TECH AND POLITICS: ARAB DISCURSIVE RESPONSES TO ISRAEL AS THE 'START-UP NATION'

Abstract

Facilitated by continued technological developments, tech-entrepreneurship (‘entrepreneurship’) has become an increasingly global phenomenon, where new technological start-ups are created, or existing businesses reformed with new technologies. It is deemed important in this age of digitalisation, helping to unleash new waves of innovation to sustain productivity and economic growth. Notably, this globalisation of entrepreneurship corresponds with an uptick in entrepreneurship-related tech discourses. It is noted that discourses do not just reflect but can also constitute and shape our broader social realities, which especially applies to seemingly technical and apolitical topics such as entrepreneurship. Therefore, this thesis aims to address this research question: How might global tech discourses, relating to entrepreneurship and innovation, interact with the broader society and politics? Through the case study of Israel and Palestine, it is found that there is a close, intertwined relationship between global tech discourses, and broader society and politics. A two-way relationship, tech discourses are shaped by and hence reflect the broader context, but in turn can also influence and introduce new developments in the context. Specifically, this argument is derived from a critical analysis of Palestinian tech discourses embedded within the broader context of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict, such as how Palestinian discourses might interface with the popular Israeli ‘Start-Up Nation’ discourse. Therefore, tech discourses are found to not just be an apolitical and factual phenomenon. Instead, given their close interactions with the broader socio-political contexts, they have the power to become value-laden vehicles that reflect, drive and shape our realities as we know it. Tech discourses are hence an increasingly important area of study in our rapidly changing world.