Virtual Capitalism, Birth of Uppressedness and Janus of Emancipation: A critical study of Construction of the Iranian Kurds' Uppressedness on Facebook

Abstract

In this study, we have critically looked into the Iranian Kurds' constructed uppressedness on Facebook. Our theoretical idea is that the logic of virtual capitalism prevailing on Kurdish Facebook- Like in other spaces- is dominant and different ideologies, including nationalism, confiscate various Kurdish-related statuses in their own interests. The research method is virtual critical ethnography and Kurdish Facebook is selected as the study field. Sampling method is Mixed Purposive Sampling (Various sampling techniques such as Network sampling, snowball sampling, and theoretical sampling). Data were obtained from 39 unstructured interviews, field notes and from 8 months of participatory observation, 13 months of non-participatory observation, 6,000 Facebook images and 112 videos posted on Facebook. To analyze the data, we used the Constructivist Grounded Theory method. Findings show that Kurdish uppressedness on Facebook is confiscated by ideology. That is, the ideology of nationalism constructs a form of premordial ethnic euphoria stolen by the Black Other, and finally offers the possibility of reclaiming it. From the nationalistic point of view, emancipation is possible only by following the Facebook subject of ideological ideas of nationalism. Meanwhile, the ideology of nationalism not only does not end the uppressedness, but already reproduces of a new form of uppressedness. Overall, we see birth of uppressedness and Janus of Emancipation in Kurdish Facebook.

Keywords

• kurdish facebook
• virtual capitalism
• virtual critical ethnography
• uppressedness
• emancipatory