Ahmed Al-Rawi – författare

Ethnic minority groups in Canada have set up their own communication infrastructure that has evolved over time from the analog to the digital age, and continues to remain relevant across generations. Offering a reassessment of contemporary media outlets, The Handbook of Ethnic Media in Canada asks how ethnic media have changed, why they continue to be relevant, and what impact this media sector has on ethnocultural communities as well as broader society.Building on past studies that highlight particular functions of ethnic media – publishing information that is vital to settlement and civic engagement and providing an alternative to mainstream media, among others – this volume generates insights on new dynamics of the ethnic media sector that are prevalent in the digital age. Contributors re-examine theoretical and methodological approaches to ethnic media research, explore the practices of ethnic media along cultural, linguistic, and religious lines, and interrogate the policies that affect ethnic media production and consumption. At its core, the question of how Canadians engage with ethnic media is a question about what this media sector means for the sociocultural, economic, and political integration of Canadians, both majority and minority, and Canada's race relations.The Handbook of Ethnic Media in Canada provides a rich resource for anyone concerned about the role media plays in the complex relationship between ethnicity, race, belonging, and marginality.

This volume explores the cultural meaning of several supernatural creatures in Arabia, tracing the historical development of these creatures and their recent representations in the Western world. Utilizing a variety of old and new Arabic, English and French sources, the text explores creatures including the Ghoul and its derivations, the Rukh bird, and the dragon. Unlike other texts, which primarily focus on Genies or Jinns, this volume explores other supernatural and mythical creatures that have been popular in the Middle East and Arabia for centuries but are less known to Western audiences. Dr. Al-Rawi argues that many of these creatures have pre-Islamic roots, and that they served an important function in connecting the past with the present, offering a popular vehicle to articulate and imagine the supernatural dimension of existence which helps in consolidating religious views.

This volume explores the cultural meaning of several supernatural creatures in Arabia, tracing the historical development of these creatures and their recent representations in the Western world. Utilizing a variety of old and new Arabic, English and French sources, the text explores creatures including the Ghoul and its derivations, the Rukh bird, and the dragon. Unlike other texts, which primarily focus on Genies or Jinns, this volume explores other supernatural and mythical creatures that have been popular in the Middle East and Arabia for centuries but are less known to Western audiences. Dr. Al-Rawi argues that many of these creatures have pre-Islamic roots, and that they served an important function in connecting the past with the present, offering a popular vehicle to articulate and imagine the supernatural dimension of existence which helps in consolidating religious views.

This book examines ISIS’ media propaganda machine.The book focuses on case studies that have been largely understudied in relation to ISIS’ media production. Empirically, it offers new insights into how ISIS uses its media production to disseminate its extremist ideology by focusing on video games, educational apps, Dark Web sites, and offline billboards. The book argues that despite all the discussion about how ISIS has disappeared or even died, the terrorist group’s daily activities on the Dark Web show that they are still thriving and disseminating their propaganda in more than 20 different languages, and effectively functioning as an international news organization. Using a mixed-method research approach, the book offers a multilayered understanding of media content and fills a major gap in the literature, especially in relation to the use of educational apps and the Dark Web.This book will be of much interest to students of media and communication studies, terrorism and counterterrorism, Middle Eastern politics, and international relations.

This book examines ISIS’ media propaganda machine.The book focuses on case studies that have been largely understudied in relation to ISIS’ media production. Empirically, it offers new insights into how ISIS uses its media production to disseminate its extremist ideology by focusing on video games, educational apps, Dark Web sites, and offline billboards. The book argues that despite all the discussion about how ISIS has disappeared or even died, the terrorist group’s daily activities on the Dark Web show that they are still thriving and disseminating their propaganda in more than 20 different languages, and effectively functioning as an international news organization. Using a mixed-method research approach, the book offers a multilayered understanding of media content and fills a major gap in the literature, especially in relation to the use of educational apps and the Dark Web.This book will be of much interest to students of media and communication studies, terrorism and counterterrorism, Middle Eastern politics, and international relations.

