Memory and the Arab Spring in Wikipedia

The Arab Spring began in 2011 and involved protests and movements across many Arab countries. These events resulted in the fall of some governments and widespread conflict. Over the years, different groups and cultures have built various memories around these events, showing how people remember and talk about the Arab Spring within their communities.

#Collective Memory's Role

Collective memory refers to how groups of people remember events together. It shapes the way communities view their shared past. However, studying collective memory can be tricky because it varies based on language and culture. Wikipedia has emerged as a vital tool to study collective memory since it allows us to see how information about significant events, like the Arab Spring, changes over time and across different languages.

#Wikipedia as a Resource

Wikipedia serves as a global platform where people document both historical and current events. Articles can vary in content depending on the language and the cultural context. This paper focuses on the Arabic and English versions of Wikipedia about the Arab Spring. By looking at how these articles grow and change from 2011 to 2024, we can learn more about how communities remember the Arab Spring over time.

#Methodology

To carry out this study, we looked at articles related to the Arab Spring in both Arabic and English Wikipedia. We evaluated several aspects of the articles:

• How significant the events are over time
• How discussions around these events are shaped
• How the events are positioned in relation to other topics
• How memories of the Arab Spring are spread through referencing in related articles

#Salience of the Arab Spring

Salience describes how important a topic remains over time. We measured this by examining the size of the articles and the number of links within them. We found that the English article about the Arab Spring is generally longer and has seen more changes compared to the Arabic article. While both articles are continually updated, the English article tends to reflect ongoing discussions about the Arab Spring, indicating that this topic remains relevant to many users.

In the English version, there were significant ups and downs in article size due to various edits and restructurings. For example, in 2012, edits that reorganized the article led to a large drop in size. Conversely, in 2019, a significant update added numerous details. The Arabic article, on the other hand, showed fewer changes over time, suggesting that it is less actively maintained.

#Outlinks and Engagement

We also looked at the number of outlinks, or links to other articles, as another way to see how much engagement the articles had. In the English version, single editors often made substantial updates which increased the number of outlinks. Conversely, the Arabic article showed fewer changes, with only a couple of notable increases in outlinks over the years.

The differences in outlinks indicate different ways that editors view and engage with the material. In English, there seemed to be a broader network of ideas connected to the Arab Spring, while the Arabic article had a more focused approach, maintaining essential links but not expanding significantly over time.

#Deliberation Process

Deliberation looks at how discussions shape collective memory. To investigate this, we created a visual representation of outlinks over time. This helped us see clusters of similar ideas and topics that are linked together. For example, we identified three different types of behaviors when it came to how links were added or removed: stable, debated, and forgotten.

In the English article, many links consistently stayed over time, indicating a sturdy collective memory. Other links were frequently added and then removed, showing a debated understanding. Some links from earlier years were eventually forgotten, reflecting a shift in focus or priority. The Arabic article displayed fewer such clusters, suggesting less debate over the content compared to the English one.

#Contextualization of Events

Contextualization involves comparing a topic with related subjects. Through our analysis, we found that the types of links available in each language exposed the differences in memory and understanding of the Arab Spring. Both the English and Arabic articles shared some common links, but many others were unique to each language.

The English version often included references to Western figures and concepts, while the Arabic version focused more on local issues and historical events relevant to the region. This difference highlights how each language community positions the Arab Spring within a broader context, shaping collective memory in unique ways.

#Consolidation of Memory

Consolidation looks at how the memory of the Arab Spring is referenced in other Wikipedia articles. We examined how often the Arab Spring was cited in country and event articles related to the phenomenon. In the English version, references to the Arab Spring appeared frequently across various articles, showcasing its importance in discussions about the region’s history.

In contrast, the Arabic articles did not mention the Arab Spring as often. Some country articles, like those for Libya and Egypt, only referenced the Arab Spring occasionally. This difference suggests that while the Arab Spring is a significant topic in English discussions, it is viewed differently in Arabic discussions, potentially indicating a different understanding or focus in collective memory.

#Differences in Memory Processes Across Languages

This study highlights how the processes of collective memory can differ between various language editions of Wikipedia. The English and Arabic articles about the Arab Spring displayed different patterns in terms of salience, deliberation, contextualization, and consolidation.

While the English article exhibited more dynamism and detail, the Arabic version remained more stable and focused on regional issues. This shows that even though the events occurred in close geographic proximity to Arabic speakers, the way these events are remembered and discussed varies considerably between the two languages.

#Conclusion

In summary, our research found that the English and Arabic Wikipedia articles about the Arab Spring showcase distinct collective memory practices. Despite the shared history of these events, cultural and linguistic differences shape how each community engages with and remembers them.

The methods we developed for analyzing collective memory across languages could be applied to other historical events or different contexts in the future. It is crucial to continue examining how collective memory is shaped by cultural perspectives to better understand the complex narratives surrounding significant events in history.