in the categories of political movements, youth movements and migration. The area draws particularly (also theoretically and methodologically) on political science, social movement theory, and cultural studies literature.
- A key dimension to understanding public spheres are media landscapes. This includes on the one hand the structural frameworks in which media are embedded such as the respective discourses on media, institutions and laws. At the same time, the research area also focuses on the everyday use of media and their corresponding agency. The categories considered include both “traditional” and “new media” (sources ranging from television, newspapers, books, and social media). Main research topics are popular culture products such as film and music including productions by diaspora communities. In terms of literature, the area draws particularly (also theoretically and methodologically) on Media Studies, Sociology, Political Science, Cultural Studies and Anthropology.
The research area’s both dimensions may also intersect (both in research and teaching). As highlighted by MOMuG’s research profile generally, the work with primary sources in the SWANA languages offered is a central part of both research and teaching.
Dr Ali Sonay is primarily responsible for this research area.
