Cyberspace: The Field and Possibility of Emergence in Exile

Hasht-e Subh published an analysis highlighting the critical role of social media in promoting awareness, cross-border discourse, and challenging oppressive regimes, particularly for the Afghan exile community against the Taliban regime. The piece argues that dismissing cyberspace as mere entertainment undermines this 'field of emergence,' ultimately benefiting the ruling oppressive system.

It criticizes some public figures from the former government and those based in the West, who either intentionally or unintentionally view social media solely as a space for leisure rather than political discussion. The analysis draws a parallel to the 2023 film 'The Zone of Interest' by Jonathan Glazer, which depicts a Nazi commandant's family living idyllically next to Auschwitz, normalizing evil through denial and routine life. This analogy illustrates how silence or apathy amid widespread oppression in Afghanistan enables the Taliban regime's suppression, including of women.

The piece questions whether downplaying exiled media and digital discourse equates to complicity in normalizing disaster. It quotes philosopher and researcher Syed Hussein Eshragh from his article 'Fragmented Public Sphere in Exile: Echoes in Silence' in Rah-e Mellat newspaper: 'Exile media cannot be understood as withdrawal from the public sphere of action. On the contrary, the digital substrate enables the formation of an alternative public sphere where geographical and political borders are suspended. The sustainability of these media against news blackout and imposed silence depends on three foundational elements: 1. Preserving moral authority; 2. Strengthening citizen-journalist networks; 3. Transitioning from mere news dissemination to meaning production, power surveillance, and rebuilding horizons of cross-border dialogue.'

The analysis references the Arab Spring, where digital spaces toppled Hosni Mubarak's regime, and Iran's current struggles with internet shutdowns, underscoring cyberspace's power against totalitarian systems.