Forecasting the Future

As political unrest spreads through the Arab World, new media and social networking have played, as never before, an important role in large-scale change in the region. To understand the complexities that tie new media to the social change we've seen, we need new data and analytical tools.

This panel introduced data and insights mined from social media platforms across the region, explaining their relationship to political movements, traditional media, and events on the ground. Dubai-based News Group International presented their Arab Media Influence Report (AMIR), and a panel of Middle East experts assessed what their findings mean for the future of politics in the region.

• Sheldon Himelfarb, Moderator 
  Center of Innovation for Science, Technology, & Peacebuilding / Media, Conflict, & Peacebuilding
  United States Institute of Peace
• Camille Elhassani 
  Al-Jazeera
• Adel Iskandar
  Center for Contemporary Arab Studies
  Georgetown University
• Mazen Nahawi
  News Group International
• Paul Swider
  Office of eDiplomacy, U.S. Dept. of State
• Fadl Al Tarzi
  News Group International

Explore Further

• Download the Arab Media Influence Report 2011
• Watch a video archive of the event
• Center of Innovation
  • Science, Technology, & Peacebuilding
  • Media, Conflict, & Peacebuilding
• USIP Initiative: Blogs and Bullets
• The Impact of Social Media in Egypt
  On the Issues by Sheldon Himefarb | February 2011