The Potential of Political Changes in the Information Age: The Political Challenges Sphere of Saudi Arabia through Citizen Activism

New Media And New Politics

Today’s Saudi Arabian society, with the emergence of the cyberspace environment, has experienced a new form of social practice and political activities. It has applied a new phase of movement and civil society that did not previously exist. The new space through new media social networks allows citizens to aggregate, to elaborate, and discuss social, economic and even political situations in what amounts to a public space. Citizens have more confidence to talk about their demands and their problems. Citizens do not need the mainstream media in order to gain information, and they do not need to follow the news to express themselves; they have established their own forum of dialogue. They share news and even create it. Citizens find new spaces where they may share information, and these spaces are not under government control. But before discussing the actual reform events by examining the two case studies, it is important to look at the situation in Saudi Arabia and how civil society and social movements work through cyberspace.