Framing Bahrain through public diplomacy : a qualitative analysis of frames communicated by the Bahraini Government during the 2011 crisis
This thesis explores frames communicated through Bahraini public diplomacy to foreign media and publics during three key moments of the 2011 crisis in Bahrain, and factors connected to the building of these frames. It employed qualitative frame analysis of public diplomacy texts published on Bahrain News Agency's website during the first week of protests, the arrival of the Peninsula Shield Forces to Bahrain, and the publication of Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry report. It also used interviews with communicators from the Bahraini Information Affairs Authority to explore background processes of frame-building. This study contributes to research on the role of public diplomacy in co-constructing specific versions of reality in government messages during crises. It offers an example of Arab government practice of public diplomacy and framing in the Arab Spring. The research also employs Benoit's (1995) image repair theory and Shoemaker and Reese's (1996) model to explore crisis response strategies represented by the frames, and frame-building processes. The research finds that most of the analysed frames denied a crisis, while other frames addressed it yet externalised its causes. Denying an internal
Al Omari, Rana
public relations ; public diplomay ; media relations ; crisis communication ; framing theory ; frame analysis ; frame building ; Shoemaker & Reese model ; image repair theory ; Bahrain ; protests ; social constructivism ; hierarchal model of Influence ; Arab Spring ; Mass media--Bahrain--Political aspects ; Communication in politics--Bahrain ; Civil disobedience--Bahrain--History ; Frames (Sociology)
Framing Bahrain through public diplomacy : a qualitative analysis of frames communicated by the Bahraini Government during the 2011 crisis. This thesis explores frames communicated through Bahraini public diplomacy to foreign media and publics during three key moments of the 2011 crisis in Bahrain, and factors connected to the building of these frames. It employed qualitative frame analysis of public diplomacy texts published on Bahrain News Agency's website during the first week of protests, the arrival of the Peninsula Shield Forces to Bahrain, and the publication of Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry report. It also used interviews with communicators from the Bahraini Information Affairs Authority to explore background processes of frame-building. This study contributes to research on the role of public diplomacy in co-constructing specific versions of reality in government messages during crises. It offers an example of Arab government practice of public diplomacy and framing in the Arab Spring. The research also employs Benoit's (1995) image repair theory and Shoemaker and Reese's (1996) model to explore crisis response strategies represented by the frames, and frame-building processes. The research finds that most of the analysed frames denied a crisis, while other frames addressed it yet externalised its causes. Denying an internal
framing bahrain public diplomacy qualitative_analysis frame communicate government crisis explores frame communicate public diplomacy foreign medium public three_key moment crisis bahrain factor connect building frame employ qualitative frame analysis public diplomacy text_publish bahrain news agency website protest arrival peninsula shield bahrain publication bahrain independent commission inquiry report also use interview communicator information authority explore background process frame building study_contributes role public diplomacy constructing specific version reality government message crisis offer example arab government practice public diplomacy frame arab_spring also_employ image repair theory model explore crisis response strategy represent frames frame building process find analyse frames crisis frame address yet cause internal