Digital Politics in Fiji

In this seminar presentation, PhD candidate Jope Tarai will present the findings of his research addressing the question: Does social media use inform politics in Fiji? The research has utilised digital ethnography as an approach to explore social media use and politics in Fiji through an embedded examination of four case studies. These include; social media use in political campaigning since the 2014 national election, the role and use of social media amongst the tertiary youth, regional advocacy campaigns, and the interplay between the social media sphere and the traditional media sector. The case studies have been foregrounded by a critical examination of Fiji’s political history and ongoing legacies. In answering the central question of the thesis, this pre-submission seminar will build into branches of knowledge around social media use and politics. These branches of knowledge include but are not limited to: online political campaigning, youth online engagement, advocacy campaigning, traditional media online, and methodological insights regarding online research. Therefore, the thesis makes wider contributions to Fiji and the Pacific in politics, youth engagement, the media and methodological applications for grounded research.