[ecrea] CFP_IJoC_Creative Political Mobilization and the Ongoing Arab Spring

Open Call for Papers for a Special Features Section in the

International Journal of Communication

“Creative Political Mobilization and the Ongoing Arab Spring: New Media 
and Beyond”

The International Journal of Communication (http://ijoc.org) is 
accepting papers for Special Section examining the ongoing revolutions 
in the Arab region and the citizen’s political participation—“Creative 
Political Mobilization and the Ongoing Arab Spring: New Media and Beyond.”

Guest Editor: Dr. Ilhem Allagui

Submissions Due: May 30, 2013 (to (iallagui /at/ aus.edu))

Description

While protests are still taking place in the streets across the region, 
a similar civic participation is occurring online. This Special Section 
of IJoC aims to foster a conversation on the forms of political 
participation and the role of new media with regard to the ongoing 
revolutions of the Arab Spring. Internet users voice their opinions and 
contribute to political discussions through a variety of forms of 
communication. “Netizens” make use of a mixture of political and 
cultural forms of creativity in blogs, tweets, posts, and songs, as well 
as through forms of visual communication, including caricatures, photos, 
videos, and so on. Users have discovered political satires used to 
describe and, eventually, make fun of their chaotic situations; to 
criticize their current governments; and to serve as expressions of 
vehement political positions—all while, at the same time, lightening up 
their tense daily lives.

The freedom of expression that was gained thanks to the Arab Spring has 
liberated populations from fear and self-censorship. Today, social 
networks are as politically active as they were during the first wave of 
protests, and they also serve as channels for the distribution of 
creative political mobilization, capturing the opposing views of the 
ruling governments and the opposition, as well as those of Political 
Islam in general. The political affiliations of today have superseded 
the sense of national belonging, and the solidarity that was witnessed 
two years ago has transformed into a cacophony of community groups, 
political partisanship supported by narratives of partiality, and on 
occasion, manifestations of sociopolitical hatred.

This Special Section of the International Journal of Communication 
invites contributions that discuss the unfinished Arab Spring and the 
various facets of political communications as reflected in new media. 
Submissions for the “Creative Political Mobilization and the Ongoing 
Arab Spring: New Media and Beyond” Special Section may share 
perspectives and engage with a variety of topics that link to the following:

1. 1. New media and the responsible use of social networks;

2. 2. Visual communication, the ongoing Arab Spring, and social change;

3. 3. Rumors, misinformation, and the regulation of social networks;

4. 4. Blogs, social networks, and political representation;

5. 5. Cultural creativity for social change;

6. 6. Humor at the intersection of communication and politics; or

7. 7. The ongoing Arab Spring and the gained (or missed) freedom of 
expression.

Case studies and articles grounded in visual communication are 
especially encouraged.

Submission Guidelines

Submissions of 3,000-6,000 words (including footnotes, captions, 
references) will be double-blind peer-reviewed. Abstracts are not 
required. Images, if available, are encouraged to be integrated into the 
article text. Papers should adhere to APA (6th edition) style and 
guidelines. Submissions should include the author’s name, title, 
affiliation and e-mail address.

Please submit complete papers by May 30, 2013 to Ilhem Allagui at 
(iallagui /at/ aus.edu)

Expected publication date: Autumn 2013

We look forward to your contributions to this Special Features Section. 
If you have any questions regarding the International Journal of 
Communication submission guidelines, please contact IJoC Managing Editor 
Arlene Luck at (aluck /at/ usc.edu).

Thank you.

Ilhem Allagui, Ph.D
Associate Professor
Department of Mass Communication
Tel +971 6 515 2763
Fax +971 6 515 2554
American University of Sharjah
PO Box 26666, Sharjah
United Arab Emirates
http://www.aus.edu
(iallagui /at/ aus.edu)


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