opportunities for open government in the arab...
TRANSCRIPT
www.ArabSocialMediaReport.com
–
Twitter: @FadiSalem
Rewiring Information FlowsRewiring Information Flows
Opportunities for Open Government Opportunities for Open Government in the Arab region in the Arab region
Fadi SalemDirector, Governance and Innovation, Dubai School of Government
UNPAN, Cape Town, 10‐12 October 2012
The past of Information’s role in Transparency and Accountability in Government: ‘Al-Khazna’ or ‘Bait el-Mal’, 780 AD
““Open GovernmentOpen Government””
in the Arab World: in the Arab World: No New ConceptNo New Concept
www.ArabSocialMediaReport.com
–
Twitter: @FadiSalem
The InterThe Inter‐‐connected Arab World Todayconnected Arab World Today
A DEMOGRAPHIC
revolution:
–
Young population (“youth bulge”)
–
Massive unemployment (“100 million jobs”)
A SOCIAL
revolution:
–
New social norms
–
Expectations: Good enough is not enough anymore
–
Maturity: Economic and democratic freedoms
A TECHNOLOGICAL
revolution:
‐
Critical mass of Internet, mobile and social media users
‐
Increased accessibility (cost, knowhow)
www.ArabSocialMediaReport.com
–
Twitter: @FadiSalem
The Shift: 2010The Shift: 2010‐‐2012 2012
2010
2011
Social connections
Entertainment
SOCIAL
Forum for debate
Block Internet/SM
Engage with citizens
Disseminate info
Organize protests
Citizen journalism
POLITICAL/Activism
Sharing media
2012
Development
Social Entrepreneurship
Institutionalized
Civil Society
Economic Opportunities
Government Adoption
www.ArabSocialMediaReport.com
–
Twitter: @FadiSalem
The Arab Social Media Report SeriesThe Arab Social Media Report Series
•
Facebook usage 2010‐2012–
Global and Regional Rankings–
Gender, Demographic Breakdown–
Language Breakdown
•
Twitter usage & trends 2011/2012–
Twitter population–
Tweets volume–
Trends
•
Regional Surveys–
Youth Activism–
Women Empowerment–
Social Media Impact on society–
Entrepreneurship / employment
www.ArabSocialMediaReport.com
–
Twitter: @FadiSalem
Arabic the fastest growing language on Social Media
Tweets by Language ‐
GCC
(during March , 2012)
www.ArabSocialMediaReport.com
–
Twitter: @FadiSalem
Social Media Growth in the Arab World: Social Media Growth in the Arab World: Facebook Regional Snapshot Facebook Regional Snapshot
Oct 2010
Users:
18.7 m
Penetration: 5%
Oct 2012
48 m
12.6%
34.5 m
10%
Oct 2011
Impact of Arab uprisings on Facebook Growth
Grew 30%
in Q1 of 2011
Compared to 15‐18%
in Q1 2010 & Q1 2012
www.ArabSocialMediaReport.com
–
Twitter: @FadiSalem
Penetration in the Arab World Penetration in the Arab World ‐‐ Sep. 2012Sep. 2012
•
2 GCC countries (UAE, Qatar), plus Jordan, Lebanon, and Tunisia
dominate the top five Arab FB users as percentage of population.
‐
70%
youth under 30.
‐
34% women only.
www.ArabSocialMediaReport.com
–
Twitter: @FadiSalem
Societal Transformations Societal Transformations in the Arab Worldin the Arab World
Open Government PotentialOpen Government Potential
www.ArabSocialMediaReport.com
–
Twitter: @FadiSalem
Stronger Social Connections?Stronger Social Connections?
Virtual Civil Society: Virtual Civil Society: Impact on Culture & IdentityImpact on Culture & Identity
www.ArabSocialMediaReport.com
–
Twitter: @FadiSalem
Understanding Society Better?Understanding Society Better?
www.ArabSocialMediaReport.com
–
Twitter:
@ArabSocialMedia
Contribution to Society?Contribution to Society?
www.ArabSocialMediaReport.com
–
Twitter: @FadiSalem
•
Made Trust transmittable
through communities
New Social Trust DynamicsNew Social Trust Dynamics
•
Lowered the “cost”
/ “risk”
of
trusting
Closed Facebook Groups
www.ArabSocialMediaReport.com
–
Twitter: @FadiSalem
Enhancing Flow of Information from Enhancing Flow of Information from Citizens to Government?Citizens to Government?
