Marzouqah Q. Alazmi2, Kayaty Ashour1*
2Department of Sociology, Faculty of Arts, Beni-Suef Univer-sity, Egypt.
1Department of Sociology & Social Work, College of Social Sciences, Kuwait University, Kuwait.
Volume: 18 | Issue: 1 | Pages: 131-145| March2026 | https://doi.org/10.54940/ss95369971 | PDF
Received: 15/02/2026 | Revised: 22/02/2026 | Accepted: 26/02/2026
*Corresponding Author: kayatyashour@art.bsu.edu.eg
Abstract
This study deconstructs the assumptions of modernization theories by examining the paradox of ""entangled modernity"" in Kuwait, where digitization has reproduced tribal loyalties in hybrid forms rather than eroding them. Drawing on the ""Networked Tribalism"" framework and a mixed digital ethnography approach (analyzing 500 tweets and 25 interviews) during the 2024 elections, the research reveals profound structural shifts, most notably: the migration of authority from the hierarchical centrality of the Diwaniya to digital ""gatekeepers""; the transformation of financial solidarity into performative rituals; the emergence of ""digital citizenship"" for mar-ginalized groups; and the commodification of votes driven by women and youth. The study concludes that technology functions as a conservative tool that re-engineers traditional structures, advocating for the devel-opment of flexible policies and governance that move beyond Restrictive approaches to accommodate this socio-technical reality.
Keywords
Networked Tribalism, Digital Asabiyyah, Kuwait, Digital Ethnography, The 2024 National Assembly Elections.
How to Cite
Ashour, K. Alazmi,M. (2026). Networked Tribalism: The Reproduction of Asabiyyah and Political Dynamics in the Ku-waiti Digital Sphere during the 2024 Elections: A Digital Ethnographic Study. Journal of Umm Al-Qura University for Social Sciences, 18(1), 131-145. https://doi.org/10.54940/ss95369971
License
Copyright (c) 2026. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC)