New Mass Communication Media and the Identity of Negev Bedouin Arab Youth in Israel: In Conversation with Edward Said

Abstract

Mass communication media technologies influence the structuring of reality, consolidation of value systems, and construction of common social denominators, and thus contribute to the formation of personal and national identities. While, as Edward Said has shown, mainstream Western (including Israeli) media have been dominated by Orientalist, anti-Arab/anti-Islamic perspectives, new media technologies have opened up a broad range of media options lying beyond the reach of Western media's hegemonic presentations. This article explores the use of new mass communication media technologies and their association with identity formation in connection with Bedouin Arab high schools in the Negev, Israel. The findings of this research indicate that Negev Bedouin Arab youth developed diversified patterns of mass media consumption. They also show a preference for Arab media sources. Media consumption patterns are related to their national and civic identities. The findings also indicate that Bedouin Arab youth have a stronger Palestinian national identity than Israeli civic identity.

Modern Communication Techniques as Means of Breaking the Cultural Barrier of Arab-Bedouin Youth and Jewish Youth

“…These changes were the beginning of the Arab-Bedouin society changed from a uncivilized society to a challenging civil society (Eisenstadt, 2017). For example, the Arab-Bedouins have left cattle breeding and land cultivation in favor of work in free and modern areas (Gribiea et al, 2017). The most significant changes are the introduction of technological innovations that have led to exposure to information through modern media.…”

“…The researchers interpret it as the result of differences in ways of life and the exposure of youth to the Internet (Al-Shibly, et al 2019). Therefore the entry of this technological breakthrough led to the end of the era of elders and tribal leaders (Abu-Gweder, 2016;Gribiea et al, 2017). On the other hand, young people believe that the Internet has facilitated their communication and education in modern Arab society.…”

“…E-dialogue also helps the younger generations escape from the hardness of the uncivilized Arab-Bedouin society. It is the crystallization of new relations with the sons of Jewish youth who live in the same state (Israel) but belongs to modern western society (Abu-Gweder, 2015;Gribiea et al, 2017;Almajali et al, 2021a). The cultural context plays an important role of the adoption of technological innovations.…”