This book provides an empirical analysis, mapping, and assessment of Canadian right‑wing extremist (RWE) groups and their conspiracy theories.While the majority of studies on RWE groups focus on American and European actors, this book critically examines conspiracies disseminated by Canadian actors on different online sites and social media platforms. The authors deploy a mapping metaphor to chart the conspiratorial ideas that RWE groups create and share online. The book also examines the infrastructural terrain that supports mainstream and alternative platforms and the dark monetization structures that act as important conduits for this negative messaging. Theoretically, the study is situated within the concepts of dark social movements where dark participation on dark platforms often occurs. A conceptualization of conspiracy theories is developed by exploring four specific aspects: (1) topics, (2) targets, (3) concerns, and (4) actors. This concept is operationalized by applying it to BitChute and Telegram. The book also offers a historical understanding of different RWE groups and their ideological positions. In addition, it provides an empirical investigation of Google’s autocomplete feature, Amazon books, the Dark Web, and several other alternative social media sites.It will be of interest to researchers of Canadian politics, conspiracy theories, and the far‑right.

This book provides an empirical analysis, mapping, and assessment of Canadian right‑wing extremist (RWE) groups and their conspiracy theories.While the majority of studies on RWE groups focus on American and European actors, this book critically examines conspiracies disseminated by Canadian actors on different online sites and social media platforms. The authors deploy a mapping metaphor to chart the conspiratorial ideas that RWE groups create and share online. The book also examines the infrastructural terrain that supports mainstream and alternative platforms and the dark monetization structures that act as important conduits for this negative messaging. Theoretically, the study is situated within the concepts of dark social movements where dark participation on dark platforms often occurs. A conceptualization of conspiracy theories is developed by exploring four specific aspects: (1) topics, (2) targets, (3) concerns, and (4) actors. This concept is operationalized by applying it to BitChute and Telegram. The book also offers a historical understanding of different RWE groups and their ideological positions. In addition, it provides an empirical investigation of Google’s autocomplete feature, Amazon books, the Dark Web, and several other alternative social media sites.It will be of interest to researchers of Canadian politics, conspiracy theories, and the far‑right.

Based on studying political systems and the news industry, this book examines the tension between the hierarchical configurations of racial discrimination and the ideals of equality found in Western democracy to explore how and why the reality of racism persists in modern-day democratic societies. Taking Canada as a case study of a multicultural society, it uses a mixed methods approach to present insights from racialized politicians and journalists that explore how they navigate the issues of democracy and racism. Drawing on empirical critical race theory, it addresses crucial knowledge gaps about the political realities of people of color in a democratic nation, and how they perceive these experiences to impact the functioning and progress of democracy. It will therefore appeal to scholars and researchers with interests in race and racism, multiculturalism, democracy, and critical race theory.

Since 2003 and following the U.S.-led invasion, Iraq witnessed tremendous changes to its political, social, and economic structures, and this book critically maps recent popular protests that engulfed the country and led to the death of thousands of civilian protesters. It delves into the nuances of the Iraqi socio-political context and offers a brief historical overview of political activism by investigating the internal structure of activism in the country as well as the regional and international dimensions. The study involves critical ethnographic research including interviews with Iraqi activists, social media analysis, Arabic and English news analysis, as well as in-depth assessment and contextualization of the Iraqi protests. The author argues that there is a need to call the protests an “Iraqi Spring” because of the country's unique historical, demographic, and political circumstances.

