We Want Five!

The thesis presented in this book explores the relationship between internet communication and democratization, through the notion of the public sphere. It presents a case study of the 2006 Kuwaiti reform movement “The Orange Movement”, and its use of the internet. On this basis, the author argues that during 2006, the internet constituted a public sphere for Kuwaitis, in which to convey unfiltered news, discuss, agitate, mobilize, and more. The protagonists could engage each other in ways impossible offline, and their efforts affected the Kuwaiti reality, enhancing the participatory aspect of Kuwait’s democratic project. Moreover, it suggests that in Kuwait, public opinion can be formed and acted upon, independently of the state and the political elite. Yet, this study also takes care to highlight the limitations of the internet with regards to democratization. Though it argues that the internet may be an important tool, it is not sufficient in itself as a democratizing force. For the Orange Movement of 2006, the internet was a tool mediating their debate, and a place locating it. The rest – the content - is still up to each and everyone.