Can social media act as a platform for counter hegemony Research Paper

Can social media act as a platform for counter hegemony - Research Paper Example Social media channels did not cause uprising but played a significant role in sharing information. This paper seeks to discuss the primary role performed by social media during the 2011 Egyptian revolution (Attia, Assaf, El, Kaldas, Mo, & El-Shazly, 2011). It will explore the question whether the social media acted as a platform for counter hegemony. Finally, it will analyze theories discussing the linkage between social media and power, and how social media challenged the authority of Mubarak. Discussion Social media acts as the XXI century pamphlet, a way that individuals who are frustrated and unsatisfied with the status quo can plan and organize themselves and stage or coordinate protest. There are various theories that discuss the relationship between social media and power, for example, Antonio Gramsci and Marxism theory. Hegemony is a term that emanated from Karl Marx writing. It was intellectualized by a Marxist social philosopher, Antonio Gramsci, who lived in Italy. Gramsci subscribed to Marxist idea of the historical dialectic. This implies that based on the classic Marxist theories, communities or societies must change over time from oppressive systems of the economy to highly liberating ones till the society finally attains the Utopian communism state (Sowers & Toensing, 2012). Marx asserted that capitalism was a subordinate system of economy because of the unequal wealth and power distribution among the few powerful individuals. Moreover, he argued that ultimately, the capitalism would be overthrown by the masses and shift to the system that is less oppressive. Gramsci employs â€Å"hegemony† to theorize the fundamental condition for effective overthrow of both the powerful (bourgeoisie) by the proletariat (ruled) and its allies (for instance, the peasantry), and the bourgeois power structures in the Western European states during XIX and XX century. Gramsci’s â€Å"hegemony† is the process of intellectual and moral leadership in which subordinate or dominated classes of post 1870 Western European industrial nations consent to their own suppression by the powerful classes, rather than being coerced or forced into accepting inferior ranks. According to Gramsci, hegemony is a form of control practiced by a dominant or powerful group. In the Marxist idea of a group dominating production means; Gramsci uses â€Å"essential group† to represent the â€Å"ruling class† (Terryn, 2011). For him, the Western European nations dominant class represented the bourgeoisie, who according to the Communist Manifesto are â€Å"the class or group of modern Capitalists, wage labour employers and the owners social production means, whereas, the vital subordinate class represented the proletariat, â€Å"the group of modern wage-laborers, without means personal production means, and thus, must sell their labour power to survive. Gramsci’s hegemony use can only be realized in the light of some of the conce pts he established and those of the Civil Society and the state. Gramsci argues that media promotes powerful or dominant powers structures in his broadly used hegemony theory. In media studies, the term hegemony is defined as ways in which media motivates individuals to consent to the status quo structures of power. In the case of the Egyptian revolution, Gramsci and Marxism theory reveals that the authoritarian leadership did their best to block and cut Internet access by the mass. Unfortunately, despite their efforts,

Meiji Era (1868-1912) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3750 words

Meiji Era (1868-1912) - Essay Example The government industrialized the nation with the assistance of investing in enterprises owned by the state, development of the infrastructure for industries and obtained technology, machinery form developed nations such as European countries and privatization of industries. Japan's isolation from other parts of the world did not begin industrialization as early as the other western European countries. The Japanese government by that time tried to resist western influence in trade, and until 1853, they closed their trading boarders and ports for any trading activity with foreigners. They engaged in no foreign contact unless it was decidedly necessary and the laws forbade any Japanese civilian to travel. Japanese government also ensured that there was only one seaport open to trade with any western nation. The port of Nagasaki was the connection point for any trading activity with the western countries especially the Dutch and Chinese ships.2 In 1853, the president of America at that time sent the American commando, Mathew Perry, with a fleet of steam-powered ships (the back ships) to force a trade treaty with Japan and open the Japanese ports and boarders to trade with other parts of the world. Captain Perry gave the Japanese government one year of decision-making, and when he returned in 1954, the Japanese signed the treaty under the influence of force and opened their gates to the world trading. This was an indication of how the Japanese were weak in both economy and military.3 Creation of industrial infrastructure The Japanese realized that they needed a strong modern military to avoid intimidation by any foreign nation. However, the old rule of Tokugawa did not share the view modernizing their weapons and military. In 1968, the old Tokugawa government collapsed, and marked the beginning of the Meiji era when the Japanese begun serious consideration of modernization. However, the military modernization and arsenal buildup could not come alone; it included th e industrialization and industrial buildup of Japan and its principal cities2. Even though, there were several oppositions against industrialization, the Meija government proceeded with the modernization process. The government begun with sponsoring the telegraph system that connected the greatest cities in Japan, then they built roads and, shipyards rail network. The Meiji government also facilitated the building of mines, textile industries, munitions factories, experimental factories and agricultural stations. The leaders reloaded their efforts of military modernization including compulsory military service for all men, establishment of small standing army and a large reserve army system to boost their national security. They also engaged in foreign military education and consultation from studying foreign military, using foreign military advisors and sending cadets abroad Europe and America to study military education4. The Meiji government’s chief aim was to restore Japa nese isolation, but still maintain their contact with the west.