Weaponized Communication provides the first systematic empirical study of how liberal mainstream news media are targeted through coordinated social media advertising campaigns. Drawing on original materials, Ahmed Al-Rawi examines the weaponization of misinformation discourses, such as “fake news,” disinformation, and fact checking, across Facebook and Google ads. The analysis demonstrates how these campaigns undermine trust in journalism and democratic institutions.Employing a mixed method approach, Al-Rawi combines qualitative and interpretive analysis with a range of digital methods to offer a holistic understanding of this evolving phenomenon. By mapping advertisers’ strategies, audience targeting, and spending patterns, the book reveals the systematic nature of these campaigns and their implications for political communication.This book will be of interest to students and scholars in journalism, media and communication studies, political science, and related fields. It will also serve as a valuable resource for libraries and academic institutions seeking timely research on disinformation and the challenges facing democratic discourse.

Offers fresh insights and empirical evidence on the producers, consumers, and content of News 2.0   The second generation of news—News 2.0—made, distributed, and consumed on the internet, particularly social media, has forever changed the news business. News 2.0: Journalists, Audiences and News on Social Media examines the ways in which news production is sometimes biased and how social networking sites (SNS) have become highly personalized news platforms that reflect users’ preferences and worldviews. Drawing from empirical evidence, this book provides a critical and analytical assessment of recent developments, major debates, and contemporary research on news, social media, and news organizations worldwide.Author Ahmed Al-Rawi highlights how, despite the proliferation of news on social media, consumers are often confined within filter “bubbles.” Emphasizing non-Western media outlets, the text explores the content, audiences, and producers of News 2.0, and addresses direct impacts on democracy, politics, and institutions. Topics include viral news on SNS, celebrity journalists and branding, “fake news” discourse, and the emergence of mobile news apps as ethnic mediascapes. Integrating computational journalism methods and cross-national comparative research, this unique volume: Examines different aspects of news bias such as news content and production, emphasizing news values theoryAssesses how international media organizations including CNN, BBC, and RT address non-Western news audiencesDiscusses concepts such as audience fragmentation on social media, viral news, networked flak, clickbait, and internet botsEmploys novel techniques in text mining such as topic modeling to provide a holistic overview of news selectionNews 2.0: Journalists, Audiences and News on Social Media is an innovative and illuminating resource for undergraduate and graduate students of media, communication, and journalism studies as well as media and communication scholars, media practitioners, journalists, and general readers with interest in the subject.

In the concluding chapter, social network and sentiment analyses are presented in order to investigate all the collected comments and videos, while a critical discussion of freedom of expression and hate speech is offered, with special regards to the growing online influence of far right groups and their role in on-going YouTube debates.

Critically evaluates the rapid changes that have happened in women's lives in the contemporary Middle East due to globalization and the increasing popularity of modern technology and social media use.Following the Arab Spring events in 2011, a number of important women's social movements, as well as female figures and online communities, emerged to create positive change and demand equality with men. In Women's Activism and New Media in the Arab World, Ahmed Al-Rawi discusses and maps out new feminist movements, organizations, and trends, assessing the influence of new media technologies on them and the impact of both on the values and culture of the Middle East. Due to the participation of many women in the events of the Arab Spring, he argues, a new image of Middle Eastern women has emerged in the West. As a result of social media, women have generally become more effective in expressing their views and better connected with each other, yet at the same time some women have been inhibited since many conservative circles use these new technologies to maintain their power. Overall, however, Al-Rawi argues that social media and new mobile technologies are assisting in creating changes that are predominately positive. Often assisted by these new technologies, the real change makers are women who have clear agencies and high hopes and aspirations to create a better future for themselves.

Critically evaluates the rapid changes that have happened in women's lives in the contemporary Middle East due to globalization and the increasing popularity of modern technology and social media use.Following the Arab Spring events in 2011, a number of important women's social movements, as well as female figures and online communities, emerged to create positive change and demand equality with men. In Women's Activism and New Media in the Arab World, Ahmed Al-Rawi discusses and maps out new feminist movements, organizations, and trends, assessing the influence of new media technologies on them and the impact of both on the values and culture of the Middle East. Due to the participation of many women in the events of the Arab Spring, he argues, a new image of Middle Eastern women has emerged in the West. As a result of social media, women have generally become more effective in expressing their views and better connected with each other, yet at the same time some women have been inhibited since many conservative circles use these new technologies to maintain their power. Overall, however, Al-Rawi argues that social media and new mobile technologies are assisting in creating changes that are predominately positive. Often assisted by these new technologies, the real change makers are women who have clear agencies and high hopes and aspirations to create a better future for themselves.

