Virtual Space and the Rise of the Public Sphere: Social Media in the Sultanate of Oman

Abstract

Social media and its impact especially on the young generation has challenged political and social norms in the conservative Gulf monarchies. In the past, shaping news and initiating social innovation and civic participation were, to a great extent, controlled and determined by centralised governments and their affiliated media systems within a framework of rules and regulations. Social media, on the other hand, has crafted a new virtual space, where young people can create platforms to exchange ideas beyond the boundaries of the traditional patterns of physical space and conventional social interaction. In the Sultanate of Oman, where ca. 70% of the 2.2 million citizens are under the age of 30, this new space led – at least temporarily – to an accelerated transformation of society, especially in the aftermath of the protest wave of 2011. Young Omanis used it to test the limits that the strict laws imposed on public space. In response, authorities tried to counter this development from within, both by expanding the legal framework to the online world, and by using the virtual space to spread their own normative discourse. Moreover, virtual interaction led to a transformation of social norms within the traditional space as well. Not only did the awareness of political developments and the call for more participation rights gain momentum, but also the citizens developed a new civic awareness, which transcended the traditional norms and values of their tribal society. Based on Habermas’ model of the “public sphere”, this chapter examines how Omani citizens have used virtual and non-virtual public space to make their voices heard. It assesses to what extent social media has turned into a new platform of dialogue and debate by opening new channels of participation and creating new challenges to conventional social patterns. The analysis focuses on opportunities and limitations of how virtual space impacts life beyond the virtual sphere in a conservative society, and how it affects social patterns and the political awareness of the young generation.