Identity and Globalisation: Tribal Identity in the Age of Social Media

Abstract

The age of globalisation and digital technology gives people the means to stay connected more than ever. As elsewhere, social media is rapidly spreading in the Gulf region where it constitutes a virtual public forum for people to express opinions on current issues. Social media has been used for political purposes by both governments and individuals since the Arab Spring. The use of social media to disseminate political information and mobilise groups extended to the 2017 Gulf Crisis. This paper will focus on the use and effects of social media on tribes during the crisis and how technology has provided a virtual space for mobilising tribal kinship networks.