Spirits, ghosts and ghouls dance their macabre fortunes in the pages of this thrilling new book. From cemeteries and abandoned mansions, battered tenement buildings and ice-cold chambers to the desert wastelands of Arabia, this new collection gathers stories from open submissions and surrounds them with the ghastly emanations of H.P. Lovecraft, M.R. James, Mary Elizabeth Braddon, Amelia Edwards and the frightful tales of Le Fanu, Charlotte Riddell and Elizabeth Gaskell.New, contemporary and notable writers featured are: Stewart C. Baker, Rebecca Brothers, Ramsey Campbell, Georgia Cook, Gina Easton, Bruce Golden, Caye Gowyn, John Linwood Grant, Rayne Hall, Vanessa C. Hawkins, Jennifer Hudak, Brianna Ishii-McFaull, Dylan Kingsley, Amanda Cecelia Lang, Fiona Lehn, Samuel Marzioli, S.R. Masters, Bret Nelson, Lena Ng, Sam W. Pisciotta, Josephine Queen, Erica Ruppert, C.R. Serajeddini, Evelyn Teng, and Wen Wen Yang.The gorgeous, deluxe edition Flame Tree Gothic Fantasy, Classic Stories and Epic Tales collections bring together the entire range of myth, folklore and modern short fiction. Highlighting the roots of suspense, supernatural, science fiction and mystery stories, the books in Flame Tree Collections series are beautifully presented, perfect as a gift and offer a lifetime of reading pleasure.

Framing the Opioid Crisis in Canada empirically examines public debates about the opioid crisis by politicians, journalists, and the general public, focusing on who they blame for the crisis and their proposed solutions.Delving into the complex public discourse surrounding one of the most pressing health crises in Canada, the research investigates how politicians, journalists, and the general public attribute responsibility for the opioid crisis and the solutions they propose. By employing a mixed method approach including the use of various digital tools, this book addresses critical gaps in understanding the opioid crisis. Who do these actors blame for the opioid crisis, and what are the differences and similarities in their perspectives? How have their sources and narratives evolved over time? What solutions do they propose, and how have these solutions changed?Revealing a polarized discussion and crisis communication that often overlooks the urgent needs of drug users, this is essential reading not only for Canada but also for international audiences facing similar challenges. The multidisciplinary approach provides valuable insights for different academics, health professionals, and policymakers for a better understanding of public health crises worldwide.

Cyberwars in the Middle East argues that hacking is a form of online political disruption whose influence flows vertically in two directions (top-bottom or bottom-up) or horizontally. These hacking activities are performed along three political dimensions: international, regional, and local. Author Ahmed Al-Rawi argues that political hacking is an aggressive and militant form of public communication employed by tech-savvy individuals, regardless of their affiliations, in order to influence politics and policies. Kenneth Waltz's structural realism theory is linked to this argument as it provides a relevant framework to explain why nation-states employ cyber tools against each other. On the one hand, nation-states as well as their affiliated hacking groups like cyber warriors employ hacking as offensive and defensive tools in connection to the cyber activity or inactivity of other nation-states, such as the role of Russian Trolls disseminating disinformation on social media during the US 2016 presidential election. This is regarded as a horizontal flow of political disruption. Sometimes, nation-states, like the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Bahrain, use hacking and surveillance tactics as a vertical flow (top-bottom) form of online political disruption by targeting their own citizens due to their oppositional or activists' political views. On the other hand, regular hackers who are often politically independent practice a form of bottom-top political disruption to address issues related to the internal politics of their respective nation-states such as the case of a number of Iraqi, Saudi, and Algerian hackers. In some cases, other hackers target ordinary citizens to express opposition to their political or ideological views which is regarded as a horizontal form of online political disruption. This book is the first of its kind to shine a light on many ways that governments and hackers are perpetrating cyber attacks in the Middle East and beyond, and to show the ripple effect of these attacks.

