Iraqi Satellite Channels and the Crisis of Addressing Cultural Alienation Issues

Abstract

The research seeks to explore and analyze how Iraqi satellite channels address the phenomenon of cultural alienation, as a complex issue involving intertwined dimensions of identity, belonging, and cultural values within the Iraqi societal context. To achieve this goal, the researchers adopted a qualitative content analysis form as a tool for data collection, in addition to employing the survey method. A purposive sample of episodes from the program "Salon Ali Wajih" was selected, as these episodes directly addressed topics related to manifestations of cultural alienation, with consideration given to the diversity of guests and the issues discussed. The research reached a number of findings, including:

1. Cultural alienation is addressed in the program as a multidimensional phenomenon encompassing psychological, social, and cultural aspects. It is portrayed as an identity crisis resulting from rapid changes, migration, and media influences.


2. The program adopts a reflective dialogic discourse characterized by the raising of critical questions, giving it an elite cultural tone that reflects the depth of the crisis. It also portrays a continuous tension between tradition and modernity, presenting this dynamic as a process of social and cultural negotiation rather than a closed binary conflict, thereby reflecting a complex and evolving societal reality.