Document Type : Original Article
Authors
1
PhD Student, Department of Media Management, SR.C., Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
2
Faculty member of the Islamic Republic of Iran Radio and Television University, Tehran, Iran.
3
Assistant Professor, Department of Social Communications, Ta.C., Islamic Azad University, Tabriz, Iran
10.22034/fasiw.2026.255307
Abstract
This article aims to examine the geopolitical roles and functions of media in the Middle East between 2000 and 2020. As one of the most conflict-prone and strategic regions of the world, the Middle East has always been at the center of global power struggles. In this context, media have not only reflected events but also acted as active agents shaping public opinion, policymaking, and geopolitical transformations. The research employs a qualitative approach based on thematic analysis. Data were collected through 24 semi-structured interviews with experts in media, communication, political science, and international relations, and analyzed using MAXQDA software. The findings reveal that media have played a decisive role in major regional developments, including the invasion of Iraq (2003), the Arab Spring (2010–2011), the Syrian civil war, the Iranian protests (2009), and the rise and spread of ISIS. According to the experts, media are not merely reflective but constitutive of political and social realities, and through narrative construction, they have served both states and grassroots movements. Causal factors include regional crises, technological advancements, global power competition, and socio-cultural transformations. Meanwhile, intervening variables such as digital inequality, censorship, legal restrictions, ethnicity, and distrust in mainstream media have shaped the scope and quality of this role. The study concludes that media in the Middle East have transcended their traditional role as tools of information and have become geopolitical actors. This condition calls for a rethinking of the concept of “power” in international relations and media studies.
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