Semester Award Granted

Summer 2025

Submission Date

July 2025

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Thesis/Dissertation Advisor [Chair]

Renat Shaykhutdinov

Abstract

This dissertation examines digital tribalism in Saudi Arabia as a lens through which to explore the complex interplay between state, identity politics, and social media in an era of rapid transformation. Amidst ambitious modernization efforts under Vision 2030 and ongoing economic restructuring, the Saudi state has sought to establish a national identity by leveraging tribal heritage. This study investigates how the three major tribes, Harb, Qahtan, and Otaibah, are responding to rapid modernization through an examination of their digital presence on X (formerly Twitter).

Employing a comparative case study design and content analysis of three years of digital activity, this research probes whether the tribes’ engagement with digital platforms constitutes an act of cultural preservation or a form of resurgence. The analysis reveals that tribal actors use social media not merely as archival tools but for identity strengthening and communal mobilization. Key themes emerging from the data include tribal land issues, historical legitimacy, gender roles, and the evocation of religious and cultural symbols.

The findings suggest that digital tribalism is a dynamic form of political expression, wherein tribes simultaneously adapt to and resist modernization. While public rituals, folklore, and tribal values are reinforced, the absence of certain traditions, such as spiritual practices, underscores the constraints of digital representation. Moreover, tribal discourse reflects a call back to tribalism as a form of resurgence.

By situating tribal digital discourse within the broader context of state formation and resilience, this dissertation contributes to scholarship in comparative politics, digital media studies, and political sociology. It argues that tribal digital engagement represents not a retreat into tradition, but a strategic recalibration of identity and power in a rapidly evolving socio-political landscape.

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