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Blogs in the Middle East have proliferated in response to staid state-run media and censorship. While blogging remains a relatively small phenomenon in terms of the sheer number of bloggers, the blogosphere has served as a force multiplier for dissidents and democracy activists chafing under autocratic rule.

But as blogs assume a more overt political tone, governments in the region have taken notice. Cyberspace has become the latest battleground for regimes seeking to preserve their hold on power and deprive their citizens of a peaceful outlet for dissent. As authorities ratchet up pressure, questions about the blogosphere’s relevance remain. Is it simply a release valve for public discontent, or can the surge in cyber-activism across the region actually induce much-needed reforms? Will bloggers ultimately succumb to self-censorship? Are blogs an accurate barometer of public opinion? Do they even enjoy a wide readership?

These and other questions will be discussed at an AEI panel discussion with Mohammed Ali, author of the blog Iraq the Model; Tony Badran, a research fellow at the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies; Hassan Mneimneh, the executive director of the Iraq Memory Foundation; and Arash Sigarchi, an Iranian freelance journalist and blogger and the former editor of the Iranian daily Gilan Emrooz. AEI resident scholar Michael Rubin will moderate.