Assessing the Role of Social Media as a Space for Political Participation: A Case Study of Tajikistan

Abstract

This thesis examines the role of social media as a platform for political participation in Tajikistan, looking at its impact on public engagement and political discourse in an authoritarian setting. As expected, political participation in Tajikistan is highly restricted, which makes social media a crucial tool for political expression and mobilization. This study investigates how various groups—such as ordinary citizens, journalists, activists, and opposition groups—use social media to navigate the challenges created by government restrictions. Thanks to social media, I was able to study communities, analyze posts, collect data, and connect with experts who would have otherwise been difficult to reach. The study focuses on online communities such as Telegram, Instagram, and Facebook, analyzing posts from November 2021 to November 2024. These platforms were chosen because they help foster political participation, amplify marginalized voices, and offer a counter-narrative to the state-controlled media. Two key theories support this research: the Spiral of Silence theory by Elisabeth Noelle-Neumann and the Public Sphere theory by Jürgen Habermas. These theories are crucial not only for this study but also for understanding how social media, and not only, provides a space and opportunity for public discourse. The research uses a mixed-methods approach, including qualitative content analysis of online political discourse and expert interviews with individuals who are well familiar with Tajikistan’s socio-political context. While social media promotes increased political engagement, it also faces major challenges, such as rising government surveillance, censorship, and repression. Ultimately, this research offers valuable insights for policymakers, activists, civil society organizations, and finally for us, students-future researchers, looking forward to use and/or look for social media as a tool for political empowerment and to promote democratic values in an increasingly repressive environment.