Electronic Iran: The role of Twitter in the development of the 2009 Iranian Green Movement

Protests flared up in Iran in November 2019. The sheer amount of people reminded me of the protests a decade earlier surrounding the 2009 presidential elections. Back then, the so-called Twitter Revolution was instigated when, according to many, the elections were conducted in a fraudulent manner. The emphasis had been placed on the role of Twitter in the international media caught my attention. After conducting a literature review I came up with the research question: To what extent has Twitter played a role in the mobilisation processes of the 2009 Iranian Green Movement? Both primary source Twitter data and multidisciplinary secondary sources have been consulted to try answer this question. This research has delved into the obscure world of mass mobilisation within a highly regulated public sphere. It has spent equal time analysing both sides of the debate surrounding the influence of Twitter on the Green Movement. When looking at the events surrounding the tragic death of Neda...Show moreProtests flared up in Iran in November 2019. The sheer amount of people reminded me of the protests a decade earlier surrounding the 2009 presidential elections. Back then, the so-called Twitter Revolution was instigated when, according to many, the elections were conducted in a fraudulent manner. The emphasis had been placed on the role of Twitter in the international media caught my attention. After conducting a literature review I came up with the research question: To what extent has Twitter played a role in the mobilisation processes of the 2009 Iranian Green Movement? Both primary source Twitter data and multidisciplinary secondary sources have been consulted to try answer this question. This research has delved into the obscure world of mass mobilisation within a highly regulated public sphere. It has spent equal time analysing both sides of the debate surrounding the influence of Twitter on the Green Movement. When looking at the events surrounding the tragic death of Neda Agha-Soltan, one must conclude that Twitter has most certainly played a role in the mass-dispersion of information during the Green Movement. However, one also cannot ignore the successful suppression of the Green Movement. In short, not the outside researchers but the people of Iran themselves have the ability and knowledge to explain their efforts behind their fight against oppression.Show less

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Electronic Iran: The role of Twitter in the development of the 2009 Iranian Green Movement