Internet and Democracy

April 19

Digital tools are seen as playing a major part in political activities and revolutions around the world from the Green Revolution in Iran to the recent events in the Middle East and North Africa. In this class, we'll explore the role of the Internet in political organizing, social movements and popular protests, and the potential impact of digital tools on governance.

Readings

• A Tunisian-Egyptian Link That Shook Arab History

• Clay Shirky on social media in the Middle East and North Africa

• Etling, Kelly, Faris and Palfrey, Mapping the Arabic Blogosphere: Politics, Culture and Dissent

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Additional Resources

• Bruce Etling and John Kelly, Mapping Iran's Online Public

• Etling, Alexanyan, Kelly, Faris, Palfrey, and Gasser, Public Discourse in the Russian Blogosphere: Mapping RuNet Politics and Mobilization

• Josh Goldstein and Juliana Rotich, Digitally Networked Technology in Kenya's 2007-2008 Post-Election Crisis.

• Faris, Etling, Madison and the Smart Mob: The Promise and Limitations of the Internet for Democracy