Cyberwars in the Middle East argues that hacking is a form of online political disruption whose influence flows vertically in two directions (top-bottom or bottom-up) or horizontally. These hacking activities are performed along three political dimensions: international, regional, and local. Author Ahmed Al-Rawi argues that political hacking is an aggressive and militant form of public communication employed by tech-savvy individuals, regardless of their affiliations, in order to influence politics and policies. Kenneth Waltz's structural realism theory is linked to this argument as it provides a relevant framework to explain why nation-states employ cyber tools against each other. On the one hand, nation-states as well as their affiliated hacking groups like cyber warriors employ hacking as offensive and defensive tools in connection to the cyber activity or inactivity of other nation-states, such as the role of Russian Trolls disseminating disinformation on social media during the US 2016 presidential election. This is regarded as a horizontal flow of political disruption. Sometimes, nation-states, like the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Bahrain, use hacking and surveillance tactics as a vertical flow (top-bottom) form of online political disruption by targeting their own citizens due to their oppositional or activists' political views. On the other hand, regular hackers who are often politically independent practice a form of bottom-top political disruption to address issues related to the internal politics of their respective nation-states such as the case of a number of Iraqi, Saudi, and Algerian hackers. In some cases, other hackers target ordinary citizens to express opposition to their political or ideological views which is regarded as a horizontal form of online political disruption. This book is the first of its kind to shine a light on many ways that governments and hackers are perpetrating cyber attacks in the Middle East and beyond, and to show the ripple effect of these attacks.

The book empirically investigates various tactics, approaches, and digital communities that play a role in the propagation of online hate on social media. I use a mixed method approach involving manual and automated analysis of social media data mostly taken from Twitter, Instagram, and Telegram.

This book examines how African, Asian, Middle Eastern and Latin American diasporas use media to communicate among themselves and to integrate into European countries.

This book examines how African, Asian, Middle Eastern and Latin American diasporas use media to communicate among themselves and to integrate into European countries.

Since 2003 and following the U.S.-led invasion, Iraq witnessed tremendous changes to its political, social, and economic structures, and this book critically maps recent popular protests that engulfed the country and led to the death of thousands of civilian protesters. It delves into the nuances of the Iraqi socio-political context and offers a brief historical overview of political activism by investigating the internal structure of activism in the country as well as the regional and international dimensions. The study involves critical ethnographic research including interviews with Iraqi activists, social media analysis, Arabic and English news analysis, as well as in-depth assessment and contextualization of the Iraqi protests. The author argues that there is a need to call the protests an “Iraqi Spring” because of the country's unique historical, demographic, and political circumstances.

Offers a detailed analysis of more than sixty Omani folktales and unique insights into the lives of Omani women through the oral tales they narrate.Systematically documenting and analyzing women’s folktales in the Sultanate of Oman, this research study analyzes old and contemporary Omani popular beliefs and folktales. Ahmed Al-Rawi offers an understanding of the oral tradition in Oman and the Arab Gulf in general by investigating the available books and articles on Omani folklore. He also provides readers and researchers with an analysis of previously published Omani folktales by referring to their motifs, tale-types, and occurrences. Omani women play a greater role than men in transmitting cultural norms and folktales from one generation to another. More than sixty folktales narrated by Omani women are included, with a detailed analysis of each tale. These tales were collected from the seven different parts of Oman, especially from elderly women. Oman’s Folklore, Popular Beliefs, and Women’s Oral Storytelling offers a cultural analysis of Omani folktales and popular beliefs based on an investigation of almost all the available literature inside and outside Oman as well as on forty interviews with Omani women.