Who Controls Our Cyberspace? — Power Dynamics in the SWANA Digital Sphere

Background

The Arab Reform Initiative (ARI) is hosting a Mozilla Tech & Society Fellow (2024-2026) to embark on a cutting-edge exploration of the intersection between technology and its complex interplay with the cultural, political, and social dynamics of the South West Asia and North Africa (SWANA) region. By combining policy and technical expertise, we aim to bridge knowledge and practical gaps while amplifying local narratives and raising the SWANA voice in global tech discussions. We aim to generate fresh insights and creative thinking that enhance our collective understanding of how we—as individuals and societies—shape technology, how it shapes us, and how we co-evolve in this critical moment. This initiative seeks to propose possible pathways for addressing regional and global shared challenges by fostering informed dialogue across diverse stakeholders, producing evidence-based research and knowledge, and actively engaging in global discussions on the societal impact of technology.

Objective of the call

In regional and international contexts of increasing digitisation and technological challenges, ARI and the Mozilla Fellow will publish a series of 8-10 papers that critically explore the power dynamics of the digital sphere in the SWANA region, analysing how technology is used, weaponized, governed, and resisted in the face of authoritarianism, geopolitical interference, conflict, and social inequalities. This series of papers will:

  • Critically examine power dynamics in SWANA’s digital sphere by identifying how technology is used in state control, surveillance, misinformation, platform governance, conflict, and online resistance, as outlined in the workstreams.
  • Bridge knowledge and policy gaps by providing evidence-based analyses highlighting opportunities for policy, governance, and advocacy interventions in the global digital policymaking/debates.
  • Amplify SWANA voices in global tech discussions by supporting interdisciplinary and intersectional research that centres regional perspectives and alternative digital future.

Scope of the Call

This call seeks proposals that critically examine how digital power is exercised, contested, and reshaped across the SWANA region. Submissions should explore the roles of governments, corporations, geopolitical forces, civil society, and marginalized communities in shaping digital landscapes—whether through control, resistance, innovation, or governance.

We welcome a variety of formats, including policy briefs, case studies, discussion papers, investigative reports, and white papers. Contributions may focus on a single country, take a comparative approach, or examine regional and transnational dynamics, as long as they maintain a clear and substantial focus on the SWANA region. Jointly authored submissions will also be considered for acceptance.

Submissions should draw from existing research and analysis but must present original and unpublished work. We strongly encourage interdisciplinary and intersectional approaches that draw from diverse fields and lived experiences. Proposals that engage with more than one of the below thematic areas are especially encouraged, as we recognize the interconnected nature of digital power, resistance, and policy in the region.

Inclusivity and Support

All accepted contributions will receive honoraria of 400 USD and tailored one-on-one mentorship will be provided to early-career researchers, underrepresented voices from SWANA, and contributors based in conflict zones to ensure a smooth development process for their pieces.

Selected papers will be published as part of the Tech+Society Research Series and disseminated through ARI platforms. Authors may also be invited to participate in policy discussions, expert roundtables, and advocacy initiatives to amplify their research and engage with key stakeholders.

Key Themes

  • Digital Authoritarianism, Surveillance & Narrative Control: This workstream invites papers that analyse how digital control and repression are exercised in the SWANA region through cyber laws, surveillance infrastructure, censorship, and narrative control. We welcome contributions that unpack political power dynamics in the region’s digital sphere and offer evidence-based insights into state practices and social movements resistance strategies that counter digital authoritarianism through technology solutions, policy, or advocacy.
  • Digital Colonialism, Platform Governance & Big Tech Power: This workstream invites papers that critically engage with the entanglements of Big Tech dominance, transnational digital infrastructures, and global political economy of technology in shaping power dynamics in the SWANA region. Contributions may interrogate how technology exports, platform governance, and geopolitical interests reinforce digital authoritarianism, reconfigure local governance and cultural production, and reproduce colonial hierarchies through infrastructural dependency and epistemic control. We also welcome proposals that theorize or envision alternative frameworks for digital sovereignty and decolonial approaches to data and technology governance.
  • Technology in SWANA Warfare: This workstream explores how digital technologies are weaponized in SWANA conflict zones through internet shutdowns, platform censorship, and mis/disinformation campaigns that shape battlefield narratives and obscure conflict realities. We also welcome papers examining resistance and counter-surveillance practices by activists, journalists, and affected communities. In addition, we encourage contributions that investigate the use of AI-driven technologies in military operations and surveillance.
  • Gender, Power & Online Participation: This workstream invites papers that examine how gender and power intersect in SWANA digital spaces, with a focus on how feminist and queer movements navigate online censorship, harassment, and surveillance while leveraging technology for resistance and community-building. We welcome analyses of state and societal practices, platform governance, digital self-defence strategies, and policy or accountability gaps affecting feminist and queer communities in the region.

