This module introduces the participants to the influence of recently developed information technologies on political outcomes. In particular, we will explore protest movements shaped by emerging communication tools like Facebook or Twitter and in how far these options are met with interference from a control seeking government.
Since the introduction of the World Wide Web in 1989, the number of people connected to the Internet has expanded rapidly. These technological changes have shaped communication between political actors and its impact on democratization has been discussed intensely. Does the Internet facilitate democratic endeavors, or does it benefit repressive and controlling tendencies? More specifically, we want to explore the relationship between protest movements and the Internet. What is the role of the Internet in coordinating a protest and how can organizers benefit from its structure and applications? What are the options for political activists when they encounter surveillance or censorship? These questions on the adaptation potential of political actors to the Internet will be discussed in the seminar and will be underlined with illustrative examples.