Do you feel you can freely express your political views
using social media? – Q3 2011
www.ArabSocialMediaReport.com
–
Twitter: @FadiSalem
Egypt: Internet Traffic Egypt: Internet Traffic (Jan 28 to Feb 2, 2011)(Jan 28 to Feb 2, 2011)
– Google as a sample
Source: Google.comwww.ArabSocialMediaReport.com
–
Twitter: @FadiSalem
Primary Impact of Blocking the Internet Primary Impact of Blocking the Internet during Civil Movements during Civil Movements ––
Q1 2011Q1 2011
www.ArabSocialMediaReport.com
–
Twitter: @FadiSalem
A Tool for Arab Women Empowerment? A Tool for Arab Women Empowerment? Social Media: a Gender Equalizer?Social Media: a Gender Equalizer?
Environmental vs. Personal factors
www.ArabSocialMediaReport.com
–
Twitter: @FadiSalem
Examples of Arab WomenExamples of Arab Women’’s Use ofs Use of Social Media in Civic ActionSocial Media in Civic Action
Harass Map •
Launched in late 2010, re‐
launched in Oct. 2011
•
Objective: To help tackle
sexual harassment of
women in Egypt through an
SMS reporting system.
Women 2 Drive•
Launched in May 2011
•
Objective: To call for
women’s right to drive in
Saudi Arabia.
www.ArabSocialMediaReport.com
–
Twitter:
@ArabSocialMedia
Social Media use by Politicians & Social Media use by Politicians & Political Campaigns Political Campaigns ‐‐
Q1 2011Q1 2011
No Impact: Use of social media will not impact my vote
Negative: Less likely to vote for candidates who use social media
Positive: More likely to vote for candidate who uses social media to connect with citizens
www.ArabSocialMediaReport.com
–
Twitter: @FadiSalem
Impact on Employment, Entrepreneurship & Impact on Employment, Entrepreneurship & Social EntrepreneurshipSocial Entrepreneurship
www.ArabSocialMediaReport.com
–
Twitter: @FadiSalem
Tackling Youth Unemployment
Where Does Social Media Fit In?
• Youth in the region have been empowered by social media to bring about change in their countries..
• Fundamental shift in types of social media usage in the past 2 years:
Can this same phenomenon also play a similar role in the economic empowerment of Arab youth?
www.ArabSocialMediaReport.com
–
Twitter: @FadiSalem
Perceptions of Public Sector Employment
I no longer strive to work in a public sector job, but before I used to.
www.ArabSocialMediaReport.com
–
Twitter: @FadiSalem
PostPost‐‐modern Foreign Policy Making?modern Foreign Policy Making?
www.ArabSocialMediaReport.com
–
Twitter: @FadiSalem
ROI for ROI for ‘‘Open GovernmentOpen Government’’??
•
Direct Material Benefits (financial) : –
Reducing costs
of government transactions. –
Enhancing investment environments
and attracting private sector
participation.
–
Nurturing “knowledge economy” and economic growth.•
Direct Immaterial Benefits: –
Development of multichannel synergies within government.–
Increasing citizens’
satisfaction with government.–
Increasing levels of trust, accountability and transparency (political trust).•
Indirect Benefits: –
Altering existing shapes of relationships between society and government
(social trust).
–
Increasing social acceptance of technology among citizens (technological
trust), and creating an ‘innovation culture’.
–
Basis for the “Information society”:–
Indirect development : Infrastructure, legislation, education, change the
culture in doing business in government
Impact of Social Media on the flow of information:
1.
Removed hierarchical channels of filtering
2.
Increased free flow of information, ideas and knowledge between
individuals and groups.
What is rewired information flows is doing?
1.
Unleash new forms of innovation in society.
2.
Reduce the transaction cost of exchanging information.
3.
Increased ‘social trust’
among large groups in society.
4.
Shifted culture from “individualist”
to “collectivist”
(teamwork, group
action, social entrepreneurship, etc.).
5.
Convergence between social and traditional media
6.
Increase cross‐gender information flow
7.
Created ‘virtual’
civil societies’
that didn’t exist in real life in many
countries.
8.
Changes in culture and identity
Ready for Open GovernmentReady for Open Government……New New ““cultureculture””
& mode of & mode of ““Information FlowsInformation Flows””
in Societyin Society
www.ArabSocialMediaReport.com
–
Twitter: @FadiSalem
Twitter: @[email protected]
www.ArabSocialMediaReport.com
www.ArabSocialMediaReport.com
–
Twitter: @ArabSocialMedia