Final Deliverable Guidelines

Papers must be:

  • Policy-relevant
  • Evidence-based
  • Rigorously researched
  • Supported by real-world applications and/or case studies

Papers should:  

  • Propose policy directions, methodological insights, alternative frameworks and/or advocacy-oriented interventions
  • Engage with existing knowledge/discussions or propose a novel perspective or approach
  • Identify critical research and knowledge gaps
  • Highlight pathways for immediate or future interventions
  • Offer a balanced, context-aware, and critically engaged perspective

Style and Accessibility

Final papers should be concrete, clear, concise, accessible, and structured. Language must minimise academic and technical jargon to ensure understanding and usability among audiences interested in policy, advocacy, and civil society.

Length

Final papers should be between 2500-7000 words (excluding references), depending on the chosen format and theme(s)

Co-authorship

Joint submissions that bring together diverse disciplinary, regional, or practitioner perspectives are strongly encouraged. All co-authors should be clearly credited in the proposal. If selected, co-authors will share equally in the mentorship and honorarium unless otherwise agreed upon in advance.

Expected Author(s) Profile

Contributors may include practitioners, policymakers, and researchers at all stages of their careers. We welcome backgrounds from multiple disciplines, including technologists, sociologists, political scientists, economists, human rights advocates, journalists, and artists. We highly encourage contributions from those working in academia, policy, civil society, and the private sector whose expertise aligns with the themes of this call.

All contributors should demonstrate expertise through their experience in relevant academic, policy, or practice contexts, ensuring their ability to contribute authoritatively to the policy debate on these issues. We strongly encourage participation from researchers, practitioners, and activists based in Sudan, Yemen, Palestine, Lebanon, and Syria.

Selection Criteria

Submissions will be evaluated based on the following criteria to ensure alignment with the objectives and thematic focus of this Call for Papers:

  • Relevance to the Call
  • Analytical Depth and Evidence-Based Approach
  • Policy and Practical Impact
  • Innovative and Interdisciplinary Perspectives
  • Clarity, Structure, and Accessibility
  • Inclusivity and Representation

Review Process

  • Abstract/proposal deadline: 20 May 2025
  • Proposal review by a panel of experts from ARI, Mozilla Fellow, and independent scholars/practitioners in the field.
  • Announcement of final decisions: 15 June 2025
  • Selected authors will receive feedback and guidance to refine their work before publication.
  • Full Paper Submission 20 August 2025

How to Apply

To submit your proposal, please complete the submission form, which will require you to upload the following:

  • CV (Max 2 pages, PDF)
  • Abstract/Proposal (Approximately 1 page, PDF, excluding references): While there is no strict length requirement, we recommend you provide a concise summary of what you intend to write about and how you plan to approach it.
  • Writing Sample (Max 2 pages, PDF): A piece of previously published or unpublished work that demonstrates your writing ability and analytical approach. The sample should be relevant to the themes of this call or showcase your capacity to engage with policy, research, or advocacy writing.

If you have further inquiries or would like to discuss any aspect of this call, in advance of submitting your proposal, please contact Nada K. Mousa, Mozilla Tech+Society Fellow at: n.kabbary@arab-reform.net