Really happy to see this article I published on citizenship and belonging in the Arabian Peninsula with a great group of scholars | Digital De-Citizenship: The Rise of the Digital Denizen in Bahrain cup.org/3mERQvi #IJMES
"Perhaps the most striking notion of this is the dystopian potential of a civil society simulacrum, one in which online performances of citizenship are neatly orchestrated by
autonomous accounts to give the illusion of a functioning and healthy public sphere. "
autonomous accounts to give the illusion of a functioning and healthy public sphere. "
"For the Al Khalifa, who wish to market Bahrain as a neoliberal hub, a place attractive to direct
foreign investment, stability, or rather the illusion of stability, is critical. Therefore the only acceptable
modalities of citizenship are those
foreign investment, stability, or rather the illusion of stability, is critical. Therefore the only acceptable
modalities of citizenship are those
that lionize the regime, praise the achievements of the government, facilitate the transfer of capital"
" The web is only a performative
space for the neoliberal and loyal citizen, who does not exceed the boundaries determined by a top-down
desire to portray Bahrain as an oasis of stability"
space for the neoliberal and loyal citizen, who does not exceed the boundaries determined by a top-down
desire to portray Bahrain as an oasis of stability"
" Community and networks are in many ways seen as subversive; atomization and antisocial distancing are the new normal. Playing on the now ubiquitous “social
distancing,” antisocial distancing is the process of separating humans from each other to diminish human
interaction and
distancing,” antisocial distancing is the process of separating humans from each other to diminish human
interaction and
militate against collective “social” action. Perhaps this is all part of Gulf futurism, “the isolation of individuals via technology, wealth . . . the corrosive elements of consumerism on the soul and industry on the earth.”
As making rights claims in the digital sphere becomes more difficult, so too does the possibility of digital citizenship, with its incumbent privileges and protections. Instead, “digital denizen” is perhaps more appropriate, for a denizen is someone who merely inhabits and
exists in an environment, rather than someone who uses that environment to articulate and construct demands for
recognition, rights, or identity. Not only are rights under attack, but so is the very space and ability to
demand those rights."
recognition, rights, or identity. Not only are rights under attack, but so is the very space and ability to
demand those rights."
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