The role of Friday sermon in shaping the opinion of the worshippers in Jordan

This field study investigates the intricate relationship between Friday sermon (khutba) and the worshippers' public opinion in Jordan. Prompted by the taboo label assigned to scholarship on khutba, it probes whether the agenda-setting, framing and priming process in mass communication (the media) applies to public communication (the mosque). Field observations (six months with three Informants) crosscut with conclusions drawn from in-depth interviews with concerned actors, thematic content analysis of 24 different khutbas in Amman and Zarqa, analysis of relevant coverage in the print and online media, and a questionnaire to 200 mosque-goers. The period covered is 2008 till 2013, crosscutting the Arab Spring and its ensuing political change. The hypothesis is that in a marketplace for loyalties, the preacher can impact his worshippers' perception of reality in as much as he can circumvent State regulations and meet his audience's expectations by setting their agenda re khutba theme and its attributes.Este estudio de campo investiga la intrincada relación entre el sermón del viernes (khutba) y la opinión pública de los fieles en Jordania. Impulsada por la etiqueta tabú asignada a becas en khutba, se verifica si el establecimiento de la agenda, la elaboración y el proceso de cebado en la comunicación de masas (los medios) se aplica a la comunicación pública (la mezquita). Las observaciones de campo (seis meses con tres informantes) de corte transversal con las conclusiones extraídas de las entrevistas en profundidad con los actores interesados, análisis de contenido temático de 24 khutbas diferentes en Amman y Zarqa, el análisis de la cobertura pertinente en los medios impresos y en línea, y un cuestionario a 200 mezquita de los asistentes. El período cubierto es de 2008 al 2013, cortes transversales de la primavera árabe y su cambio político posterior. La hipótesis es que en un mercado de lealtades, el predicador puede afectar la percepción de la realidad de sus adoradores en todo lo que puede evadir las regulaciones estatales y cumplir con las expectativas de su audiencia mediante el establecimiento de su agenda el tema de re khutba y sus atributos.Aquest estudi de camp investiga la intricada relació entre el sermó de divendres (khutba) i l'opinió pública dels fidels a Jordània. Impulsada per l'etiqueta tabú assignada a beques en khutba, es verifica si l'establiment de l'agenda, l'elaboració i el procés d'encebament en la comunicació de masses (els mitjans) s'aplica a la comunicació pública (la mesquita). Les observacions de camp (sis mesos amb tres informants) de tall transversal amb les conclusions extretes de les entrevistes en profunditat amb els actors interessats, anàlisi de contingut temàtic de 24 khutbas diferents a Amman i Zarqa, l'anàlisi de la cobertura pertinent en els mitjans impresos i en línia, i un qüestionari a 200 mesquita dels assistents. El període cobert és del 2008 al 2013, talls transversals de la primavera àrab i el seu canvi polític posterior. La hipòtesi és que en un mercat de lleialtats, el predicador pot afectar la percepció de la realitat de les seves adoradors en tot el que pot evadir les regulacions estatals i complir amb les expectatives de la seva audiència mitjançant l'establiment de la seva agenda el tema de re khutba i els seus atributs

Facebook, the Media and Democracy

Facebook, the Media and Democracy examines Facebook Inc. and the impact that it has had and continues to have on media and democracy around the world. Drawing on interviews with Facebook users of different kinds and dialogue with politicians, regulators, civil society and media commentators, as well as detailed documentary scrutiny of legislative and regulatory proposals and Facebook’s corporate statements, the book presents a comprehensive but clear overview of the current debate around Facebook and the global debate on the regulation of social media in the era of ‘surveillance capitalism.’ Chapters examine the business and growing institutional power of Facebook as it has unfolded over the fifteen years since its creation, the benefits and meanings that it has provided for its users, its disruptive challenge to the contemporary media environment, its shaping of conversations, and the emerging calls for its further regulation. The book considers Facebook’s alleged role in the rise of democratic movements around the world as well as its suggested role in the election of Donald Trump and the UK vote to leave the European Union. This book argues that Facebook, in some shape or form, is likely to be with us into the foreseeable future and that how we address the societal challenges that it provokes, and the economic system that underpins it, will define how human societies demonstrate their capacity to protect and enhance democracy and ensure that no corporation can set itself above democratic institutions. This is an important research volume for academics and researchers in the areas of media studies, communications, social media and political science

