Exploring Resource Mobilization and Female Empowerment on Twitter: A Case of the Enlightenment Movement in Afghanistan Master Degree Proposal Defense Presentation,

1. ▪ Fardin Ayar
▪ Master Thesis Defense 24th Apr. 2019
Exploring Resource Mobilization and Female Empowerment on
Twitter: A Case of the Enlightenment Movement in Afghanistan

2. Contents
1
Importance and Reality2
Research Purpose
3
Method4
Theory
5 Research Questions

3. Research Purpose
• The purpose of this research is to study the role Twitter
plays in social movements, more specifically, the tools it
provided the younger generation in Afghanistan who
shaped the Enlightenment Movement and inspired
people to unify for social justice.

4. Afghanistan Enlightenment Movement Big Picture

5. ▪ This study is vital to the Afghanistan people because the younger generation, more
specifically young women, are using Twitter to bring global acknowledgement to local
social injustices.
▪ Previous research shows that men, historically, are used to playing important roles in
initiating social movements in the Middle East, North Africa, Iran, and India.
▪ This research, both in terms of the subject and social value, will provide new insights in
relevant fields. So, this research will contribute to scientific knowledge.
Importance and Reality

6. ▪ Resource mobilization theory (RMT) argues that social movements are formed
when their organizers raise their demands by mobilizing resources.
▪ Resource mobilization theory emphasizes that when some people in a country
feel dissatisfied with government policies or discrimination in one of the social
sectors, they use social media to mobilize people so that they can
democratically share their demands through the influence of the people.
Research Theory

7. ▪ Resource mobilization theory emphasizes the importance of resources in the
development and success of social movements. Resources used to mobilize
people include: knowledge, media, social activities, solidarity, legitimacy, and
the backing of social elites.
▪ Since my research is about the Enlightenment Movement in Afghanistan, I
argue that the resources used to mobilize in this research can be different
because in my country democracy and civic activism are not institutionalized.
Continue

8. ▪ After the presence of the United States of America in Afghanistan and the
creation of a new government, the Enlightenment Movement was the first time
in this country that women came together for justice and used Twitter to
mobilized people and share their wishes with the government.
▪ For this reason, I argue that the sources of this research could be different
according to the situation in Afghanistan.
Continue

9. ▪ This research will be conducted using a qualitative approach. In-depth interviews
will be held with 20 organizers and members of the Enlightenment Movement in
order to understand the role of Twitter messages (tweets) in the social movement in
Afghanistan.
▪ The interviewees were selected in two categories of women and men. The study will
be completed outside of Afghanistan, in Shanghai, and interviewees will be contacted
through Skype, Messenger, WhatsApp, IMO or any other social network platform in
Afghanistan.
Research Methodology

10. Interviewees Criteria
EM
Organizers
Knowledge
SNC
Awareness
Network Access
EM
Members
Professors &
Journalist

11. ▪ Based on (RMT) resource mobilization theory and the research topic, in
this study I propose seven important questions.
Research Questions
RMT Resources Mobilization Theory
Female Empowerment on Twitter
Resources that used for social movement
Young women fight for justice
Question
direction

12. ▪ Based on school time frame and academic guidance, this research will be
finished in timely manner.
Research Schedule

13. Expected Outcomes
1. Standing against injustice and discrimination.
2. Global attention trough twitter message.
3. Standing against (TUTAP) electricity project directions.
4. Young women empowerment on Twitter

14. Thanks for your Attention