Weblogestan: How weblogs are affecting Iran

Here is my presentation for Les Blogs 2005 which happened last week in Paris:

Weblogestan: How weblogs are affecting Iran (PowerPoint file, 35 KB)

And a simple html version of the same presentation:

Weblogestan

How weblogs are affecting Iran

Hossein Derakhshan
hoder.com

Some Facts

• Total Population: 70 millions
• Population Under thirty: 70%
• Internet users: 4-5 millions
• Media: State monopoly and control
• Active weblogs: over 75,000

How weblogs affecting Iranian society and politics?

Metaphors

• Windows (culture, information)
• Bridges (society, activism)
• Cafes (politics)

Blogs as Windows

• Social changes: new values
  • Self expression
  • Tolerance
  • Individualism
• Free information
  • Example: Female journalist banned from parliament turned to blogging (Massih Alinejad)

Blogs as Bridges

• Divided society, social islands:
• Genders
• Immigrants ~ Non-immigrants
• Politicians ~ Citizens
• Reformist candidate (Mostafa Moeen)
• Former vice-president (Mohammad Abtahi)
• Religious/secular community

Blogs as Cafes

• Public Sphere (Jurgen Habermas):
  "a discursive arena that is home to citizen debate, deliberation, agreement and action.“
• Ideal speech situation:
  Equal power for everyone to question, express, and introduce

Blogs as Cafes

• Weblogs vs. State-controlled media
  Unique space out of the state monopoly for crucial political debate
• Examples:
  • Iran’s Nuclear program
  • Journalism in the U.S. (Objectivity, factuality)

Election 2005 (Due on 17 June)

• Windows:
  • Candidate buying publicity

• Bridges:
  • Advisory session with top reformist strategists
  • Candidate’s website’s server problem

• Cafes:
  • Debate on political advertising
  • Debate on voting/boycott

Additional Links

• Blogs x Iranians
• M. Moeen (Presidential Candidate)
• M. Abtahi (Former vice-president)
• Iranian weblogs at Wikipedia