Jihadist suicide : a moral ideal

Many analysts mistake suicide bombing as a "natural" consequence of political grievance: as the ultimate in the politics of despair, citing the plight of Palestinians as the central case study. My contention is that the suicide-murder doctrine had its genesis in Revolutionary Iran and became institutionalised during the war years with Iraq (1980-1988). The ideology that supported suicide on the battlefield is identical to that of the suicide terrorist globally. The training of insurgents outside of Iran - including Hezbollah in Lebanon, the Tamil Tigers in Sri Lanka, Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, and the al Qaeda global network - ensured the development of the phenomenon best termed Jihadist Suicide. Putting this phenotnenon into a sociological and historical context, this work draws on comparative and ethnographic techniques to analyse significant concepts - like suicide, martyrdom, secularisation and ideology - to identify the nuances of Jihadist Suicide. It is argued that in the history of ethnic conflict, this form of suicide has been rare.Tradition does not support acts of such suicide - not even in its political or religious guise as martyrdom. Historically, it never occurred as a globalised phenomenon. Rather, it is a product of late modernity, whereby a world driven by ontological insecurity and uncertainty has opened the way for political elites and counter-elites to introduce radical ideas. It is not deviant behaviour, as is the common perception of suicide, but a moral ideal

Intersectional Human Rights at CEDAW: Promises Transmissions and Impacts

Starting from the premise that international human rights law is not a neutral fact, this dissertation is a critical exploration of the promises, transmissions and impacts of intersectionality as an approach to gender protections in international human rights law. I begin with a definition of intersectionality at the individual claimant and jurisprudential levels, as an approach to anti-discrimination and equality law that attempts to move beyond static conceptions and fixed identities of discriminated subjects, and, based on Kimberl Crenshaws powerful metaphor of a traffic intersection, delineates the flow of discrimination as multi-directional, and injury as seldom attributable to a single source. But in its life beyond these early works, intersectionalitys epistemological and ontological claims have since come to express the possibility of a nearly infinite entanglement of human experience as impacted by systems of governance and regulation. In exploring this, I articulate an additional conditioning intersection. That is, in addition to the intersection of multiple harms, forms of discrimination or identitieswhich are, variously, the meanings ascribed to intersectionality as an approach to international human rights lawthe intersection this dissertation fundamentally straddles is that between social critique and instrumental engagement. This dissertation is guided by an engaged ambivalence about the core project of harnessing feminist social critique, such as that invited by intersectionalitys migratory path, to the perilous project of feminist governance. I mobilize a critical international law framework, to review relevant literature, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) practices and decisions, related United Nations memos, documents and Special Rapporteur materials, along with original interviews with CEDAW Committee members to assess the legal status, governance implications and feminist goals realized and missed in the intersectional turn in international human rights. It concludes that intersectionality both advances critical legal practice, and remains entangled in the imperial vestiges of international laws genealogy

Terrorism in Indonesia : an examination of ten radical groups

The study is based on the hypothesis that there are forces of influence that push a group from extremism to terrorism. While not all groups make the shift to terrorism, there are inherent forces within the radical group that influence the course of action undertaken by groups. The study examines 10 radical groups in Indonesia and explores the question: How do ideology, leadership and group dynamics play a significant role in the radical groups in Indonesia? The study explored groups within a broad cross-section of terrorist and extremist groups that have either been in operation or are currently in operation in Indonesia The groups examined were Lashkar Jihad (LJ), Jemaah Islamiyah (JI), Darul Islam (DI), Front Pembela Islam (FPI), Negara Islam Indonesia (NII), Hizbut Tahrir Indonesia (HT), Majelis Mujahideen Indonesia (MMI), Jamaah Anshorut Tauhid (JAT), Al Qaeda Indonesia (AI) and Mujahideen Indonesia Timur (MIT). The study highlights that groups are able to sustain themselves on the path of terrorism if there is a unique confluence of a politicised ideology, presence of influential leadership and group dynamics. Based on 124 interviews and questionnaires of terrorist and extremist leadership and cadre, the study sheds light on unique dynamics within these groups in Indonesia. In an examination of the 10 radical groups, this study shows that the very factors that often influences the radicalisation of individuals on the pathway of terrorism – ideology, charismatic leadership and community affiliation through group dynamics also in turn influence the course of action of groups as a whole